Monday, June 5, 2006

Bombay...meri jaan!

Of bhel puri and juhu chowpaty
To Irani ki chai…bun maska and kheema patty

From Kasa kai bara hai…kai chaal lai?
To Circuit, Maamu and Munna bhai

From the fish fry that hangs upside down at Sion koliwada
To Sri Krishna’s garama garam bata vada

Of Cusrow Baug & Freny Todiwallah
And of food delivery men…the dabbawallas

Of cuffe parade and sassoon docks
To bade miyah ke lazeez kabab

Of lazy afternoons at Leopolds and Mondegar
To firangs on causeway leching…smoking cigar

When Sandra and Robert need to meet chori chori
Would it be at Church pakadi or khotachi wadi?

Traffic signals bypassed…railway tracks we cross
We hang with our lives from the doors of the virar fast

From the pious steps of Mahalaxmi,
To the morning sight of the Haji ali

Bombay or Mumbhai whichever way you see
Thoda spicy…thoda cool…hai yeh city

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There are so many more things quintessentially bombay....feel free to add your verses.

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1 comment:

  1. ekta...i empathize...with the sigh! and the list goes on...sri krishna did get a mention for its vadas though the vada pav outside NM is to die for and so is pav bhaji at khaow galli...Sugar cane juice I have NEVER tasted. I have a mental block and CANNOT get myself to sip it. I have come an inch close to it and given up.

    Krishna..thank you for your verse...but no no no...this poem was solely dedicated to My City - Mumbhai. How dare Chennai come and poke its nose in between and steal the thunder away with its heat and spice. Though the food at sangeetha and sarvana is finger licking stuff but suppper starrrr from kollywood is old and should stop flying around in white pants and a wig. Bollywood is lightyears ahead. As for Rahman - he has now become citizen of the world...kollywood will have to find someone else to gloat about :)

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