What plays in Sobo

Since I am music mad,my winter moments have included a Zakir Hussain concert at the Gateway of India; Jethro Tull and Hariprasad Chaurasia at the Homi Bhabha Auditorium at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research; and Roger Waters at MMRDA Grounds in Bandra-Kurla Complex. But one of the most engaging events was the Buddy Guy show at the National Centre for Performing Arts,Nariman Point in 2005. A great showman,the blues legend had the audience enthralled. Until it turned into an amateur night. In his largesse,he invited musicians from Mumbai to jam with him on stage at the end of the show. Now this would have been okay if the ones invited had been stalwarts in the field. But when the guitarist in question turned out to be the sitting MP from South Mumbai,you knew things werent as they seemed. Milind Deora plays the guitar. In some circles,he is considered quite accomplished. But since I am not a music critic,I wont comment on his talent. What really ticked me off and a majority of the audience was the fact that we had paid for Buddy Guy. A lot of money to be precise. And we didnt want that diluted.

It also drove home the one fact I dislike most about South Bombay. Specifically the area between Breach Candy and Peddar Road that also includes Altamount Road,Napean Sea etc. This blip on the citys map is populated by people who enter the world armed with a unique quality called reverse noblesse oblige. Not for them the belief that their privilege means they must behave with responsibility. On the contrary. Theres a connection between that and South Bombays elected representative8217;s concert appearance. What would have been better is if he had been discreet about his friendship with Buddy Guy seems they jammed together at clubs in Chicago and hosted a session at a private club for his friends and family.

The funny thing is that South Bombay or Sobo thinks taking umbrage is its birthright. Its residents are always outraged at how the government doesnt take care of their needs. For instance,why isnt their city more like Shanghai. After all,they need to live in skyscrapers. So what if that means evicting people from their chawls? They are an eyesore in any case. And why doesnt the building society spruce up their exteriors. They too want to live in a building like Mukesh Ambanis Antilla. It doesnt occur to them that some of them are sitting in rent-protected 4,000-sqft apartments and the Rs 450 they pay per month doesnt even contribute towards sweeping their landing. Nothing is of any concern to them because this area consistently has had the lowest voter turnout in the city. In fact,for Sobo,election day is when they head to their homes in the desi Hamptons,or Alibaug as the rest of us call it. My most galling personal encounter with this superciliousness was when a Sobo snob commiserated with me for living at a wrong address. This from a 40-year-old staying at home with her parents because she could not afford to pay for the correct address. But my self-owned flat in Colaba made me the beneficiary of her sympathy.

But perhaps all is not lost. And a semblance of civilisation is entering that zip code. News is that Buddy Guy is back in February for the Mahindra Blues Festival. I was about to buy season tickets but young Mr Deora has kindly announced that he plans to join the maestro on stage. So thanks to the advance warning,I am giving the concert a miss. Perhaps,years in power have taught this politician the value of diplomacy. Whatever it is,I am taking a leaf from his book and will politely stay away. If Sobo can start on Manners 101,I can surely lead the way.

tothemannerbornexpressindia.com

Curated For You

India vs New Zealand LIVE Cricket Score, 1st T20I: IND defeat NZ by 48 runs, lead series 1-0

Davos 2026 Live Updates: I dont want to use force, I wont use force, says Trump at WEF amid push for Greenland

India vs New Zealand 1st T20I Live Streaming amp; Score: Watch IND vs NZ Match 1st T20 Match Live on Star Sports, JioHotstar