A fluttering installation of beautiful kites hangs suspended from the high ceiling…silver-tinted bicycles with squeaky clean dabbas draw attention in several corners…screens are painted with bustling scenes from a city…faint piped music resonates with the intermittent chug-chug of trains…. These are the sights and sounds that any resident of Mumbai would instantly identify with.

On Makar Sankranti, a festival celebrated by diehard Mumbaiites with kite flying competitions, there is a buzz going around in the cool interiors of Good Earth, as avant-garde designer-turned artist, Krsna Mehta, is busy supervising the last-minute touches to the 'Bombay Project'. The brainchild of Mehta and Sangita Jindal, patron of art and culture, the effort is the result of the duo's close connection with the city that has been their home for many years.

Kolkata-born Jindal - who moved to Mumbai 25 years ago - admits to "attempting a fun thing to attract the city's youth. Mumbai has character and yet, it is continually evolving. It is important, thus," she emphasises, "to create an awareness amongst the younger crowd about the importance of living here and hence, the funky, zany element." Referring to the transposing of real scenes onto trendy accessories and furnishings, she says, "There is an apparent disconnect and a strong connect, at the same time. You have beautiful homes in Mumbai but you just cannot forget the slums that dot the city. Here, imagination transforms reality to create works of art that are functional as well." So, on display - infused with a zany sense of creativity - are snapshots of the old vintage Bombay and new Mumbai - that are manifested in bags, watches, cushions, furniture, lampshades…. Interestingly, a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of items under the label 'Bombay Project' will go towards the uplift of BMC schools.

Yeh hai Mumbai meri jaan is a sentiment Jindal - who was conferred with the Best Citizen Award in 2002 by the 'I love Mumbai' committee - firmly endorses. Her feelings are mirrored in the award-winning Mumbai born and bred Mehta. A strong desire to do something for the metropolis that is so close to his heart inspired him to come up with the idea for 'Bombay Project': "When Sangita backed my dream, there was no looking back. Even though I stayed abroad for a while for my studies, Mumbai was and continues to be my home. This is my way of paying tribute - penning an ode - to a vibrant and complex megalopolis. The city that was earlier the jewel of the Raj is now a cosmopolitan living entity." Wondering why designers did not look much into Mumbai at the aesthetic level, Mehta points out, "My aim was to create a cutting edge concept - my answer to the 'Love New York' campaign. It is trendy, hip…and very city proud."

Carping critics would point to the fact that the infrastructure needs a major dose of revamping. "No one is overlooking that aspect; much needs to be done in that regard," says Mehta. "But I would like to stress the feel-good factor. So, my graphics spotlight the lesser-noticed yet obvious facets of the city. And the spirit of Mumbai that is up there…on top. That is the real essence of this place. And this is just the beginning - we will continuously come up with new, interesting things, in the same vein."

Conversation over, I am offered a glass of 'cutting chai'…. As I sip the city's trademark hot brew, I glance around and I see a channa chor garamwallah 'peddling' his wares to the guests who are milling around. Ah, Mumbai!