Capturing Mumbai the Bollywood way

Mumbai , the city of dreams has always been special for Bollywood movies ; each Bollywood movie captures a different face of the city and at some points , the city seems to be magical and harsh at the same time. 

1. Wake up Sid

No Bollywood movie can cover Mumbai the way Wake up Sid has. Each song of the movie covers Mumbai beautifully.

"Iss shahar mai jahan sab kuch itni tezi se badalta hai , ek samudr hi toh hai jo nhi badalata." - Wake up Sid

2. Netflix's Maska ,Girl in the city and Luck by chance 

Maska captures the Irani cafe world of Mumbai and the struggles of a wannabe actor in Mumbai. The city is often referred to the "city of dreams". Each year lakhs of people leave behind their families , friends and come to work in the city - as writers , singers , filmmakers , songwriters , fashion designers and actors. Do they become successful? MAYBE , maybe NOT.

A still from Girl in the city ( A webseries starring Mithila Palkar ) 

Interestingly , Girl in the city was Mithila Palkar's first full fledged project where she was projected as a "new girl in the city of dreams" who came to fulfil her dream of becoming a fashion designer. ( The web content is still free from nepotism)

A still from Netflix's Maska.

Prit Kamani's character here also is a struggling actor. Shirley Setia , Manisha Koirala and Javed Jaffrey are also a part of the movie.

A still from Zoya Akhtar's first film, Luck by Chance. 

Farhan Akhtar and Konkana Sen also played struggling actors, however luck affected the two characters differently - one rose to fame whereas the other didn't. Although the film bombed at the box office , I think it was beautiful in a different way , in a way where it is real and still fiction.

"Aaj Mai Roz subah uth kr kaam par nhi jaati balki wo kaam par jaati hu Jo mujhe pasand hai.Kitne log honge iss dunia Mai Jo yeh kah sakenge." - Konkana Sen in Luck by Chance

A still from Meri Pyari Bindu

Meri pyaari Bindu again emphasizes the city from the perspective of a struggler ; although, more emphasis is on the story of Abhi and Bindu.

4. The Lunchbox

The Lunchbox captures Mumbai in its raw form ; there is  no mention of the film industry. It captures the dabbawalas and the common people , their common stories and their everyday struggles ; their need for love and acceptance.

It captures the local trains , a usual office and a homemaker's life.

"Kabhi kabhi galat train bhi sahi raste pahucha deti hai." - the Lunchbox

Check out the full post on 'The Lunchbox' - https://www.delightedhumans.com/post/the-lunchbox-reveals-the-harsh-realities-of-a-mediocre-life

5. Love per square foot 

This film captures the struggle of two characters to find a home in Mumbai. 

Vicky Kaushal and Angira have done an amazing job in the film and if you haven't watched it , this is the best time , obviously ( we are quarantined anyways) . You can watch it on Netflix or download it ;)

6. Jaane tu ya Jaane Na

Shot in St. Xavier's , how can we forget the kabhi kabhi Aditi song. The movie captures the city from a college student's perspective.

Reading YouTube comments is my new hobby these days-