Hyderabad’s nightlife non-existent!

HEMA SINGULURI | Hyderabad 

One of the favourite sayings of a resident of Central Excise Colony about Hyderabad goes thus: ‘It is still a glorified village.’ Just look at Secunderabad after 9 p.m. it is asleep. People from other cities especially Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru complain that Hyderabad has no night life.

 “Mission Chabutra,” an initiative of Hyderabad City Police, a late-night policing drive has removed the zing out of night life in Hyderabad rues, K Rahul, a software employee. A resident of Manikonda, Payal Rastogi says, “If Hyderabad wishes to be counted as a global city and attract investments, night life is mandatory.”

Mission Chabutra focuses on preventing crime, drug peddling, and unruly behavior by conducting intensive checks between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. Youth found loitering during these hours are not only counselled but also guided along with their parents to discourage involvement in street offences, drug abuse, and other illegal activities. 

Speaking on the initiative, SHO N. Karuna Kumar, who is leading its implementation in Bhavaninagar limits, said similar night patrol systems existed earlier as well with night duty officers including ASIs and SIs deployed for counselling and crime prevention. “There'll be no impact on Hyderabad night life businesses”, he added, clarifying that the focus is primarily on preventing ganja consumption and drug peddling, not on disrupting nightlife or commercial activity. 

Evolution of Hyderabad’s nightlife  

During the Nizam era, the city’s night culture was rooted in bustling Old City bazaars around Charminar, Irani cafés, poetry gatherings such as mushairas, and cultural performances in royal courts. Activity often stretched late into the night, especially during festivals. While not “nightlife” in the modern sense, the city had a strong nocturnal social rhythm driven by food, trade, and cultural exchange. 

M Mohan, a resident of Mushirabad says, “In the good old days, people would visit each other, there would be get-togethers and one would party late into the night.” Melvin Ray, a retired Railway employee said that there used to be dance nights on weekends in Secunderabad and a trip to the Sangeet Cinema (Now there is a hospital in its place) to watch English movies in the second show was a delight.  

As Hyderabad expanded into areas like Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills, nightlife gradually shifted into a modern format, restaurants, pubs, and late-night eateries emerged, though still under regulatory constraints.