In Hrishida’s delightful 70’s breezy comedy “Chupke Chupke’, the dimpled heroine bashfully sings ‘Ab Ke Sajan Sawan Mein, Aag Lagegi… ’ to conjure up visions of idyllic joy and gay abandon, welcoming the monsoon rains, while Big B in one of his earlier films, croons Kishoreda’s evergreen melody ‘ Rimjhim Gire Sawan, Sulag Sulag Jaye…’ with the same heady romance. These are only two of the many scores of musical treats dedicated to the rains by the imaginative Bollywood song-writers since decades, so much so, that a song-dance rain sequence was mandatory in Hindi films till some time ago.
Why do rains bring such emotions of liberation and mystic adventure with all its myriad hues, lush greenness and even rainbows on odd days ?! What deserve special mention are the famous ‘Mumbai Rains’ that typically hit the metropolis (and the state) in June first week and last about two months. The famed ‘Mumbaikar spirit’ is known as much by its undeterred ability to weather the lashing winds and heavy downpours as being enthralled by the lyrical ‘monsoon’ flavors akin to the surreal aura created in our films !
The love Mumbai has had for it’s rains is simply quite incomparable. The maximum city that runs over each other all throughout the year and where, life in general and commuters in particular, mean no less than a struggle, all takes a break for good month or two as it breathes the cool ‘monsoon’ air that brings the soaring temperatures and sultriness down dramatically.
There are certain experiences that everyone living here should have to make the Mumbai rains a memorable one. One of my first cultural initiations to this city was the walk along the iconic Marine Drive with Arabian Sea winds blowing across a strong drizzle. Watching huge waves lashing the rocks on Bandra Bandstand or the Worli Sea-face is another major draw for people across the megapolis, while thousands throng the Juhu beach in the rains. The historic Gateway of India is the perennial tourist’s delight with ferries and catamarans plying across turbulent waters of the Arabian Sea for a thrilling experience. What add to the ‘monsoon’ flavours are the eateries working overtime – from ‘chai, vada-pav and bhujias’ of the road-side vendors to the classy, quaint cafes of South Mumbai, the range is awesome !
Over the years, with the teeming millions that have made Mumbai their home, the endless high-rises springing up to cater to them, ineffectiveness of the BMC to keep the roads travel worthy, authorities continually engaged to extend the metro rail network and such other factors have put immense pressure of city’s infrastructure and drainage system-consequently every monsoon becomes a nightmare for commuters with almost all major roads getting water logged, potholes galore, dilapidated buildings, trees crashing down, local trains delayed, buses, cars getting caught in huge traffic snarls ! Maximum city’s ‘monsoon’ joy is slowly transforming into maximum woes.
Yet with Mumbai there’s always hope that things will surely improve – for Mumbaikars will yet say ‘Jo Bhiga Hai, Woh Baarish Se Nahi Darta Hai..’ !
Working on Living 