Mumbai Autorickshaws

A - it's just the start

ए तो शुरूवात है ...

If you are Mangloo, he's looking out for you.

एक मंगलु की तलाश

Remember the Bam-bam Maharaj & Babuji joke?

ओढली चुनरिया विंध्याचल की
जय जय बोलो बंबाजी की!

Marathi accent

On a truck

नशिब अपना अपना

Unusual combination

A cop, disciple of Shri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot and a fan of President Barack Obama.

Loaded today. Empty tomorrow.

एक फूल दो माली - The most recurring theme in the Chopda-Johad camp films.

एक फूल दो माली आज भरी कल खाली

Dutch Graffiti

A beautifully done wall in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Ubiquitous bicycles and an Indian Restaurant named (what else but) Taj Mahal.

Modern technology owes ecology an apology

Angry Motorcycle

An extra K always helps.

According to urbandictionary, Terrarist is a person who commits terrorist acts in the name of preventing widespread environmental damage.

Mumbai King

The expression - Shorgasm (shooting orgasm).

Mumbai King

Notice the line below the bumper.

KHAIL KHALLAS

Yellow dress and a red lipstick. Oooooh Raveena.

Made for each other

हम भी तो यूसुफ़ होते

Spotted this Auto in May 2011. Popular stars on the Auto rickshaw circuit are Salman and SanjooBaba. This guy however is a huge Yusuf fan.

The small strip below the bumper is the place to look out for some interesting messages.

ना... मुन्ना ... ना

Here's picture I took December 2008 . This has to be the most creative and brilliant casting combination idea ever (Notice that it's the same auto rickshaw).

Red Chilli

लाल मिरची हिर्व (हिरवं)
आठवन (आठवण) झाली पुन्हा भेट!

Krishna Nee begane baro

This one reminded me of the song by Colonial Cousins.

अंधार झाला आता दिवा पाहिजे,
महाराष्ट्राच्या मातीला पुन्हा
जिजाऊचा शिवा पाहिजे

When the money runs out

"What happens when the money from the land you just sold runs out?" he asks his elder brother.

A friend spotted this auto rickshaw in Dombivali. A common story on the outskirts of Mumbai where land (mostly agricultural) is making way for the housing needs of a rapidly growing city.

जागेचे पैसे संपल्यावर दादा करशिल काय?

Churchill on Golf

Pedal Power - 4

Pedal powered temple and behind it is a temple-bullock-cart. Bringing gods to your doorstep.

Pedal Power - 3

Pedal powered advertising hoarding. This one is equipped with a battery to light up the display.

Pedal Power - 2

Pedal powered knife sharpener. Knives, scissors sharpened at your door step. The bicycle is equipped with a display shelf too.

Notice the red string that transmits power from the wheel to grinder.

Pedal Power - 1

Pedal powered goods carrier. This one has a payload of about 100Kgs.

Punjab to Kashmir

Apart from the main message, there's also one in black paint (the badly painted letters)

तोता उड़ा पंजाब से, जा पहुँचा कश्मीर!
मिलने को दिल करता है मिलने न देती तकदीर।
--
प्यार करने वालो कि किस्मत बुरी होती (है)
हर मुलाकात से जुदाई जुडी होती (है)
--
वक्‍त मिले तो पढ लेना दोस्ती कि किताब
दोस्ती हर मुआयने मे मुहब्बत से बडी होती है

One truck, 4 messages

This truck had many messages. This one highlights the importance of money and love for businesses (start-ups) and newly-weds.

गाडी वही जो नोट कमाए, दुल्हन वही जो पिया मन भाए

The correct way for overtaking (A gentle/genteel reminder to drivers and also blog readers)

राईट से निकलने वाले को नमस्कार

Another general message

मेरी चलती है तो तरी क्यों जलती है

I haven't been able to figure out the exact idea behind this one. Any guesses?

बाबुजी गई थी उडाके आगई

Life away from home

In a foreign country with an oppressive regime.  

लिखा परदेश किस्मत में, वतन को याद क्या करना
जहाँ बेदर्द हाकिम हो, वहाँ फरीयाद क्या करना

Crazy over hair

Trucker on life and romance
[Click on the image for larger view]

तेरी ज़ुल्फो को देख कर दिवाना हो गया
प्यार किया किसी से किसी और का हो गया

A Fan (?)

Clicked this a few weeks ago. He insisted I take the photo of the auto along with him. Seemed like a big fan.
[Click on the image to enlarge it]

Another Evil Eye

This trucker seems to be bored of the routine face blackening business.
Another trucker seen earlier was also bored of the face blackening method but was angrier.

[Click on the image to enlarge it]

बुरी नज़र वाले
तेरा भी हो भला

One life

A road safety message

करू नको घाई, हा जन्म पुन्हा नाही

Any time

Another film buff
[Click on the image to view the details]

Chulbul Pandey
Kabhi Bhi Kahi Bhi

A trucker's invitation

To visit his (or her) village
[Click on the image to view the details]

कुँईयाँ का ठंडा पानी, पीपल की छाँव मे, सुबह चले आना, परदेसिया मोरे गाँव में।

Who will win?

For a change it's not about cricket.

[Click on the image to view the crazy expressions]

कौन जीतेगा रिक्शा रेस

Wanted: Gabbar

Back in the heydays of the dot-com boom (2000), Cash2Cash and even Bombay2Goa could have been business models for dot-com companies. With cool shortened versions like C2C/B2G and some luck, perhaps they could've even struck a pot of VC gold too.

We meet again 'n again

The auto-rickshaw in this post suggested that those in a hurry were all gone. While this auto reveals where they  might have gone.


[Click on the image to view the details]

धिरे-धिरे चलोगे तो बार-बार मिलोगे
तेज चलोगे तो हरिद्वार मिलोगे

What would be the equivalent of Haridwar for other religions?

On life and death

Words of wisdom from a trucker.

Hindi translations

For some commonly used words/terms.









Keen observers must have noted the minor typo above. It should be "अन्तर्वस्त्रों".

Gender misunderstanding

While the previous truck was feminine, this truck clarifies gender and declares that he wants to be your lover.

She'll be back

The boss better be ready with the goods.

Tough divorce settlement

तलाक दे रहे हो बडे गुरूर के साथमेरा मेहेर भी लौटा दो मेरे शबाब के साथ

They're all gone

Most of us believe that Auto rickshaw drivers/owners don't care too much about road safety. This guy seems to be an exception. Mainly because the message is unique and it's hand-painted unlike those printed stickers which are carried by Autos only because some RTOs force them to.


[Click on the image to view details]

Bookshelf

What's your favourite book?

[click on the image to view the details]

Water supply

Hand-drawn tankers that supply water in swanky South Mumbai. The street side food stalls are their main customers.


This one's got nice art-work on it.