In 1992, I arrived in Mumbai as an eager copywriting aspirant searching for my big break. The Mumbai of that era felt vastly different—far less intimidating and distinctly middle-class friendly, a city where an 8-lakh budget could secure a 1-BHK flat in Thane. For twelve years, from 1992 to 2004, I called the City of Dreams home.
Moving from one suburb to the next like a nomad in search of peace and comfort, my journey spanned from Bhandup to Dombivli, and Andheri to Thane. These meandering moves exposed me to every shade of Mumbai’s overwhelming diversity. Yet, through all those years, I constantly longed for anything that could reconnect me to Kerala. Back in the late ’90s, before multiplexes and pan-Indian releases, our only link back home was the Sunday movie on Asianet or Surya TV. My roommates and I eagerly awaited any cultural event that offered the warm embrace of our homeland and language.
Then came 1997. An unexpected cultural extravaganza was announced, and we scrambled to secure passes.
The occasion was the 75th birthday celebration of Captain C.P. Krishnan Nair, the legendary founder of The Leela Group. The twin highlights of the event were a musical concert by K.J. Yesudas and a felicitation speech by Mammootty. For Malayalis in Mumbai, it was an unbeatable combination.
Living in Andheri at the time, my friend and I boarded a local train to Matunga and made our way to the Don Bosco School ground. A massive crowd had already assembled, setting the stage for an unforgettable night. Yesudas enthralled the audience, his silken voice bringing hit after hit to life. Later, Mammootty delivered an eloquent tribute, showering encomiums on Capt. Nair.
By the time the program wrapped up around 10 PM, we felt completely satisfied—as if we had just enjoyed a sumptuous cultural sadya filled with rare, nostalgic delicacies.
The memories of that enchanting 1997 evening remain vivid, standing tall among the collection of cherished moments I carried with me when I left Mumbai in 2004.
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