Nights in white satin

Those were the days, or rather nights! Yes, how the nights have changed. No, the moon is still the same but we’re talking about the nightlife in Mumbai (then Bombay). It was the time to disco (Remember “D. I. S. C. O.”... the refrain of a popular English song?).
Now you can say that disco is dead and nobody ever thinks of putting on their dancing shoes and go out dancing — unless they were going to learn salsa and such dance forms.Even before the disco craze it was all very refined and resplendent with the swish set sauntering into Supper Club at the Oberoi and Rendezvous at the Taj to listen to all the old favourites played by a live band and not a DJ sitting in one corner. It was time to move and groove at 1900’s (that turned into Insomnia and then turned off) and Cellar and a time for shiny disco balls, particularly pronounced at Fire & Ice that was the ultimate party destination. Earlier, you shook a leg at Rock Around The Clock that has since stopped ticking. And those were the nights at Studio 29 and RG’s and Talk of The Town (now Not Just Jazz By The Bay).
The places that took your fancy included Apollo Bar and Harbour Bar (still very much there in a spanking new look) at the Taj and Lancers’ Bar and Malabar Bar at Oberoi. Party regulars will remember Cavern at Sea Rock, Xanadu, Take Off, Go Bananas, Illusions, Scorpios that turned into Casablanca, Copa Cabaana, Studio that turned into Fashion Bistro, Wild Orchid, Sheetal Again, J49 and Razzberry Rhinoceros that was a joy to all musicians. Now, what do we have? China House that rocks, Bling at The Leela, Hype at Atria and Trilogy, the latest hip, hop and happening nightclub at Sea Princess.
Of course, the old faithful Olive and Indigo have survived as have Leopold and Café Mondegar. The pool tables, once very popular, have all gone away, but retro is here to stay. Retro rocked Club IX (now a restaurant called Mosate) and Hawaiian Shack still rocks with a crowd on any day of the week, while Boat Club attracts its share of Bandra Gymkhana regulars. Karaoke is well and truly kicking on Monday nights at Soul Fry at Pali Naka. Today, you have places with names like Tote on the Turf, Twister and Elbo Room and Bonobo and The Den that serves wine, wine and more wine. Cheers to that!
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