600 years of Mumbai's spirit

A walk into history always lets you look at your present with new eyes. And who knows, what kind of future would a fresh perspective lead to? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalya (CSMVS) is set to make you rediscover Mumbai through its 20-minute edutainment film, Musst Mumbai, The Mumbai Experience. It is not easy to recapitulate the prolific spirit or the buzzing energy of the city in a 20-minute nutshell but the one-of-a-kind of endeavour by the museum will span the 600-year-old history of the city.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Director General of CSMVS and producer of the film, shares, "The Musst Mumbai experience was conceived to narrate the story of Mumbai and how it all started. Many tourists from outside who visit the museum are not offered a complete perspective. From Nala Sopara; the ancient port to Kanheri and Elephanta Caves, the film visually showcases how the city started from these 3rd centuryu00a0structures." As a reconnaissance, the film will lead you to think of pivotal turning points of the city from its past such as when in 1534, Charles II of England acquired the then known Bombay as part of dowry of Catherine, the queen.

The Elephanta Caves as shown in the film

In a whirl of moments, the film covers - the East India Company settlement; formation of Fort area; American Civil War and its impact on Mumbai's mills, eventually forwarding to the point how the metropolis acted as a pivotal base for the Indian National Movement. Jumping a few decades ahead, you will be able to investigate the moment when Bombay is renamed as Mumbai. "We obviously look at the Kolis who were the original inhabitants of the city to the unification of seven islands. We have tried to cover everything from Cricket to Bollywood in here."

Stills from the 20-minute film Musst Mumbai that hopes to present the many changing facets of the city to tourists at CSMVS.

Mukherjee cautions, "It is not a documentary but a digital experience where you take something away with you. The 20 minutes will try to capture the vibrations of Victoria Terminus and also different kinds of food and festivals."

Taking pride in the Alpha World City, Mukherjee annotates, "This is the only city in the country that has been created by the people and not kings or royalty.

An old image of the Western Railway Headquarters at Churchgate

The initiative is undertaken to understand why the city is vibrant, how different communities are peacefully living together in the city." Ultimately, looking forward to the hopes pined on the country's most populous and wealthiest city, "We will look at the city's expansion, infrastructure and development (such as the Sea Link) that is taking place in the city," imparts Mukherjee.

On July 19, 5 pm (Preview)
At Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalya, 159-161, MG Road, Fort.
Call 22844484, 22844519u00a0