The opening of a new superclub in the Indian city of Delhi by the Ministry of Sound franchise has signalled how much dance music is taking off in a country dominated by the Bollywood sound. An astonishing 93%of all music sold in India comes from Bollywood films. Dance - together with rock, pop, classical, jazz and hip-hop - all are included in the remaining 7%.
But Arjun Vagale, DJ with electronica band Jalebee Cartel and the man in charge of international bookings at the new Ministry of Sound, told BBC World Service's The Beat programme that there has been a surge of interest in dance after young Indian students discovered it abroad. "Frankly, when I started DJing, house wasn't a popular genre," he said. "We tried to build it up into club nights.
The crowd started understanding, especially as people went abroad and studied - they started getting used to that kind of music. "Ministry of Sound is possibly the biggest brand name of clubs in the world. Why shouldn't it be in India?
" Police ensure the clampdown is adhered to, and the curfew has had a big effect. Some have gone bust, while others have abandoned experimental music in favour of popular hits. But in Delhi, dance is booming.
"There's definitely a big hum going around about it," said Swiss DJ BP Zoloft, who played at Ministry of Sound's opening night. "I've been out a couple of times here and my god, it is as vibrant and as modern as it is back in Europe." The Delhi club's president, Tubby Kapur, is certain his club will live up to its famous name.
"We also have spiral staircases inspired by the Louvre, and the longest bar in the country - and maybe Asia, but we have to find out about that," he added. He said that the Ministry of Sound company had scouted all over India for the location, and that Delhi had been chosen because "it has the potential to be the most international city in the country". However, he added that there are plans to expand very quickly.
"As soon as we open here, we want to be in Pune, Bangalore and Bombay," he said. "These are three opportunity-driven cities that we have looked at.
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