Been planning to write about Chembur's Dukes & Sons ever since I saw this tweet. And there's no better day than today to pen this down. After all, it's the 10th day of Ganpati Celebrations in Mumbai. Meaning, Anant Chaturdashi a.k.a. Visarjan Day. The day when, until a few years back - Dukes & Sons would march down the Sion-Trombay Road (in Mumbai's Chembur area) with their grand visarjan procession. Year after year, since 1972. Easily one of the popular Ganpati Mandals in the area, for which people line up on roads, footpaths, and dividers since morning - a lot like in the rest of the city, to get a glimpse of their beloved Ganeshas.

Chembur's Dukes & Sons

Hello! Returning to my home-ground, Chembur for yet another edition of #MumbaiMatineeMarg. This time talking about Dukes & Sons. Who, at one point were one of the biggest soft-drink companies in Maharashtra, India. Big enough to dominate a market share of around 50% in the state. Also, a company that the people loved ♥. So much, that the 90s kids still aren't done sulking about losing Duke's Lemonade and Duke's Mangola. 😭

And let's get one thing straight: Mangola was single-handedly the best-ever mango drink to come out of India. (Yes, I'm looking at you Frooti). Saying 'was' because Mangola today is Frooti in the garb of Mangola. Also, side note: Mangola was actually Feroze Pandole's idea at the time of it's launch in the 1950s.

Dukes & Sons - The Origins

It all goes back to 'The Parsees'. Cricket fans will know this one. The Parsees were an Indian first-class cricket team founded in 1888 comprising of members from the Zoroastrian community. I'm not telling you more about how legendary they were, because you can read about it here - but what I'd like to talk about is the bowler they had on their team. The name of this bowler was Dinshawji Cooverji Pandole, who was a school teacher by profession. A fine sportsman who played for the 2nd Parsi cricket team that toured England in 1888, taking out 86 wickets to his name.

It was on one of his cricket tours to England, that Mr. Pandole came across the idea of bottled soft-drinks. I'm not too sure if they took home any trophies, but one thing he returned with was the idea of starting a bottled soft-drink company. And that's how Dukes & Sons came into existence in 1889.

Wait, but why Dukes & Sons?

Remember those 86 wickets that Mr. Pandole added to his stats? The ball used to take out those wickets were all made by a company called Duke & Son. So, that's why!

And once again for all the cricket fans! You know how the cricket ball is called a Deuce ball? Same connection.

From Byculla to Khetwadi to Chembur

According to Dinshaw Pandole, the founder's 80-year-old great-grandson: Originally the Duke's factory started-off in Mumbai's Khetwadi-Grant Road area in Girgaon. Which was then shifted to Byculla, and then like most of the city's people and businesses - to the outskirts, in the newer, developing areas. Which happened to be the eastern suburb of Chembur; just outside the Greater Mumbai area, in 1970 for the Pandoles.

Which was what happened with a lot of the film shoots as well back then. Chembur was a hub of film studios and the film fraternity in general. But studios like R.K. Studios, Essel Studios, Asha Studios, Basant Studios - were anyways an ideal choice for films. But you wouldn't say the same about the Duke's factory. Yes, before being sold to Pepsi in 1994 the Dukes & Sons factory in Chembur got a chance to be featured in an actual Bollywood film.

Presenting Dil Ki Baazi - 1993

I'm not joking when I say that the Duke's factory is legit part of the plot in this film. The film features Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Jhulka, Rakhee Gulzar, Paresh Rawal, Anupam Kher, and some more iconic names - but more importantly 'Navin Nischol'. Who is cast as the 'Cold Drinks Factory Owner' (our very own Duke's factory) in the film.

You don't have to believe me, but these scenes from the film will make you.

If you drive down from Navi Mumbai to Chembur you'll be driving down this road.

Confused? Take a look at the Shivaji statue at the top right of the scene. It's the same one that stands today at the start of the Freeway at Panjrapole, in Chembur Mumbai.

If you want to enjoy some nostalgia then do give it a watch. It's available to stream online.

Remember Dinshawji Cooverji Pandole?

That's him. A fine gentleman, who we get a glimpse of in the film as well. Much deserved I'd say.

The Duke of Chembur has left the building

Fortunately, I made it to the factory in March 2018. One last time before it was brought down. In July 2018, the Dukes & Sons factory in Chembur was demolished. 💔

Wrote this that day only because a part of the area we all grew up in was going forever. Be it for their Ganesh Festival, or to use the huge bottle structure as a landmark when giving directions - Dukes & Sons was very dear to the people. And with that the last few remains of the iconic brand were now gone. Ladies and gentleman, the Duke of Chembur has left the building.

To be honest, I miss seeing the bottle. But I miss Mangola more. What a treat it would've been, if I could write this story for #MumbaiMatineeMarg sipping on one today.

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