Like a bridge in troubled waters Mumbai’s water woes to submerge historical bridge that connects Bollywood’s past

Like a bridge in troubled waters

Mumbai’s water woes to submerge historical bridge that connects Bollywood’s past

While all of Mumbai is praying for rain, there is a 109-year-old bridge that must feel glad the monsoon has been sluggish. Had it rained enough, the bridge, which is located in Kasara in the city’s Thane district, would have been submerged by the catchment waters of the new mid Vaitarna reservoir. What adds nostalgia to this aged structure is the fact that through the late 60s and 70s, many popular and iconic movies were shot here. Everyone from Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Vyjayanthimala Bali, Rajendra Kumar, Dharmendra, Saira Banu, Asha Parekh, Jeetendra and Amitabh Bachchan has had to camp here and shoot for their films. The bridge’s days are numbered, and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC) additional commissioner of projects Rajiv Jalota has admitted this to DNA. “I know there will be many sentiments about the heritage value of this spot, but we need to remember that this is being done to get water for Mumbai. The city demands 4,200 MLD of water, and only 3,350 is available. The mid Vaitarna project, with its capacityof 455 million litres, will help address that gap to an extent,” he said. Even though its future may be in question, the bridge can definitely boast of a golden past. “In those days, there were no vanity vans or any such luxury. The atmosphere outdoors used to be like a picnic,” remembers veteran danseuse-actor Vyjayanthimala, who spent over a fortnight in this neighbourhood shooting for the classic Madhumati. “Our cinematographer Dilip (Gupta) used to get so excited. No matter where he pointed, it would be so picturesque. I wonder if it is still the same,” she said and lamented that a landmark setting like the bridge was being submerged. A pragmatic Waheeda Rehman regretted the inevitable demolition, and enquired if human settlements were being destroyed. “Water is a necessity and development to bring water cannot be stopped. But the government should make some effort to preserve this memory so that our cinematic heritage can be preserved at least as an exhibition of photographs,” she pointed out. She also recounted how the original plan to shoot on the Bihar-Nepal border for Teesri Kasam was abandoned after law and order concerns. “Yet see the way Subrata Mitra shot it. No one can say we are in the outskirts of Mumbai.” Others like Dharmendra were also dismayed. “We have lost so many memories as all the studios made way for development. Now this. I wish there was some way to preserve the bridge. Abroad, people have not only preserved such locales, but has helped generate revenue through tourism.” Jalota, of course, cheekily smiles when we ask him about preservation. “That is something the Public Works Department will decide. But aren’t the memories already captured in these movies?” Since this is a critical road connecting some of the most interior adivasi tehsils of Jawhar and Mokhada in Thane, the Public Works Department has already built another bridge. While the old stone-arched one was at the bottom of the valley, the new RCC one will not need one to get down at all. It will cross the valley right at the top. Perhaps we best wait till the water recedes next summer for a glimpse of the bridge. Hopefully it will live to see 110.