The hustle culture in Bengaluru seems to have intensified, with numerous young professionals feeling compelled to remain constantly available, even during their downtime. A recent incident at a local cinema has sparked a conversation about the city's demanding work environment.
A Reddit user in Bangalore recounted that during a screening of the film Lokah, "a woman in the row ahead opened her laptop and began working as if she were in the office, typing away in a theatre.
They described the scene as "chaotic," noting, "People can't even disconnect for 2 hours without work pressure intruding. Work-life balance? What's that."
The post quickly garnered attention, leading to a wider discussion about Bengaluru's corporate demands. Some defended the woman, suggesting she might have been sneaking out of work and was caught in an unavoidable meeting. Others criticized her actions as unprofessional.
"I would attribute this to the employee's sneakiness, where she might be skipping work without informing, and now she can't avoid attending the meeting," one person commented. Another remarked, "Narayana Murthy might repost this as a newly recommended company policy."
Some individuals expressed dissatisfaction with the disturbance. "Absolutely, I would willingly spend my money and travel just to watch a movie with the glow from this woman's screen shining at me. That's exactly how I want to enjoy my film," commented one frustrated cinema attendee.
Others believed the incident highlighted the extent to which work has encroached upon personal time. "Culture? This is enslavement. I witnessed someone working in a salon while having a haircut," remarked another user.