Ep 27 : Karthik (Varnam) | Making Channapatna Toys Cool Again & other Bangalore stories Jimmy Jimmy

How does a corporate professional in Bengaluru end up transforming a 200-year-old craft into one of Bangalore’s most loved design brands? In this deeply inspiring episode, we sit down with Karthik Vaidyanathan, the founder of Varnam Craft Collective, to trace the incredible journey of how Channapatna toys found a bold, contemporary identity in modern Bengaluru. From buying a flat in Indiranagar and obsessively restoring it with heritage pillars, to accidentally discovering the magic of Channapatna wood craft — this is a story of passion, nostalgia, design thinking, and relentless hustle. Karthik shares how his early love for lighting, interiors, and storytelling slowly evolved into Varnam — a brand that redefined Channapatna toys for urban India. What started as weekend experiments while working at ACT became a full-fledged movement that changed how Bangalore saw craft. We explore: How Channapatna toys evolved from traditional lacquerware into contemporary design objects The unique medicinal wood and natural lacquer process behind authentic Channapatna craft Why Varnam craft collective stands apart in the world of Indian craft brands How apparel, block prints, and storytelling became survival strategies The creation of Varnam’s 13 toy characters — a Disney-like universe rooted in Karnataka Karthik also reflects on how Bangalore / Bengaluru shaped him — from early days in Indiranagar, 100 ft boutique, Golden Enclave, and breakfast at Nilgiris, to long walks on Sampige Road in Malleshwaram. This episode is not just about craft. It’s about identity. It’s about varnam — colour. It’s about a city that embraces creators. Through exhibitions, relentless hustling, storytelling, and design integrity, Varnam became one of the top destinations in Bangalore for anyone looking to carry home a piece of Karnataka. If you care about: ✔️ Indian craft revival ✔️ Channapatna toys ✔️ Bengaluru design culture ✔️ Homegrown brands ✔️ Creative entrepreneurship ✔️ Indiranagar stories This conversation is for you. 🌆 Peak Bengaluru Moments ✨ Discovering Bangalore’s charm in early 2000s Cunningham Road ✨ Long fitness walks down Indiranagar 100 ft road ✨ Breakfast runs to Nilgiris at Golden Enclave ✨ Malleshwaram afternoons on Sampige Road ✨ Craft exhibitions across Bengaluru ✨ Surviving COVID through community love ✨ “Dear Bangalore” — the city that gave him identity From Channapatna to Indiranagar. From nostalgia to design innovation. From hobby to heritage brand. This is the story of how Varnam craft collective became synonymous with modern Channapatna. Watch now and experience a colourful journey through Bengaluru’s creative soul. New episodes every Sunday at 6 pm Follow us on Insta : www.instagram.com/@jimmyjimmytheshow Youtube :    / @jimmyjimmytheshow   Timestamps 00:00 How Varnam Made Channapatna Toys Cool Again | Bengaluru Pride Story 00:32 The Accidental Start of Varnam Craft Collective | From ACT to Craft 02:20 Indiranagar Dream Home Goes Viral | Heritage Interiors in Bangalore 03:36 First Craft Exhibition at Ants Café | Enter Channapatna Design 04:36 Choosing Channapatna Toys at Fabindia | Craft Revival Begins 05:43 Weekend Hustle in Channapatna | Designing 100+ SKUs from Scratch 08:19 Building an Artisan Team | Scaling Channapatna Production 10:35 First Varnam Store in Indiranagar | From Home to Retail Brand 12:40 Retail Expansion Across Bengaluru | Yellow Button to Craft Shows 17:35 How Channapatna Toys Are Made | Hale Wood, Natural Lacquer & Persian Roots 26:16 Radio City Days & Namma Nadu Campaign | Early Bangalore Memories 32:00 Why Bengaluru Built Varnam | Malleshwaram, Sampige Road & A Love Letter