Once Upon A City columns | Meher Marfatia

Once Upon A City

Bombay offers a million stories simply waiting to be told. Love it; it loves you right back. Taking readers from hovels to havelis, celebrating the histories of both, the Once Upon A City online archive also includes vintage images and contemporary video clips accompanying articles. Leaving you as happy and hopeful about our city as it does me. Buckle up for a new ride every other Sunday — yeh hai Bambai hamaari jaan!

These stories unlock with a subscription. Keep Bombay’s fast-vanishing history and heritage alive.

First bridge, last rites and midtown memories

It’s worth being stuck in traffic to savour historic Kemp’s Corner’s striking architecture and streetscape “What did one banana say to another? Marry me, I’m akela.” To think a joke as bad as this got Amitabh Bachchan guffawing. He and Anwar Ali, comedian Mehmood’s brother, cracked such nonstop corn in Allah Beli, the Kemp’s Corner cafe that is now the Gangar Opticians showroom. Struggler buddies paid a few hundred bucks for eyeblink roles as boys singing and drinking in Merc

Meher Marfatia

Feb 1111 min read

Three cups of tea at Char Null

Beyond its notorious face, Dongri harbours legacies of service and spirituality, from water carriers and surma makers to the Baba Gor Dargah celebrating the Sidi Dhamal festival

Meher Marfatia

Feb 77 min read

On the waterfront

Ten jewel-like buildings at Apollo Bunder have offered more than simply great harbour views since 1900

Meher Marfatia

Feb 77 min read