Makar Sankranti 2023: How this Bandra kite-maker is carrying on his family’s 71-year-old legacy

Ahmed Qazi`s grandfather started making and selling kites in 1952 in Bandra. Ever since then his family has continued the business that even gives kites for Bollywood films. Photo Courtesy: Nascimento Pinto/Mid-day

Ahmed Qazi has a child-like enthusiasm when talking about kites ahead of Makar Sankranti. His face becomes as colourful as the kites he sells every day. "My name is Ahmed, but people call me ‘Ahmedbhai Patangwala'," shares a jovial Qazi. The 64-year-old has been in the kite making and selling business since 1979, almost 27 years after his grandfather started Bharat Kites in Mumbai's ‘Queen of Suburbs' just off Lucky Restaurant near the traffic signal, a few metres away from Bandra West railway station. He continues, "My grandfather was passionate about kites and loved flying them. He came to Mumbai in 1930 from Uttar Pradesh and started the business in 1952 and we have been in this business since then. We are the oldest kite shop in this neighbourhood. After him, my father took over and then my elder brother before I joined it and have been a part of it since then."

Sending kites overseas and for Bollywood
The Qazi family has been in the kite-making and selling business for close to 70 years and that has earned them quite some reputation. Today, they go as ‘Lucky Bharat Kite', only because the Bandra resident says it has a ring to it. Their popularity is such that the kites of different sizes don't get transported only in India but also outside of it. "My kites go to different parts of India and abroad including Dubai and Singapore, where it has just gone this time. A lot of Gujaratis from there ask for it every year," shares Qazi. We met him in the morning but even as early as 10 am, he has a steady stream of visitors who come for kites, and ‘maanjas' that hold and help fly the kite. This year, the business has picked up more than the last two years, and last Sunday was proof for him as it saw a lot of in-person sales, especially because people had a holiday.

Apart from selling to people, the third-generation kite-seller reveals that he has also supplied kites for Bollywood films, some of which feature the biggest stars in the film industry. "In recent years, I was the one to supply kites for Salman bhai's film ‘Sultan'. Even Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Raees' had a scene and we supplied kites for that film too," says Qazi, revealing that he has done the same for ‘Pathaan', the upcoming release featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham.

While he has evidently supplied for many movies over the years, these films have had an effect on the business too. Qazi has seen a lot of change over the years through the demands of their clientele. The kites feature prints of the popular Allu Arjun-starrer Telugu film ‘Pushpa' and ‘Chhota Bheem' to name a few. This is apart from logos of companies that source it from him for events close to the festival including one from Powai this year, which has also hired his services to teach people kite flying.

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‘Slum kids enjoy flying kites more than others'
Even though his kites are popular in the corporate world and films, Qazi has seen a dwindling number of youngsters coming to purchase kites and fly them. While that has not affected his business as such, he is a tad bit disappointed about the trend because of the sheer joy he derives out of making, selling and watching people fly kites. He even points out the area in front of his shop that used to once be a plain ground where people used to fly kites every Makar Sankranti. "Lesser people come to purchase kites nowadays. Only people whose fathers or grandfathers flew kites come to get them. Slum kids fly kites more than people from big houses," shares the Bandra local, who says January is peak season.

Unfortunately, it is a season that is only a shadow of its former self. In the earlier days, Qazi says it used to start as early as August 15 and continue all the way till Makar Sankranti but now it lasts barely two months. "The demand now is less because not many people fly kites and the younger generation is more engrossed in their mobile phones," he complains. However, the kite maker sees hope in television shows and films that are showcasing cultural traditions including Makar Sankranti, to hopefully bring about change. The Mumbaikar currently sells them in different sizes ranging from Rs 2 - Rs 20, and hopes this season will be better, especially after the last two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Seeing trends and seasons change has been a part of the business but he is not complaining because more than anything, making and selling kites is a part of his DNA. On occasion, the sexagenerian gets to make the kite himself, especially if they are to be custom-made, and he loves every bit of the job. "Kite making and selling has become our way of life," concludes a content Qazi.

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