Last Journey Mr Vikas Mohan..

I Love Bandra... Because That Is Where I Stay

i became bald
as i was turning
gray ...to die
with dignity
to god i pray
good friends
die leaving
memories
on the way
man an idol
golden dreams
but feet made
of clay ,,
born in transit
yet permanently
he wants to stay
lost illusions
as they say
where there is
a will yet cant
find his way

Mr Vikas Mohan and Me

On my recent visit to Ujjain Kumbh I payed at a few Temples for Vikas Mohan jis speedy recovery ,, I also placed a chaddar for him at the Dargah of Holy Saint Kwajah Garib Nawaz.
But what God gives God takes ,,,
Years back when he visited Siddi Vinayak with his producer friends on his way back from the Temple he would visit my workspace at Bandra ..his cherubic smiling face ,,but first he would offer me the Lords prasad ,
He wore white linen shirts crispy starched and soft white trousers ,,he loved sleeveless jackets with a colorful pocket hanky ,,
He loved good clothes but never would he go overboard with his sartorial simplicity ,,,if I ever had a problem I would take him into confidence as he was very close to all Bollywood producers directors and the fraternity ,,,
Despite his poor health he would sit hours in his office at Supercinema Clifton.. while I waited to meet him
At home he would give me a copy of Supercinma and though his sons were friendly with all the top designers wore branded clothes ..he would tell them to try me out ,,, they did ,, and I am humbled by this gesture ,,,
His wife Bhabiji made sure there was some sweet dish for me and I would eat a bit ..politely as I kept away from sweets because of my diabetes ,,than a nice cup of green tea,,,sometimes she would give me a box of chocolates for my grandchildren.
Mrs Vikas Mohan would insist I bring my wife and I did when I came to their beautiful house ,,,his children Anmol Anshul highly respectful as they knew my attachment to their doting father .
And this is a Bollywood where Religion takes a backseat , where divisive politics take a backseat ,,,Mr Vikas Mohan was a man above all thing a staunch Ganesha devotee ,,,I would make sure I tagged him in my Lalbagh Chya Raja pictures that I shot on the Press Day of the Lord ...
I told his children at the funeral you lost the head and heart of your family I too lost a great member of my family ,,,,
And I hope both his sons Anshul and Anmol carry on the heritage of their Father ,,, and I pray to God to give them spiritual strength to bear this tremendous irreparable loss.


Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them. George Eliot

Our Dear Mr Vikas Mohan Starts His New Journey To Shivas Abode

I have known Vikasji as we all called him for over 25 years ..I stitched his personal clothes and made his last kurta waistcoat a week back for his son Anshuls engagement ,, though he was unwell lost a lot of weight he looked smart and elegant in the new dress ..I had added a cravat for his comfort ,, and I had suggested he wear cloth silkish mojdis ,, and he went by my words .
Vikasji was family he loved me a lot and always supported me in my bad times ,, he promoted me too ,,,with his Bollywood friends ,,
My wife and I would visit him when he was recuperating and he and his wife were great hosts ,,and today I lost a very important part of my family ,,
I was not well since morning but at noon I saw Mr Shyam Shroffs Obituary of Vikasji I called up Shyamji another very close and dear friend and immediately rushed for the funeral..
It was a sad somber moment and everyone he loved was there to see him off to Shivas abode.
At The Ville Parle crematorium there was a larger crowd of his associates actors directors producers ,,even that spot boy the light man were there to take part in his last rites ,,,
I shot some frames and a short video stitched them together as a tribute to his soul and for those who could not make it to his funeral..
The least I could do.. for a kind humanbeing ,,who dearly called me Firoze Bhai ,,,my condolences to his brave wife Bhabiji Anmol Anshul and family ,, May God Give them the Strength to bear this irreparable loss ,,
Om Shanti Om...
And I must mention here when Anand his dressman was dying Vikasji did all he could ,...Anand was dressman to Neha Arts ..of Mr Nitin Manmohan.. and I remember Anand on his deathbed talking to me about Vikasji...
Death that always remains an illusion finally for one last time becomes a Reality ...
RIP Vikas Ji..

last rite video

Mee Dabbawala Bolto

I have been shooting Dabbawalas it is my poetic pursuit , if I see them on the streets I request them to stop I humbly shoot a few frames of my best soul satisfying street  photography subject,

Most of the Dabbawalas in Bandra know as I wont hesitate stalking them at the station ,..or on their cycles heading to work..

Most of the Dabbawalas also know me as I shot them on the only day they bunked work.. 5000 of them protesting at Azad Maidan supporting Anna Hazares India Against Corruption.

My Dabbawala pictures grace the portals of a premium Business Management Academy in America highlighting their contribution to Indian society in Mumbai and their punctuality precision in delivering tiffins from homes to the officegoers ,,,

Sadly the Government Of Maharashtra has done nothing for this erstwhile Maharashtrian community neither in terms of lifestyle or cheap housing for them or better education for the children sadly the same situation with the Police personnel ,,, both suffer from the apathy neglect of our government ..I certainly dont have to tell you about the farmers ,,

All those ostentatious self glorifying ads could have been better used to people dying in the drought in the rustic rural interiors of water parched Maharashtra ,,

This is not a political blog ,,,so you dont have to read between the lines ,,will we see Dabbawalas on motor bikes scooters or having their on fleet of taxis buses delivering food is a very distant dream...locked in the dark cell of Acche Din and misplaced mantra called Sab Ka Sath.. Jai Jagganath..

The Tenniswalas Of Coach Surendra Pawar Bandra 2