National Award-winning singer Hariharan joined the Ganeshotsav celebrations at Sakinakacha Maharaja as part of the Bombay Times Blockbuster series. The singer visited the pandal to seek Bappa’s blessings and participate in the aarti. To the delight of the devotees gathered there, Hariharan also took to the mic and sang the much-loved devotional song Sukhkarta Dukhharta.

Speaking about his visit, Hariharan said, “It was so beautiful to be here with Sakinakacha Ganpati and get photographed with Him. I came to know that they hold a record of being the tallest Ganpati at 43 feet, that’s around four floors!”

For Hariharan, the festival also brought back memories of his childhood and his association with Bappa. “We bring home Bappa for three days and this year was extremely special because I was playing my own recently released aarti, and were all singing together. There is another Ganpati song ‘Vighneshwara’ that I love and I begin all my shows with this,” he said.

Ganpati has been a part of Hariharan’s life since childhood. Recalling his early memories of the festival, he said, “During my student life I used to pray to Bappa. In our home also, every puja began with a Ganpati puja. I used to stay in Kamla Kunj in Matunga as a child and I remember watching Ganpati processions but since I was a kid, I was not allowed to join.”

He also remembers the celebrations in his neighbourhood. “Next to my building was Ganesh Baug and they would have a big Ganpati and had skits, dramas, would show movies, give a different prasad every day. Those are wonderful memories of this special festival.”

His connection with Bappa continued into his college years. “Next to Matunga station there used to be a tiny Ganesh Temple. As a collegiate, I’d take a train from Matunga station to VT and walk across the maidan to Government Law College. So every single morning I'd first say a hello to Ganpati Bappa.”

This year, Ganeshotsav became particularly special for Hariharan as his twin grandchildren, one-and-a-half-year-old, experienced the festival for the first time. The little ones, he says, quickly formed an attachment to Bappa. “This year my twin grandkids, Aria and Ahaan experienced their first Ganpati and within just these three days they got very attached to Bappa. Aarya was so upset after the visarjan, ‘Where is Bappa, what did you do with him?’ So we had to tell her that Ganpati has gone home for a swim,” he said.

For the singer, moments like these capture the enduring beauty of the festival. “This whole concept of Ganeshotsav is absolutely beautiful,” he said.

Established in 1985, Sakinakyacha Maharaja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal has become one of Mumbai’s prominent Ganeshotsav attractions and is known for its towering Ganpati idol. This year, the over 40 feet idol was created on-site over several weeks and has received recognition as 'Mumbai’s tallest Ganesh idol'. It has a regal Peshwai-inspired look, complete with a traditional pheta, sword and trishul.

Over four films were shot at the different locations at CSMT this financial year

Mumbai: This financial year, the Central Railway has earned more than Rs 2. 48 crore — highest ever — by offering various premises and rail coaches for film shooting.

“Around 10 films were shot, including, six feature films, two web series, one short film, and an advertisement across different CR locations,” said chief PRO Shivaji Sutar.

Out of the total amount earned, the highest revenue of Rs 1.27 crore was made from the feature film, 2 Brides, shot at Yeola, Kanhegaon stations with shooting special Train for 18 days. Another feature film shot at Adarki Railway Station for nine days fetched Rs. 65.95 lakh.

Other locations used for shooting include, old Wadi Bunder yard, Adarki railway station near Satara, Yeola, Kanhegaon stations between Manmad and Ahmednagar, Dadar, Mulund RPF ground and Matheran Railway station.

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Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) seems to be the most preferred shooting location for filmmakers with four films being shot at the location this financial year. One of them includes the OTT film ‘Modern Love – Cutting Chai’, starring Arshad Warsi and Chitrangda Singh. 

The other film shooting locations that are popular are old Wadi Bunder yard, Adarki railway station near Satara, Yeola, Kanhegaon stations between Manmad and Ahmednagar, Dadar, Mulund RPF ground and the Matheran railway station.

 

Around 10 films were shot, including six feature films, two web series, one short film and an advertisement, at different Central Railway locations by various filmmakers and production houses.

The other popular station locations are Apta, Panvel, Lonavala, Khandala, Wathar, Satara and railway yards like Turbhe. 

Central Railway earned the highest revenue of Rs 1.27 crore from the feature film ‘2 Brides’ which was shot at Yeola and Kanhegaon stations for 18 days. 

Another feature film shot at Adarki railway station with the use of a special train for nine days fetched Rs 65.95 lakh. Despite Coronavirus restrictions in the initial six months of this financial year, Central Railway with its seamless process, attracted production houses to use its locations for film shooting and generated this record revenue.

The revenue earned of Rs 2.48 crore this financial year is the highest ever from film shooting by Central Railway, surpassing the previous highest revenue generated in the year 2013-14 of Rs 1.73 crore. Even after the stringent norms in place during the last financial year i.e 2020-21, the revenue earned was Rs 41.16 lakh.

Anil Kumar Lahoti, General Manager said, “The popular locations like CSMT, the old Wadi Bunder yard, Wathar (near Satara) and the Apta station (in Panvel area) and the initiatives to grant permission to the production houses without any hassles, has enabled Central Railway to earn record revenue from film shoots.”

Shivaji Sutar, Chief Public Relations Officer said “The Central Railway has enabled the shooting of many box office hit films like Slumdog Millionaire, Kaminey, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Ra.One, Raavan, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Dilwale Dulaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dabangg, Darbar, Rang De Basanti, Baaghi, Khakee, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, among others, over the years.”