Dyaneshwar Temple Road (Chaitya Bhoomi)

Hundreds of familiar faces printed on plastic sheets smile back at you here, but this place clearly belongs to one person - Dr B R Ambedkar. This sliver of land between between the Mahim Bay and Dadar where Dr B. R Ambedkar was cremated has become a pilgrimage spot, popularly known as Chaitanya Bhumi.

These pens are for the shirt pockets.

Flanked by the two other faces that stand out: Buddha and Shivaji.

Marol

Workspace Mumbai Series: Desktops. And here's a video with music by Chennai based rock band named Junkyard Groove and shot by Varun of Last Minute Films. It was shot at the home away from home - the katchery.

Juhu Tara Road

Street Photographer.

Chembur

Generation 2. Who's got the longer one?

Pathe Bapurao Marg

Alfred Talkies says no to plastic, continues to use hand-painted signboard.

Cinemas of Mumbai

Evershinenagar, Malad (W)

 Neighbourhood Studio. The best part about visiting the local studio for a passport sized photo or for getting some prints is looking at the photographs on display. It's a reflection of the life and aspirations of the neighbourhood. Across the country, these are usually the mandatory photographs to attract customers, and in the following order. 1. Infants and kids 2. Young girls and models 3. Wedding 4. Bollywood star portraits and their visit to a local event 5. Retouched and restored portraits of an earlier generation 6. A local politician The above picture was shot in a studio in Malad (W) and as you can see the aspiration is clearly Karan Johar and Star Plus. Also, look at the Muslim couple in the background.

For comparison sake, here are a couple of photographs from the wall of a studio in a lower-middle class part of JC Nagar, Bangalore.

Goregaon (E)

This city is a scarred and scared one. All you have to do is count the number of people dressed and labelled as security people that you will meet on a normal working day. It's an elaborate show put up to calm our nerves. But the good news is, like from our national defence budget, someone somewhere is making money.

Currey Road

 Fiery Misal Pav and Chai. Jai Hind Hotel outside Currey Road Station.

 

NM Joshi Marg

The mood of the nation - Anger.

29th Road, Pali Naka

Neighbourhood Cyclewallas Like the Chinese, whom we love to compare ourselves with unfavourably, we Indians have all but discarded the sturdy Heros and Hercules that are almost identical to the Flying Pigeon bikes that clogged the Chinese roads before they graduated to bigger and faster wheels like many of us. However thousands continue to use bicycles, especially our Doodhwalas and Newspaper Boys. It's just that they have become invisible; a blind spot to our eyes, along with pedestrians. The neighbourhood cycle shops continue to exist too, occupying the cheapest real estate possible. Kids and those who allow their kids to use bicycles are the only ones who know where they can get a flat tyre or loose chain fixed. They have become invisible too. However it's too early to nudge these invisibles off the road. There are hundreds of wealthy individuals and die-hard bicycles fans in Mumbai who are trying to make the humble bicycle reappear on our sardine-packed city roads. These pictures were shot in a bicycle shop called "Gear" in upmarket Bandra West that will make you see the human powered wheels in a new light. It caters to bike enthusiasts who have chosen to sweat it out on their way to work or on their days off. Unlike the common man who uses it for his daily commute, the bike to this new sweating class is a social networking tool. An activity that brings people with the same interest closer. And according to Rahul, the owner of "Gear", there are tens of cycling and BMX groups across the city that makes his business possible. They are the Neighbourhood Cyclewalaas. And their mantra is health and fun.

 However, cycling in Mumbai is healthy only if you are a mannequin. If you are a normal human being, the pollution could clog your lungs on any gear. That's one reason the groups prefer to cycle on holidays and Sundays. If not, you will need this gear that will filter out some of the smoke.  

 The number of newspaper clippings on the wall at "Gear" suggests that cyclists are getting a fair share of publicity. The bikes and accessories on sale are mostly imported and strictly for enthusiasts who can afford it. They are also very colourful and designed to look "kewl". Because one of the main reason for becoming a neighbourhood cyclewalla is stand out in the crowd and be different. And why not? Links: Gear Bike Shop