I distinctly remember Nana Patekar’s character in Taxi No. 9211; his source of joy, and misery was the fated taxi. His journey, albeit with changes, was embodied by Mehmood, who portrayed a spirited driver in Sadhu Aur Shaitaan.
And I recall my father talking about Guru Dutt’s onscreen persona, Kalu, who drove a Kali Peeli on the streets of Bombay in Aar-Paar. Our collective nostalgic obsession is perfectly captured by Bollywood, so much so that on my first trip to the Maximum City, riding a Kali Peeli was high up on my bucket list. Cliché, I know, but it’s cliché for a reason.
Though I’ve never been to Kolkata, ‘a ride in a Peeli Taxi’ has always been near the top of my city bucket list, followed closely by a visit to Kumartuli and a sunset boat ride on the Hooghly under the iconic Howrah Bridge. For decades, Kolkata's bright yellow Ambassador taxis have been synonymous with the city’s vibrancy. An indispensable part of the city for both locals and travellers, these iconic vehicles are symbolic of Kolkata's poetic charm.
In spite of never having seen the city, my heart is with its people as they mourn the phase out of the city’s aging yellow cabs. The yellow taxis trace their origins to the mid-20th century when the Hindustan Ambassador, modelled after the British Morris Oxford, was introduced to India. Its sturdy build, spacious interiors, and regal design quickly made it the car of choice for government officials and, eventually, for Kolkata’s taxi fl.