Cities.

Diwali lights are all around. I can hear so many crackers being burst. But the atmosphere is so much different to the Diwali I am used to, back home. Here, Diwali is a festival. There, Diwali is more like a time of the year where we can burst crackers and probably get a day off. If you still cant understand, imagine Trivandrum during Onam. Yes, its almost likewise!

So, just sitting in the room, thinking this is going to be the last night in Mumbai for quite sometime, it suddenly struck me that yesterday I heard something really hilarious. After the film screening, I overheard a girl talking to one of our crew members. She was of the opinion, she can never adjust herself to Trivandrum and for her Trivandrum is not a city. She proudly said she was born and brought up in Mumbai and for her, she can never accept Trivandrum as a city. Fair enough! Yes, fair enough for a girl who is born and brought up in Mumbai. But wait. Are Trivandrum and Mumbai comparable? Ask me. I have lived in both the cities. NO. You just cannot do that!

Each and every city has its own culture and lifestyle. Even if its two cities in the same state, you just cannot compare them. If at all you have to do it, you cant compare Trivandrum with Mumbai. Probably you can compare Trivandrum with Kochi or Madurai or maybe, arguably, Delhi. But its safe not to do that. Not trying to bring up the regional difference, but it does exist. Right from politics to lifestyle, there is a lot of difference.

 As a matter of fact, Mumbai is an incomparable city. Firstly, its so huge. Secondly, it has its own exclusive life style and culture. Its the city that never sleeps. You feel comfortable going out late at night. Mumbai life starts beyond 10pm. I don\’t know whether there is any other city in the country which offers such a vibrant night life. Another point I have noticed about Mumbai is, here people don\’t measure places by distance. They know its useless. They measure it by time. I had to travel 19kms yesterday and it took me 3 hours in the cab. If I had to travel 19 kms in Trivandrum, I would have either reached the outskirts of city or probably, Azhimala beach. But here, I was still in Mumbai.

The very same girl had her eyes in shock when informed how Trivandrum celebrates IFFK. Oh yes! That is here for you to feel. The whole city immerse themselves in Cinema. The whole city celebrates Cinema. Its different. Its unique. Its beautiful. I will write about that later!

So, lets just stop comparing city and enjoy each of them in their own way. Also, take a moment to tell yourself, its all a part of India.