The stillness of the train at Andheri is in stark contrast to the loud noises of commuters rushing in, grabbing whatever they can lay their hands on – a door handle, an arm. All around people are jostling, stumbling, and scrambling for an empty seat; requesting, arguing, and even pushing others who are already sitting.
Riding the wave of commuters is 31-year-old Kishan Jogi and his 10-year-old daughter Bharti, wearing an ocean-blue Rajasthani skirt and blouse. The 7 o’clock Mumbai local train on the western suburb line is the fifth train the father-daughter duo have hopped onto this evening.
No sooner has the train gathered speed and the commuters settle down than melodies from Kishan’s sarangi fill the air.
“Teri aankhe bhool bhulaiyaa…Baatei hai bhool bhulaiyaa...”
His right hand swiftly moves the bow on the instrument with three strings stretched across a narrow fingerboard setting off a warm and rich hum. The other end of the instrument, a small sound chamber, rests between his chest and left arm. His playing makes the popular song from a 2022 Bollywood film Bhool Bhulaiya more haunting.
A few commuters sitting in the coach turn away from the mundane to listen to the lovely tunes for a while. Some others take out their phones to record him. Some smile, faintly. But many go back on their phones and put in their earplugs, only to be nudged by little Bharti requesting money as she goes around the compartment.









