Mumbai 101 #3 1000+ Weeks and Still on

For those who love facts, Dilwale Dulhania le Jayenge aka DDLJ(released on 20th October 1995), has won 10 Filmfare awards, setting the record at the time for the most awards. It was one of three Hindi films in the film reference book “1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die”, was ranked among The Times of India’s list of the “25 Must See Bollywood Films” and has been running in Maratha Mandir since then, except for a shocker in between, when after completing 1000 weeks it was removed for sometime but later, fan support brought it back. (Lucky for me! :D)

Well, as I mentioned before, this was one of the things I had to do as it was a part of my bucket list. 🙂

It was important not because I am a huge SRK fan, but because DDLJ has always been special for me. My realistic fairy tale!!

Realistic as I personally relate a lot to Simran – when a middle class Indian girl seeks permission from her dad for a trip and it is a big deal. And the happiness when he allows her to go ahead!! (Best feeling, trust me! :D) I am sure a lot of girls out there could relate to that too. A fairy tale as a guy like Raj (too perfect! I always wonder how any girl can not fall for a character like him!) and Simran finally get together even when Simran is about to get married to someone else!!! Special mention for Anupam Kher, the daddy cool!! Sometimes I really wonder, how amazing it would be if all Pops are like that man! 😀

Anyway, Happy Ending. Typical bollywood. Cliched. Call it whatever you want to. But this was one of the few experiences I would never forget. I still remember, not just me, but all of my friends were in a state of euphoria after watching the movie! 😀

A new movie brings with it a new theme and creativity which can make you go wow or curse yourself for wasting your money. But as Deepika says in YJHD :”Tumhe kya pata doston ke saath wahi purane qisse dohrane ka maza kya hota hai!!” , DDLJ was something everyone of us had seen before but it was a totally different feeling watching it together in the Balcony seats of Maratha Mandir with popcorn and cold drinks! 😉

We knew the timings of punches, we sang the songs, clapped whistled, laughed, were stirred when Simran was in a dilemma, were in an awe when they were finally in love, at the edge of the seats when her dad was in the denial mode..and literally danced when he let her go!! “Ja Simran jaa..ji le apni zindagi…” And it was not just us, the entire crowd was like that! Those moments, when we were so engrossed in enjoying the movie, I realized the happiness of being with my favourite people who made me complete this bucket list task! Being there, with them, watching that movie made it so damn special! 🙂

A must watch, once in a lifetime! (Only if you are a Bollywood fan. No hard feelings. :P)

How to Reach: Maratha Mandir is at walking distance from Mumbai Central Railway Station. There is a show everyday at 11.30 am.

P.S. The 1000th week completion trailer to refresh some memories! 🙂

#2 Mumbai’s soft spot- Marine Drive

A must visit place in Mumbai, this one speaks for itself. The insanely famous Marine drive is always on the checklist for every person visiting Mumbai, whether it is for the first time or the nth time. 🙂

Marine Drive

Extensively featured in so many Bollywood movies as well, I added Marine Drive to my list after I watched one of my favourite movies for the first time – “Wake Up Sid”. This movie was not only responsible for adding this spot in my bucket list for Mumbai, but for also painting a fascinating picture of Mumbai as a whole in my mind!  (So you might find references to this movie a lot :P)

Marine Drive, Wake Up Sid

Mumbai welcomed us with the hotness of 35 degrees accompained with its never ending humidity. Sulking in the not so happening weather, when we finally made it to our destination around 8 pm, it was totally worth it!

On a day when you have been running around to get things in place, when you are so fed up with all the confusions, or when you just want to be at peace in the city which never sleeps, this is one spot where you can sit, relax, lie down and let it all go. You can sit there indefinitely, looking at the sea, at the waves which never seem to end- when one dies, the other one is about to be born!  Marine drive is a place to relax, to realise the soothing effect of stopping for once in a while, only to get inspired by the sea which never seems to take a break! Fascinating, isn’t it?

Marine Drive, busy day

One of my friends on this trip had been to Mumbai before, and on our way from Church Gate local station till Marine Drive(which is about 10 minutes walk), he had been building up in my head what I was about to see. He was right when he said this is one place, where you should totally go with your friends, especially old friends! We sat there for countless hours, until a policeman came and asked us to get going 😛

Marine Drive, Mumbai

Also known as Queen’s necklace, as it appears so because of all the lights brightening it up in the night’s darkness, this place truly relieves you of all your worries.The breath taking view of the city on one end separated by infinite sea makes one wonder about nature’s beauty and our presence in it.

A perfect spot to get lost in your thoughts(for people like me :P). A perfect spot to sit with your friends and relive all the memories while making new ones! 🙂

 

*Pictures courtesy Google Images

Mumbai 101 #1 The First Impression

My trip to Mumbai was sort of a Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara experience. Four College friends, coming from different directions, meeting at one point! I was under the euphoria of this amazing feeling when I boarded the early morning flight. I dozed off with a smile on my face as I wanted to restore as much energy as I could.

The pilot’s announcement woke me up. We were about to land in Mumbai in a few minutes. I had chosen the last seat of the plane(with no recliner! ) so that I can have a good view of the Mayanagari while I land.

Mumbai, First view

A little bit sleepy, I looked outside and in the moment when I saw the above view, I could not have been more awake. Of course, Mumbai is known for being crowded, but it was surprisingly amazing to absorb this view. Not an inch of land spared! Like a deck of cards spread on an uneven surface combined with huge building blocks, it was all there – houses and buildings (tall enough to seem at par with the landing plane). There was another surprise element though, the sea, proudly keeping up with the terrain!

And as the plane approached the runway, I felt as if I am landing on a normal road! 😛 That very moment, I realized I am in a different city, its MUMBAI and more surprises are definitely on my way!! 🙂

Mumbai, Closer view

Mumbai 101 #0

Mumbai or Mayanagri, the place where so many dreams are fulfilled and broken everyday had been on my ‘must visit’ list for a long time. There were a lot of things I was excited about, mostly clichéd (guilty!) but once you put a desire out of your heart in your bucket list, you develop an urge to at least try it once.

For me, the planning was fairly simple(initially) but the experience was amazing(eventually!). 😉

The simple part was my short list- to watch DDLJ at Maratha Mandir(one of the major reasons I planned this trip a little sooner as rumours had it that after 1009 weeks, this epic show was about to come to an end!!), travel in the ever so talked about Bombay Local Train and to sit for hours at Marine Drive. The amazing part was my company. For four days, I was with my favourite people(my close friends from College) in a new city which I wanted to explore. Without them, I would have seen a different Mumbai, but I would like to cherish this version for a long time! 🙂