Book Review | When Bandra is the Centre of Your World

In other words? Nonsense of a boy from Bandra He has a bengali avatar, Baandrabasir Kheror Khata.

Now can you equate ‘Rambling’ with ‘Kheror Kata’? The English word implies an uncharted or confused flow of thought. What about Kheror Khata? Traditional red cloth-bound notebooks were used by Ray to visualize scripts; by his father to show Abol Tabol; and her Aunt’s name, Leela Majumdar’s anecdotal memories. This all means jotting down thoughts and drawing images as they arise in a fertile imagination. That’s why SOAS professor Rachel Dwyer describes these as “notes in kheror khata” in the Foreword.

I would read ‘Rambling’ as walking for pleasure in the countryside. The author’s narrative capsules coincide with this definition in form and content. For the far-reaching structure of his text extends from one part of his life to another, from one landscape to another, from one person to the many others who populate his world.

Joy was born to Manobina and Bimal Roy in 1955 after they moved to Godiwala Bungalow in Bandra. This heritage architecture on Mount Mary Road has given way to a multi-storey monster. But memories of life here, as well as those who visited here when Bimal Roy was writing his classics or after Joy passed away when she was 10, still shine bright in these stories. Bandra remains at the center of Joy’s life over the years.

Derived from ‘Bandar’ (meaning port), Bandra remains the queen of Mumbai’s suburbs. Located in the heart of the Financial Capital of India, this historical site has hosted VIPs of Bollywood and hot Senas. When we were young, we used to run to Mount Mary Basilica and the weather-beaten Bandra Fort. The Castle overlooking the Arabian Sea was built during World War II. It predates British ownership of the Seven Islands, which was given to the Crown when Charles married Princess Catherine of Portugal (1662). St Andrew’s Church was founded in 1575 by Jesuits who won the support of Koli fishermen. Since then, Bandra, like Goa, has become a stronghold of Christians.

But since our childhood, Bandra has been synonymous with Mehboob Studios, where many Bollywood blockbusters took shape. The other end of Bandra is home to wannabe Slumdog Millionaires. Rising above the Dharavi slums here, the Bandra-Kurla complex defines the dreams of the rich and the up and coming. Nearby, the Bandra-Worli Sealink bridges south Mumbai with its ever-expanding suburbs. He returned home in Pali Hill along with Nargis Dutt, Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Dutt and Priya Dutt; Dilip Kumar is with Saira Banu. Gulzar with Raakhee. Once Meena Kumar watched the sun set into the ocean; later she was replaced by Rekha. Facing this large field, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan wave to the enthusiastic crowd. The same Bandstand dedicated a magnificent statue on Promenade Joy Lamentto honor his mother, a pioneering photographer.

nonsense takes a tour of all this and takes a look at the privileged life of the Bandra Boy. For decades. When he assisted Shyam Benegal. He sculpted HMV’s Alisha Chinai. As a singer, I was fascinated. As a designer, I was fascinated. A fund was created for nursing homes. Mounted exhibits. Director Remembering Bimal Roy…

Go ahead, readers!

Nonsense of a boy from Bandra

By Joy Bimal Roy

Released Digitally

p. 440; Rs 500/-