Mumbai. Just saying the name is enough to stir something in you. The city of dreams, where skyscrapers touch the clouds, and dreams bubble on every corner. As you live here, the city envelpes you with its chaotic charm — those sunsets by Marine Drive, the aroma of street food wafting through the air, and the chatter of local trains carrying millions of stories every day. The people who inhabit it develop a romantic relationship with it and it becomes a part of their identities.

It is this dynamic that Anurag Baruah captures in his short film, 'Five Star'. The film is centered around a conversation — a dialogue between two Mumbaikars from opposite sides of the city’s kaleidoscope. A kaali-peeli taxi driver; a veteran of the city’s grind, picks up a passenger — fresh face, starry-eyed and brimming with hope. Their banter becomes a mirror reflecting the many faces of Mumbai. The passenger, new to the city, sees Mumbai as an endless playground of possibilities. His eyes light up when he talks about its people and the promise. The driver? He’s seen the city chew up and spit out more dreams than he can count. He has seen its underbelly and all the tricks it plays with you. Through their exchange, Five Star explores the layered relationship people have with Mumbai.

The short, as prefaced, is a tribute to the kaali-peeli taxis that have been a part of Mumbai’s soul for decades and are now retired. It treats them as a symbol of Mumbai’s resilience and romance. Woven into the city's fabric, these taxis have seen it all: the first dates, the late-night escapes, the everyday commutes, and the stories of the everyman.

In a short span of five minutes, Five Star paints a picture of the whirlwind that is Mumbai. Through the cynicism, guile, and naivety of its characters, it is an enthralling vignette of life in the big city. It is a love letter to the messy, magical relationship that the 'City Of Dreams' has with its residents. And like Mumbai itself, it lingers with you long after the ride is over.

Follow Anurag here and watch the short film below:

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