He was the first to introduce Bowling to Mysoreans, the first to introduce them to Go-Karting, the first to introduce them to networked Video-Gaming and most importantly, every weekend Mysore danced to his tunes at the popular Hookah Bar. Then K. Panduranga Shenoy shut down Planet-X and disappeared. Many in Mysore were wondering what happened to this bold entrepreneur from the city. It turns out he’s been busy on an Italian Job. Panduranga Shenoy recently opened a Showroom of Italian Motorcycles, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi in Bangalore. SOM met up with the enterprising Shenoy to ask what he has been upto and why he shut down Planet-X.
SOM: So, where have you been over the past year, you seem to have disappeared from Mysore?
Shenoy: I did not disappear, I was just dealing with some issues and had trouble running Planet-X, so I finally shut down the place and took some time off. Now I have started this motorcycle dealership.
SOM: Why a motorcycle dealership, why not another Planet-X or a Hookah Bar?
Shenoy: I love motorcycles, always have. So when I got an opportunity to have the franchise for one of the best motorcycles in the world — Italy’s Aprilia and Moto Guzzi — I couldn’t help myself. Also, I am done trying to open themed parks or even clubs or discothèques in Mysore or Bangalore. It is not worth the trouble. It’s ironic that for a nation that loves to dance at the drop of a hat, every effort has been made by law to prevent it.
SOM: Now, many Mysoreans are disappointed that you shut down Planet-X and they want to know why and also if you will ever open it ?
Shenoy: I never wanted to shut down Planet-X, but I was harassed into closing it. I started off with a lot of enthusiasm. I wanted Mysoreans to look forward for a weekend or an evening of fun. But ever since I opened Planet-X, senior officials have harassed me. First, the bureaucracy, then the Police, after I got a Police officer trapped by Lokayukta. After ten years, I had so many enemies that they made sure I was in perennial trouble. Finally, I couldn’t take it any more and I shut the place down.
SOM: Why didn’t you go to the Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Association and take their help?
Shenoy: Whom are we kidding? Every hotelier, restaurant owner and even a small-time bar owner in city survives on the mercy of officialdom. What could they do?
SOM: Are you saying the officialdom was vengeful?
Shenoy: Yes, I do. But it doesn’t matter anymore. For now, the bureaucracy and the Police many feel victorious that they shut me down. They may feel that they have sent a message to others, “Never take on us”. But in the bigger picture Mysore has lost.
So by forcing me to fail, the bureaucracy and Police have failed the city.
And it is funny they (officials) still vehemently talk about making Mysore a tourist city, when all their actions prove to the contrary.
SOM: Will you open Planet-X again?
Shenoy: No. I won’t try any business in Mysore.
In Mysore, any new business which is slightly big becomes a target. I ended up being a big fish in a small city and I got harpooned, whereas here in Bangalore, I am a small fish, so I go unnoticed.
SOM: So you are a Bangalorean now?
Shenoy: Never. I love Mysore. It is my city. That is why I invested so much in Mysore. I will always be a Mysorean. I just refuse to start any business there, that’s all.
SOM: Guess you’re done entertaining Mysoreans then?
Shenoy: I would love to entertain Mysoreans, but now they will have to come to Bangalore. See, today I have invited all my friends from Mysore and I’ll make sure they have a good time.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / September 26th, 2013