Mumbai, the city of dreams. To make and to break as well. It was rare to have a movie in earlier days without having a panoramic skyline view of Mumbai and the baritone voice of the story teller in the background at the beginning of the movie. The film industry in Mumbai gave it a special enigma, even today, large crowds gather in front of the mansions of famous film stars in Mumbai, to catch a glimpse of their favourite actors. The film stars oblige them sometimes by paying a periodical wave from the safe distance of their balconies, amid cheers from the crowd. Starry eyed youths land in Mumbai everyday to be a part of the glitz and glamour of the film industry, with hearts full of dreams. Whether everyone’s dreams come true or not, that is another day’s story.

I guess the unique practice of combining the songs and cinema was pioneered in India, more particularly in Mumbai. I can’t recall any film without a song and a dance, but probably there are some. Hindi films have gone through great evolutions, from Raja Harishchandra in 1913 till date. Now modern tools and techniques are used to give surreal experience to the viewers. I heard that one great Indian singer of yesteryears had to sing in front of a “matka” (large clay pot) for special sound effect in the song, when the budget used to be shoestring. The heroine would keep cooing the song in the film around a flowering tree, and would nicely combine the great arts of Kathak, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Bharat Natyam, Odissi and all other dance styles, creating a lovely fusion of dances, called garden style. In earlier days, the songs used to follow a nice rhythm and very rarely the hero would touch the heroine, except for few hand holdings and occasional hugs. Long jumps and fast running used to take precedence instead. As I drive past the Kamal Amrohi studio on JVLR road towards airport, memories of retro hit films Pakeezah and Amar Akbar Anthony stoke my imaginations.     

Fast forward to twenty first century, the 5G age cinema, where the films revolve mostly around kissing, missing and reuniting towards a happy ending. Now the song writers have become very creative, even do not mind to use Fevicol etc to attach the hero and heroine firmly. Aunty, police, glue stick, colgate, various covered and uncovered body parts, everyone and everything merrily find a mention in the songs, with deep pelvic thrusts of the actors in the picturization of the songs. Even if Munni earns a bad name then, tyat vait kai (in Marathi, means who cares)!   

With a large heart, Mumbai is indeed a mini India with people from all states, everyone finds his or her own space. This remarkable co-operation can be seen in overcrowded local trains, the life line of Mumbai. As much crowd as it may be, every one finds a foothold in the train. It’s indeed a magic to see droves of people board and alight the locals within less than ten seconds pit stop per station, albeit with lots of shoving and shouting, but no one ever complaints.

If you cannot move near the exit well in advance, you may risk missing to alight at your station. Local trains normally leave dot on time, literally. Cheapest probably in the world, the fare ranges from Rs 5 to Rs 15 for a one-way journey in general class, a boon for the common man. Slow locals stop at each station, while fast locals stop at fewer stations, running speed being the same otherwise. People who got lucky to grab seats would happily allow fellow passengers to stand between their legs and knees, no complaints. For three-person seats, it’s customary to adjust the fourth person, his bottom barely touching the edge of the seats. Such camaraderie between total strangers are perhaps not seen anywhere else. Indeed back-packs are used as front-packs while boarding the locals, for safety of one’s valuables, and you better use cotton dress, preferably wrinkle free while trying Mumbai locals in office hours!     

Festivals grip Mumbai in feverish pitch. Janmashtami, observed as the day of birth of Lord Shri Krishna, is celebrated with a unique festival called ‘Dahi-Handi’, mimicking the witty nature child Shri Krishna. A beautifully decorated earthen pot filled with dahi (curd) is hung between roofs of high rises of alleys or poles. Several groups of youths known as “mandals” make attempts to form a human pyramid to reach to the pot and break it to symbolically eat the curd inside. The winner group wins cash prize and other goodies. It’s a sight to see the human pyramid being formed slowly, unique and unseen anywhere in the world!

As I write this article, chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ reverberates in the air. It’s Ganpati festival time now, thousands of Ganpati idols are worshipped by the devotees across Mumbai. From few thousands to several million Rupees budget, Bappa is worshipped in amazingly decorated make-shift pandals at every nook and corner. Some locations are legendary e.g. at Lalbaug, Bappa is famously known as ‘Lalbaug cha Raja’ etc. Bappa is so much inseparable to Mumbaikars. I also cannot resist to join them in chorus to an ongoing immersion procession- “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudchya Varshi Lavkar Ya” (Hail Ganpati Bappa, please come fast next year again)!

~ Mr. Saumitra Chakraborty is an entrepreneur and a writer based in Mumbai. An avid traveller and a keen observer, he passionately endeavours to know different people, their cultures and way of their lives.