Most people who visit the city of Mumbai love it for many reasons. Among them are its fast-paced life and sea views which they likely haven’t experienced before. Stepping onto the Mumbai local trains and doing the classic ‘Mumbai Darshan’, covering Marine Drive and Gateway of India among other sites, tends to have a lasting effect on people. Their awe for the city can also be attributed to the work opportunities, cut-throat competitiveness, and struggle for survival that are all a part of the experience here. This spirit has spilled into art, becoming an inspiration for films and music too.

Every year, June 21 is celebrated as World Music Day, and what better way to celebrate it in Mumbai than by cueing up music which talks about the magic and madness of the city. These are some of the favourite songs which are sung, played at parties, and featured in Bollywood movies too —they view the city from the perspective of an outsider as well as an insider. Many of them have also informed the popular imagination and understanding of the metropolis.