Sunday breakfast at Matunga, without fail
Shantaram and Bhushan were brothers from Srirangam and settled at Wadala, Mumbai. As part of their Sunday morning tradition over many decades, since the days they accompanied their father, they would walk up to Sharada Bhavan in Matunga to have their regular order - idli + medu vada sambar, rava masala dosa and filter coffee. It never changed and as ever, the decor and furniture at Sharada Bhavan had remained the same.
This never-changing tradition and its environs had led to the brothers becoming resistant to any suggestions or need for change in their lives and their work.
Their tradition faced a challenge and an obstacle on one such splendid Sunday. A large group of cricket fans had taken over all the seats in Sharada Bhavan and the old-time regulars were waiting outside. The strong rumor was that the idli-vada sambar and rava masala dosa may run out and the restaurant may not be able to serve them their only choice.
It would not do, said Bhushan, and taking hold of his younger brother's arm, they went inside and stood near the cashier and insisted that they may be allowed to share a table with the youngsters. The cashier knew them for many years and asked for two chairs that were being used as a temporary store inside the kitchen.
Once seated, they were amazed to see that the entire group of young cricket fans was also eating idli + medu vada sambar and rava masala dosa.
It filled Bhushan's heart with joy as he explained to Shantaram, "I am so very happy. Our nation will never have any problem. The younger generation will also prosper and be good. A plate of idli-vada sambar followed by rava masala dosa and steaming strong filter kapi on a Sunday morning at Matunga, and everything is all right with the world!"
[True story... It actually happened...]
[27 May 2019]
Watching Guns of Navarone at Aurora talkies
Bhushan and Shantaram were having a Friday evening argument as usual. Aurora talkies, the cinema theatre at King's Circle was showing "The Guns of Navarone" for the umpteenth time and both the brothers had seen the movie, several times. They were counting off the number of times that they had seen the movie. Bhushan had seen it 10 times and Shantaram had done better, 12, because he had also accompanied their father, Bhashyam, to see the movie at Aurora talkies.
"Better to stay at home and cook ourselves a splendid dinner for Saturday evening," suggested Bhushan.
"No! Let's go and see the movie again," countered Shantaram. "They may not show the movie later, and this may be the last time. I do not want to miss the scene of the boat tossing against the angry waves, and Gregory Peck drinking his cup of coffee in that cool manner. Let's go and see it again."
Bhushan was also reminded of that scene, "cinema history!" as he termed it. No one could better it, even if the movie was remade a hundred times.
Their wives and children had given up on the argument, many years ago, for they knew what would happen. The brothers would surely go for the movie, as they did, to Aurora talkies, every Saturday evening. Sunday mornings were for breakfast at Sharda Bhavan at Matunga, while Saturday evenings were for the 6 to 9 pm show at Aurora. Any movie, Hindi or English or Tamil or the very rare NTR Telugu one.
It was their father, Bhashyam, who closed the argument. "Go and see the 'Guns of Navarone' and get tickets for me also. I will come with you. I want to see Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn and David Niven. Who knows, the three may not come back in a movie again."
[2 June 2019]
Shantaram and Bhushan were brothers from Srirangam and settled at Wadala, Mumbai. As part of their Sunday morning tradition over many decades, since the days they accompanied their father, they would walk up to Sharada Bhavan in Matunga to have their regular order - idli + medu vada sambar, rava masala dosa and filter coffee. It never changed and as ever, the decor and furniture at Sharada Bhavan had remained the same.
This never-changing tradition and its environs had led to the brothers becoming resistant to any suggestions or need for change in their lives and their work.
Their tradition faced a challenge and an obstacle on one such splendid Sunday. A large group of cricket fans had taken over all the seats in Sharada Bhavan and the old-time regulars were waiting outside. The strong rumor was that the idli-vada sambar and rava masala dosa may run out and the restaurant may not be able to serve them their only choice.
It would not do, said Bhushan, and taking hold of his younger brother's arm, they went inside and stood near the cashier and insisted that they may be allowed to share a table with the youngsters. The cashier knew them for many years and asked for two chairs that were being used as a temporary store inside the kitchen.
Once seated, they were amazed to see that the entire group of young cricket fans was also eating idli + medu vada sambar and rava masala dosa.
It filled Bhushan's heart with joy as he explained to Shantaram, "I am so very happy. Our nation will never have any problem. The younger generation will also prosper and be good. A plate of idli-vada sambar followed by rava masala dosa and steaming strong filter kapi on a Sunday morning at Matunga, and everything is all right with the world!"
[True story... It actually happened...]
[27 May 2019]
Watching Guns of Navarone at Aurora talkies
Bhushan and Shantaram were having a Friday evening argument as usual. Aurora talkies, the cinema theatre at King's Circle was showing "The Guns of Navarone" for the umpteenth time and both the brothers had seen the movie, several times. They were counting off the number of times that they had seen the movie. Bhushan had seen it 10 times and Shantaram had done better, 12, because he had also accompanied their father, Bhashyam, to see the movie at Aurora talkies.
"Better to stay at home and cook ourselves a splendid dinner for Saturday evening," suggested Bhushan.
"No! Let's go and see the movie again," countered Shantaram. "They may not show the movie later, and this may be the last time. I do not want to miss the scene of the boat tossing against the angry waves, and Gregory Peck drinking his cup of coffee in that cool manner. Let's go and see it again."
Bhushan was also reminded of that scene, "cinema history!" as he termed it. No one could better it, even if the movie was remade a hundred times.
Their wives and children had given up on the argument, many years ago, for they knew what would happen. The brothers would surely go for the movie, as they did, to Aurora talkies, every Saturday evening. Sunday mornings were for breakfast at Sharda Bhavan at Matunga, while Saturday evenings were for the 6 to 9 pm show at Aurora. Any movie, Hindi or English or Tamil or the very rare NTR Telugu one.
It was their father, Bhashyam, who closed the argument. "Go and see the 'Guns of Navarone' and get tickets for me also. I will come with you. I want to see Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn and David Niven. Who knows, the three may not come back in a movie again."
[2 June 2019]
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