A modern-day attempt to document the city of dreams
Mumbai is a city under constant renovation and in desperate need of a makeover, but Bombay is an emotion that has carried forward. In this show, Bombay is the hero as her notable citizens lend her a voice. A modern-day attempt to document the city of dreams with your host, entrepreneur and a fan of all things Bombay, Ajay Menon.
Episode 1: Bharat Gothoskar
Bharat Gothoskar, Founder of Khaki Tours walks you through the history of lesser-known marvels of Bombay — the mini Gateway of India, a Chinese temple, and why there’s more to the city than the art deco on Marine Drive, or colonial architecture of South Bombay.
Episode 2: Ashu Phathak
The Bombay music scene is much more than a connection with Bollywood. Today’s opportunities in the music industry were previously unheard of and visiting artists a dream come true. Ashutosh Phatak, composer, producer and entrepreneur (founder of Blue Frog, The Quarter and True School of Music) recounts his journey of music and Bombay.
Episode 3: Kausar Munir
Kausar Munir, an award-winning lyricist and script writer is a Bombay person through and through. How has the city influenced some of her best known work from movies such as Pad Man, Dear Zindagi, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Dhoom 3, Ek Tha Tiger and many others?
How has the film industry itself evolved? To know all this and more, tune in!
Episode 4: Alisha Sadikot
Bombay is not just about the grand historic structures and sky highs and nightlife, its beauty is hidden in its complex multilayered dimensions. There is so much history, culture, and art attached to it. Alisha Sadikot, the founder of the Inheritage Project, is someone who uncovers it all, layer by layer and walk by walk, by telling stories to people who join her on this adventure.
Episode 5: Naresh Fernandes
Widely considered an authority on Bombay, a well-deserved title given that Naresh Fernandes knows the pulse of the city like no on else. Attributed to the fact that Naresh has spent most of his professional life as a journalist with leading publications namely Times of India, editor-in-chief TimeOut India, currently editor of Scroll.in, He has also authored three books on Bombay. Tune in to hear Naresh share some very interesting facts from Bombay’s history to present-day frustrations, his experiences while he reported on major events including the 26/11 attacks, and Bombay’s connection with Jazz, as an aficionado himself.
Episode 6: Firdaus Variava
The prestigious Bharat Flooring Tiles owes its origin to the Swadeshi movement of the 1920s. Owner, @Firdaus Variava, shares stories of how our freedom struggle and to strive for economic independence laid down grounds to produce international quality tiles right here in India.
Tune in to interesting insights on the city’s heritage, design and art forms in India.
Episode 7: Ashima Narain
We talk to a photographer who has many accolades to her name. Her work has been exhibited at the UN headquarters, represented by the National Geographic Image Collection, the first female photographer in India to become a Sony Artisan, and Time included her on a list of 34 women photographers from around the world to follow, the list goes on. Her passion led her to discover wildlife in the city (and outside of it) and the peaceful side of Bombay. A photographer with a cause, she’s been recognized for her amazing work with wildlife, and several development projects.
Tune in to find out how this charming city looks from the lens of Ashima’s camera, along with a few useful tips on photography.
Episode 8: Viraf Patel
Cities are typically defined by its people, culture from the various communities inhabiting the city and very
integrally as well, by its food. Like most other cosmopolitan cities around the
world, Bombay has its own flavours and textures when it comes to food, synonymous with the island city itself. Our host, Ajay Menon chats with a restaurant industry veteran, the passionate Chef Viraf Patel (former Founder of the erstwhile Café Zoe, currently Executive Chef Olive Bar & Kitchen) as he
spills some beans about Bombay’s evolving food culture.
Tune into to learn about how various communities in Bombay all have their own ‘café culture’, and of course Chef Viraf’s go-to places that are sure to hit the spot.
Episode 9: Nitai Mehta
In this episode, our guest has been instrumental in transforming the civil and social structure of Mumbai. Nitai Mehta, founder of Praja, a nonprofit whose mission is to enable citizens to participate and uphold good governance, by empowering them with knowledge and perspective.
Tune in to hear some interesting stories about their participation in governance of his beloved city, Mumbai, and much more.
Episode 10: Matthew Spacie
Matthew Spacie, quit his corporate jobs (previously Founder of Cleartrip.com and former COO of Cox & Kings Mumbai) to build a very successful NGO, The Magic Bus. The journey of this foundation is quite literally magical.
Tune in to know how an initiative which started with an unplanned rugby match ended up touching the lives of a million children over two decades while it won many awards and accolades including MBE (Member of British Empire) for services to children in the Commonwealth.
