Mumbai Vs Jaipur

Photory - Story spoken by Photos

A Photory of how the landscape, culture, people, lifestyle, food, music, colors, transport, societies, architecture changed when I moved 1000 Km north of Mumbai.

1. The Landscape : Water Vs Sand

They say Love is in the Air, but for Mumbai Water is in the air, after all its so Humid. Moreover to say it rains like Cats and Dogs in Mumbai, would be like undermining the rains. I prefer to say "it rains elephants and Sharks out here". While out in Jaipur the Sun makes every individual to rain for themselves (sweat).

2. The Buildings : Swanky Vs Royal 

In Mumbai there is virtually no limit for buildings to go vertically up, while in Jaipur that stands true for horizontal.

3. The Music : Sitar Vs Guitar

4. The Food :  Pav Bhaji Vs Dal Bati Churma

5.  The Theaters : Art Deco of Raj Madir Vs Philip Johnson's postmodern Tata Theater

At Raj Mandir(Jaipur) people come to see the interiors rather than movie, so its ok if you find people looking up or sideways instead of watching movie on the screen. Also popularly its know as Pride of Asia. While Tata Theater(Mumbai) built on reclaimed land is home to the best stage artists of today's India.

6. The Uncanny Constructions amidst water :  Haji Ali Vs Jal Mahal 

Haji Ali - built in memory of a wealthy merchant, who gave away all his wealth, is now associated with legends about doomed lovers. While Jal Mahal constructed by Rajputs as a pavilion of pleasure. Recently authorities have dredged 2 Million Tonnes of toxic silt around Jal Mahal, also created 5 nesting islands to attract migratory birds. Commendable work.

7. Athiti Devo Bhava - Where ever you go, you would always be welcomed:         Good Vs Good

India has so much to offer, grateful to have the opportunity to around few of the towns around the country.

Lost & Found @ Marine Drive

Marine Drive is the Lost & Found center of Mumbai, not of possessions, but of people. Everyday thousands of people come here, mostly facing the perils of local trains, and the others, after the grueling day's work at office. Those lost in the carnival of turmoils in their life, ironically find the calmness in the turbulence of waves  and the tranquil ones are rocked by the waves of the mighty Arabian Sea.

So this season,  LOSE yourself here, only to FIND the better self.

                                                             

                                            Or Maybe your Better Half   ;)

                                                  

Theater - My Newly found love.

Last weekend I watched a play named - "Class of 84" by Rage Productions. What pulled me towards the play was the title- which ensured that I am going to miss my friends from my own class and the venue of the Play-Tata Theater, NCPA. Located at the end point of Marine drive, surrounded by Arabian sea from 2 sides, it pulls one towards it. The auditorium was one of the best among all other theaters I have been to - Prithvi Theater(Juhu), St. Andrews (Bandra), Veer Sawarkar(Dadar), Rangsharda (Bandra), Sophia (Bandra). The Foyer is Grand, and the red carpet beneath gives it the glamorous touch and the wide stairs gave it a palace like feel.

TATA Theater, NCPA

The main hall was splendid, lets say the Indian version of Kodak Theater, Hollywood, famous for Oscars.

The Reddish tinge due to the carpet and the golden glow of the stage mesmerized me. The light and sound system was world class. 

The website of the Play gives its description as -  

• 
  

  
  

  Some found careers. Some found God.

  Some got rich. Some got stoned.

  Some loved. Some lost.

  All of them stayed friends.

  Now one of them is dead.

  
  

  Can their friendship survive?Seven friends who were a tightly-knit group in St. Xavier’s College from 1979-1984 have gathered at the Kashid beach house.

  (For more about the cast and crew plz visit : http://ragetheatre.co.in/production/class-84)

  
  

  The play stood up to its expectations. Watching this bunch of friends talking about what fun did they had in their college and how their life has changed sent me back to my own college and the friends I have made there. Now when even the ones having a GF are supposed to be the lucky ones,after 20 years each one of us would be having a wife around (that too permanent, with less tension of break up :P) Now when we never care to sleep on time then we would have to sleep just to set an example for our children to sleep on time. Now when riding a bike with less than 3 people on it is supposed to wastage of petrol, then we would only let as many people sit in our Cars, as is the no. of seats. And many more changes would  follow. Who knows what the coming few years will bring. But I am excited to meet all my friends some 20 years from now, to know what life has done to them, to know how there experience was, to know how did they travel their path, to know how did they overcome their challenges, to know how much they miss their college life, and to know them all   once again......

  
  

  Yaaron yeh hi dosti hai, Oh kismat se jo mili hai, Sab sang chalen, Sab rang chalen, Chaltey rahen hum sada.

  
  

  Towards the end we sneaked into the backstage and met Rajit Kapoor and Shernaz Patel, both of them are amazing theater artists. Talking to them gave a fitting end to a perfect Journey a play takes you into.