Mumbai Medley

M

Magic And Mayhem

There is palpable excitement in the air as the first rains hit the city. Truth be told, there is no place quite like Mumbai in the monsoons; but we often forget that the rains can be as treacherous as they are magical. While on the surface, they symbolise that sublime release from the sweltering heat, it’s just a small part of what the southwest monsoon truly represents.

The rains bind the city together in a beautiful way, but is also the reason for the post-traumatic stress one experiences whilst reflecting on that dark day in 2005.

As a photographer, my joy comes from trying to capture the sense of magic and intimacy that the monsoon brings. It’s never easy to make those photos but the rewards are plenty if one is consistent.

I’m often an outsider looking in, voyeuristic perhaps, but that’s a vantage point I’ve made peace with over the years. As the city undergoes such immense structural change, I try to cling on to something romantic, always, in an attempt to preserve that very special spirit that is so unique to Bombay.