top of page

By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Seventy-six mayors ruled BMC since 1931

After four years, Mumbai to salute its first citizen Kishori Pednekar Vishwanath Mahadeshwar Snehal Ambekar Sunil Prabhu Mumbai: As the date for appointing Mumbai’s First Citizen looms closer, various political parties have adopted tough posturing to foist their own person for the coveted post of Mayor – the ‘face’ of the country’s commercial capital. Ruling Mahayuti allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have vowed that the city...

Seventy-six mayors ruled BMC since 1931

After four years, Mumbai to salute its first citizen Kishori Pednekar Vishwanath Mahadeshwar Snehal Ambekar Sunil Prabhu Mumbai: As the date for appointing Mumbai’s First Citizen looms closer, various political parties have adopted tough posturing to foist their own person for the coveted post of Mayor – the ‘face’ of the country’s commercial capital. Ruling Mahayuti allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have vowed that the city will get a ‘Hindu Marathi’ person to head India’s richest civic body, while the Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena also harbour fond hopes of a miracle that could ensure their own person for the post. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) optimism stems from expectations of possible political permutations-combinations that could develop with a realignment of forces as the Supreme Court is hearing the cases involving the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party this week. Catapulted as the largest single party, the BJP hopes to install a first ever party-man as Mayor, but that may not create history. Way back in 1982-1983, a BJP leader Dr. Prabhakar Pai had served in the top post in Mumbai (then Bombay). Incidentally, Dr. Pai hailed from Udupi district of Karnataka, and his appointment came barely a couple of years after the BJP was formed (1980), capping a distinguished career as a city father, said experts. Originally a Congressman, Dr. Pai later shifted to the Bharatiya Janata Party, then back to Congress briefly, founded the Janata Seva Sangh before immersing himself in social activities. Second Administrator The 2026 Mayoral elections have evoked huge interest not only among Mumbaikars but across the country as it comes after nearly four years since the BMC was governed by an Administrator. This was only the second time in the BMC history that an Administrator was named after April 1984-May 1985. On both occasions, there were election-related issues, the first time the elections got delayed for certain reasons and the second time the polling was put off owing to Ward delimitations and OBC quotas as the matter was pending in the courts. From 1931 till 2022, Mumbai has been lorded over by 76 Mayors, men and women, hailing from various regions, backgrounds, castes and communities. They included Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, Sikhs, even a Jew, etc., truly reflecting the cosmopolitan personality of the coastal city and India’s financial powerhouse. In 1931-1932, the Mayor was a Parsi, J. B. Boman Behram, and others from his community followed like Khurshed Framji Nariman (after whom Nariman Point is named), E. A. Bandukwala, Minoo Masani, B. N. Karanjia and other bigwigs. There were Muslims like Hoosenally Rahimtoola, Sultan M. Chinoy, the legendary Yusuf Meherally, Dr. A. U. Memon and others. The Christian community got a fair share of Mayors with Joseph A. D’Souza – who was Member of Constituent Assembly representing Bombay Province for writing-approving the Constitution of India, M. U. Mascarenhas, P. A. Dias, Simon C. Fernandes, J. Leon D’Souza, et al. A Jew Elijah Moses (1937-1938) and a Sikh M. H. Bedi (1983-1984), served as Mayors, but post-1985, for the past 40 years, nobody from any minority community occupied the august post. During the silver jubilee year of the post, Sulochana M. Modi became the first woman Mayor of Mumbai (1956), and later with tweaks in the rules, many women ruled in this post – Nirmala Samant-Prabhavalkar (1994-1995), Vishakha Raut (997-1998), Dr. Shubha Raul (March 2007-Nov. 2009), Shraddha Jadhav (Dec. 2009-March 2012), Snehal Ambedkar (Sep. 2014-March 2017). The last incumbent (before the Administrator) was a government nurse, Kishori Pednekar (Nov. 2019-March 2022) - who earned the sobriquet of ‘Florence Nightingale’ of Mumbai - as she flitted around in her full white uniform at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic, earning the admiration of the citizens. Mumbai Mayor – high-profile post The Mumbai Mayor’s post is considered a crucial step in the political ladder and many went on to become MLAs, MPs, state-central ministers, a Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Ministers and union ministers. The formidable S. K. Patil was Mayor (1949-1952) and later served in the union cabinets of PMs Jawaharlal Nehru, Lah Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi; Dahyabhai V. Patel (1954-1955) was the son of India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; Manohar Joshi (1976-1977) became the CM of Maharashtra, later union minister and Speaker of Lok Sabha; Chhagan Bhujbal (1985-1986 – 1990-1991) became a Deputy CM.

Diwali: The Festival of Lights, Sweets, and Blockbusters

Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated across India with immense enthusiasm, signifying the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Streets and homes are decorated with diyas (earthen lamps) and vibrant rangolis, creating an atmosphere brimming with positivity. Families come together, exchanging sweets, wearing new clothes, and performing rituals to welcome prosperity. Diwali is also a time for people to unwind and enjoy, embracing joy and togetherness. For many, this festive season isn’t complete without one more essential element: Bollywood blockbusters.


Over the decades, Bollywood has become an integral part of Diwali celebrations. Big production houses often reserve their biggest releases for the Diwali weekend, drawing moviegoers in droves. This trend began in the era of single-screen theatres, where crowds would queue up hours in advance to watch their favourite stars on the big screen. For Bollywood fans, a Diwali release has traditionally been a must-watch, with films echoing the season’s spirit of joy, love, and hope.


Since the 1990s, Shah Rukh Khan, popularly known as the “King of Bollywood,” has dominated Diwali releases. His movies have become synonymous with the festival. In 1993, Baazigar launched him into superstardom, cementing Diwali as a lucky time for his releases. This was followed by an incredible streak with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Mohabbatein (2000), Veer-Zaara (2004), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Don (2006), Om Shanti Om (2007), Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), and Happy New Year (2014) – all of which were embraced by audiences with open arms. These films became monumental Diwali hits, offering audiences the perfect blend of romance, drama, and music.


But Shah Rukh was not alone in owning the Diwali box office.. comedy franchises like Golmaal and Housefull became consistent Diwali favourites, promising laughter and light-hearted entertainment. The appeal of these Diwali releases lay in their ‘masala’ formula—a mix of romance, action, comedy, and music. Families flocked to theatres, making these films part of their celebrations, and movie houses saw packed halls, with the joyous sounds of clapping and cheering filling the air. Bollywood became an extension of the Diwali festivities, bringing people together for an immersive experience that complemented the festival’s vibrancy.


However, with the rise of streaming platforms, the trend has shifted. Since 2021, Diwali releases have struggled to draw audiences to theatres as strongly as before. Many people now prefer to enjoy the festival from the comfort of their homes, tuning into OTT platforms for entertainment. Despite this shift, filmmakers continue to bet big on Diwali releases, hoping to recreate the magic of past blockbusters. This Diwali, audiences can look forward to Singham Again, a highly anticipated action-packed addition to the successful Singham franchise. Directed by Rohit Shetty, Singham Again boasts a star-studded cast, including Ajay Devgn, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, and Jackie Shroff. Known for its unique mix of action and comedy, the Singham series is expected to bring the excitement back to theatres, and it’s set to be one of the most-watched films this Diwali.


Another big release this year is Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, the latest in the horror-comedy franchise that first captured audiences in 2007. With Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 being a resounding success in 2022, there’s significant buzz around this instalment, with audiences eagerly awaiting its spine-chilling and humorous antics. Other releases include Lucky Bhaskar, starring Dulquer Salmaan, which explores the mysterious journey of a banker in the 1980s, and Amaran, a Tamil biopic based on the life of Major Mukund Varadarajan, an Indian Army hero.


As Diwali draws near, moviegoers are eagerly looking forward to this lineup, especially Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. While the cinema-going experience has evolved, the excitement around Bollywood’s Diwali offerings remains a testament to the festival's spirit—a time to celebrate, revel, and share happiness. Diwali, the festival of lights, continues to illuminate the lives of millions, whether through traditional diyas or the glitz and glamour of Bollywood.


(The author is a communication professional. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page