Kids Frolic

Kids represent the beauty that is rains, in an otherwise chaotic Mumbai.

The Unknown Messiahs of Mumbai

He was the only guy who represented the BMC's efforts to clear the water logging in Bandra Reclamation.

He was managing 4 drain outlets alone, removing all garbage that may stop the flow of water.

He had no specialised equipment, no protective gear, even the raincoat was his own.

He was hungry and sarcastically said, "Madarchod (Mother Fckrs)!, nobody has even enquired if I need food."

I offered him the milk that I was carrying, he politely refused.

He is one of those unknown faces of Mumbai that keeps Mumbai going.

A Clogged Mumbai!

What a shame!! This is the scene next to my apartment as rains lashed Mumbai today - A High Tide Day.

Its chaos.

High Fliers

I saw these ' gujju casanovas' at Ahmedabad airport. They really stood out in their hats.

I wonder what made them wear those funny hats inside the airport.

A Neglected Masterpiece

I was in a poorly maintained Sachivalaya office in Gandhinagar where I saw this brilliant figure drawing. I was simply blown by the finesse of this art.

On further enquiry, I found out that it was a 56 year old self-taught artist called Ghiya.

I spoke to him and promised to meet during my next visit to Gandhinagar.

Bombay High

I dont know why I like this picture.

May be because it captures the larger than life image of bollywood.

A Busy Morning

At 7 am, when the rich sleep, the poor are already at work.

Dharti K Lal!!

K.Lal is all over the place in Ahmedabad. His glowing smile is spectacular.

Can you find the lost childhood?

I saw this scavenger at 7.30 am in Ahmedabad.

Hope you can spot him in the picture.

A Generation Lost

Catholics and Football are inseparable. Here's one I saw while I was in a auto rickshaw.

A Walk through the Concrete Jungle

I watched this lonely old man as he slowly walked across his terrace.

The buildings surrounding him make him look all the more lonely.

A Wet Day in Bandra

I was out on the road as it intermitently poured through the day.

Puddles, potholes, kids playing, wet bylanes...its all there to see.

A strange smell emanates through the streets, a combination of water, wetness, dirt, drains, etc. Reminds me of the first few shots of Apur Sansar. Ray is a genius.

Bicycles still sell

Sardar is one of the old cycle marts in Mahim.

I liked the colorful splendor of the bicycle display outside the mart.

I played cricket with him

I was traveling by BEST bus today when I saw this guy fast asleep
on a seat next to me. I was stuck by the face...he was one of the guys who used to play cricket with us as a kid. He had some psychological problems even then.

But what I saw today of him was disturbing. He must be about 40 years of age, but looked close to 50.

Life is cruel.

Ira and friends

Ira and her close friends - Shrudula and Gayatri.

She loves to fight with them and then patch up.

Paradise Lost

The Paradise Cinema at Mahim.

Its one of the few old Cinema that is still surviving. The Citylight Cinema across the road has recently shut shop.

Ira's Nails

Ira "scared" me today with her nails, made from some flower petals. I acted as if I was. It made her happy.

She then quickly asked me if I could buy her a chewing gum or kurkure!!

I shooed her away.

A walk around Bandra

There's one Bandra where stars stay.

There's one where people shop like there's no tomorrow.

And there's one face of Bandra that is so different from the rest.

The other day I walked from my apartment at Bandra Reclamation to Hill Road. This is what I (also) saw.

Deep Sleep

I am always intrigued how people sleep on the roads so peacefully.

Or are we stressed so much that we lose sleep in our AC bedrooms?

Happy Moment

There a few sights in the world that can give happiness more than this - your own kid running towards you!!

The Speed of Light

This is a new technique I have developed to get some astonishing images of mundane things. 

I wildly shake my digital camera as I click.

The above images have been taken inside a tunnel as I was zooming at a speed of 140 kmph on Mumbai-Pune Expressway 

Ud Jaayega Hans Akela

Watched Jabbar Patel's documentary on Kumar Gandharva - Hans Akela

It is awe inspiring.

I wished I had clicked this picture - but it deserves to be here.

Baarish!

Rains have descended on Mumbai.

This picture was taken from inside my car as it poured outside.

I love the smell of first rain.

It reminds me of school.

Juhu Nahi Aaya, Hum Juhu Aaye!

Views from Sea View Restaurant on Juhu Beach.

My favourite place to have a beer and pakoda - watching the sunset.

In Chacha Bhatija, a Taxiwallah drops Randhir Kapoor at Juhu saying " Sir Juhu Aaya". Randhir Kapoor in his own inimitable style thunders - "Abey!! Juhu Nahi Aaya...
...Hum Juhu Aaye"