The two things I love most about Sundays in Mumbai are brunches and sunset parties — both on the beach.
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the Sunday brunch at Vie Deck and Lounge, at Juhu. A little further along Juhu beach, Aurus hosts a weekly Sunday Sundown Session from 5 p.m. I had a blissful time there last Sunday.
Both Vie Deck & Lounge and Aurus open onto Juhu Beach. Aurus is a little more seductive in its appeal though, with a canopied bed by the ocean, chandeliers, and candles. DJs play the latest electronic dance music for the Sundown Session, which starts off relaxed and builds up into the night.
On the decks this time were were Dj Noaria from France, and our friend Ash (who’s part of Jalabee Cartel) from Delhi. Ash is also a very talented singer, writer, and tabla player.
Personally, I like arriving early when there’s very few people there. It’s so uplifting to just chill and watch the sunset, uplifted by the sea breeze and music. Topping off the sunset was also a beautiful “moonset”. A tiny sliver of moon slowly followed the sun down the horizon.
Much to everyone’s amusement, my husband was quite thrilled to find a platform to stand on that gave him the perfect height over me. It was fun for a change and certainly felt different!
Friends amused that my husband has suddenly grown taller than me!
DJ Noaria (France).
Ash from Jalabee Cartet (Delhi).
Moon over Juhu Beach, Mumbai.
Aurus is located at Ground Floor Nichani House, Juhu Tara Rd (next to Anita Dongre Showroom), Juhu, Mumbai. Ph: (22) 6710-6666. Sunday Sundown Sessions are free. However, do expect to pay quite a bit for drinks. 500 rupees for a glass or wine, 350 rupees for a small bottle of imported beer, 600 rupees for a double vodka and Sprite.
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{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
@@Guys….this a paid advertisement.
Much to everyone’s amusement, my husband was quite thrilled to find a platform to stand on that gave him the perfect height over me. It was fun for a change and certainly felt different!
Ask your hubby to wear high heels regularly
Paid advertisement? I don’t get anything from what I write about, apart from satisfaction in helping people discover enjoyable things to do.
We have the same size feet, so I guess he could wear my shoes.
Or, I could also say….. I’m not complaining about India for once… and you think it’s only because I’m getting paid!
“I’m not complaining about India for once… and you think it’s only because I’m getting paid!”
Hahahahahahaha………nothing can be ruled out girl!!
i have no access to your bank accounts!!!!
lol
“I don’t get anything from what I write about, apart from satisfaction in helping people discover enjoyable things to do”
Hahahaha……it was a joke meant to tease you since you publish all the details like location/prices/contact nos. of the places you visit at the end.
Even if you earn money…….who cares?????
You know, i like you.
Haha, I publish those details because ultimately someone will come along and ask “so tell me, where is this place and what’s the cost”.
Thats good.
So what’s the professional name of your husband??
i mean the DJ name of Pradeep.
DJ Mute Xplosion. Download some of his mixes (techno): http://soundcloud.com/dj-mute
(No payment required!)
(No payment required!)
Of course not.
i know i am special.
How can you charge from the Great Ronny??
never knew abt this place!..looks good and I heard some of pradeep’s aka mute Xplosion tracks..very cool
Viksdes, it’s also a fine dining restaurant, if you like yummy food.
yes i would have loved it! anyways a bit too late, i am leaving mumbai and india soon for good , all good things we get to know a tard late i guess..
I might become a DJ and call myself DJ Loud Speaker since I listen to music so loud, and my digital tracks would bypass 120 dB in volume. There’ll be a warning on the CD. Warning, listening to this album might damage your ears beyond repair.
My gosh, the noise from Diwali crackers wouldn’t bother you at all then!
But I guess you don’t have to be subjected to it much in the US.
Sharell, for enough years I have listened to music and firecrackers so loud that my ears should be damaged by now. Sometimes I hear my ear ringing a little bit but thats only when there’s silence around me. At first I used to close my ears while lighting those loud firecrackers, then I got used to it. You know the ones that you can hear miles away. In the U.S people listen to loud music but not a lot though. Only a few who are into metal, techno, rap etc. Over here, Loud music isn’t tolerated in many neighborhoods. People prefer silence and relaxation. I am used to both ends. Loudness as well as silence.
Your husband, he grew taller than you, almost a foot. Now you dont have to worry about people staring.
@@Sharell
Great music yaar.
Was your experience back here all that bad?
People leave India NOT because their experience is “”bad”" but because of many other reasons. Mostly because, they want something “better”.
Anyways , large number of NRIs are actually returning!!!!!
Sharell well I am an Indian, and very few fortunate to get education et al. Fortunately todays global world has given many of us many opportunities. I feel sad leaving Bandra and Mumbai..but then its my job that decided this for me. About NRIs returning , many come back for their familys and I must say thats the only reason why I will come back here again. But I will keep reading your blogs and stories from India with great interest!
Since you keep mentioning vie lounge and Deck. Small world! When I lived in Bombay I owned a PR company and handled the PR for Vie till 2009. Did you do a review for vie for about.com, I think one of my colleagues met you. I went back through the contact sheet and its says sherill ha ha.
Aurus sound just like the place I’ve been looking for to celebrate my birthday. Is the Dj selection that good every Sunday?
Sharell,
I remember watching sunsets and those evenings at Juhu beach. That will certainly compensate for humidity and other unpleasant things in Mumbai. This is one of the things I miss sometimes as I live far away from coastal areas.
“It was fun for a change and certainly felt different!”
It must have been fun for a change, but why did it feel different? (I have always been a curious kid)
I really love coastal areas too Amit.
Different because you get used to someone being of a certain height (for example, when you put your arms around them), and when they suddenly become taller it feels strange! Especially if they’ve become taller than you all of a sudden.
Hi V, yes it is.
And they always have someone different playing to keep it interesting.
Woohoo! Spelled exactly how people pronounce it only here.
I did write a review but didn’t formally speak to anyone. I went along and had brunch like a normal person (which is what I usually do when I write my reviews). No doubt I probably would’ve met your colleague at some stage though! 
viksdes, well I wish you all the best for your future endeavors, where ever in the world you may be!
Sharell, “when they suddenly become taller it feels strange!”
True. When you are an adult and have got so used the fact that “oh, everyone has stopped growing since we are adults”. Then you see them become taller and you feel quite disoriented. As young kids, we don’t feel disoriented because we are not used to any such facts. As teenagers, we have a mixed feeling of disorientation because we are also growing with other teenagers and simultaneously, we are also beginning to realize such facts.
@@Sharell
“We have the same size feet, so I guess he could wear my shoes. “
Hmmmm….u have good ideas. Just imagine the sight.
Haha
Hey Sharell,
I heard Pradeep’s music. The link is my facebook tagline. I hope you dont mind!
Oh of course not.
It’s great that the music is being enjoyed and shared! 
Yeah and its free publicity too! I hope I get a few ‘likes’ on that one!
Progressive trance is the opposite of chill out trance. I prefer the music start with a fast tempo and end slowly into the night. Unless if its New Years or some other event.
After listening to fast techno music, I started feeling everything around me was repeat itself just like the music. At first I thought my brains were damaged, then later I realized that the beats were still stuck in my head.
Sharell,
Talking about house/techno/trance…How is the “rave” scenario in Mumbai or any other city in India you have known?
Hmmmm, you might need to define rave for me. Where I come from, it usually means a huge outdoor (or indoor) party, not mainstream, lots of dancing and drugs. Is that the kinda thing you’re referring to?
Sharell, “lots of dancing and drugs. Is that the kinda thing you’re referring to?”
Of course, Yes. Is there any other definition of rave?
“Hmmmm, you might need to define rave for me. Where I come from, it usually means a huge outdoor (or indoor) party, not mainstream,”
I think it’s similar everywhere with a few local/regional differences. For example, In Germany, they do have similar rave parties, but more intimate because German cops can always raid such parties. In Canada, people are more open and we have cops outside raves watch people getting drugged. Cops can’t do anything as they are not allowed to enter the parties in private premises. Strange, eh?
I am assuming Mumbai may be more like Germany, yet I don’t have a good idea about raves in India, for the most part.
Sometimes, the term “rave” is used rather loosely.
Unfortunately, problems with the police raiding these parties is widespread in India. The whole scene has changed quite a lot too. You’re probably aware that raves used to be widely held in Goa. Noise restrictions, and again police, put a stop to the freedom of the party scene there. As far as I’m aware parties/raves do happen, but not like they used to. Outdoor raves/ psy trance parties were also held in and around the hills of Manali and Kasol (Himachal Pradesh, in northern India) when I lived there (around 3 years ago), but the police always interfered. Years back, in Kolkata, psy parties used to be held in farmhouses on the outskirts of the city. As for Mumbai, I don’t think there’s much of a rave scene here (that I know of anyway). Police have raided parties that have been held in commercial establishments (not seedy venues, but classy bar-restaurants), arresting people for drugs, and generally making an example of it as busting a “rave party”… but I wouldn’t term it a rave. I don’t think the rave scene is really happening in Delhi either. You can pretty much guarantee that the police will find out about any parties and raid them.
Yes, I have been to one rave party in Goa (when I also saw Aishwarya Rai shooting the famous movie “Josh”). I think it was back in 1999. However, I couldn’t enjoy it as I was just too young (barely 18). As you said, I wasn’t even sure it was a proper rave party. It was more like a party for “Hippie-commune” as they used to call it. Then I often heard some news about police raids in Poona where many university students were involved. I think in 2004-05, there was a police raid in a rave party (as they called it) and as many as 300 students were arrested. But I think police raids are rather common in most of Europe and India. I have been stopped and interrogated in Dubai and Frankfurt because of my dread-locks (a potential drug dealer, eh!). Interestingly, in Frankfurt, I was interrogated due to my north Indian/Mediterranean looks. And in Dubai, I was suspected as the westerner. It’s so amazing to realize how different countries make standards solely based on racial-cultural profiling. Since then, I used to have my hair cut before I travel outside North America, and when I get back, I start growing my hair again.
Nice article Sharell. I do miss india, living (on work) in the USA (with family). I miss the usual hustle and bustle which India has. Through this place has all the comforts and India has many problems (pollution, water and electricity issues). However, sometimes “home is home”. Its beautifully depicted in “Swadesh” (http://www.swades.com/index1024.html) movie which starts the famous “Shah Ruk Khan”.
In the end, home is where the heart is. However, inspite of all the issues, there is something special about India.
The police wouldn’t care if the party was just a dance party with music. And they wouldn’t care if people drank beer. Since drugs are involved in some of these parties, they’ll come and arrest people.
They happen occasionally in farmhouses, but one has to be ‘in the circle’ to find out about them, since they tend to be rather exclusive.
In India they do. If they don’t find anything objectionable, they’ll start to level charges of prostitution against some female ravers or complain about the loudness of music. Anything for some ‘chai pani’.
Sharell, its a very nice place that you have mentioned. Strangely even though I lived near juhu for a short amount of time, I never knew thi splace existed. In my next trip to Mumbai ill make sure that I visit it. On the music bit sharing this link from a friends collection who mixes a bit of African instrumental. Your husband might like it for a different beat:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/adafricanism
Arsh, I’m not surprised that you didn’t know about Aurus. It’s not at all obvious that it’s there from the outside. You could easily miss the entrance even if you did know about it. That music is very cool. Thanks so much for sharing the link. I love world music — it’s what I listen to most of all during the day — especially if it’s got some good beats. I might even download the album.
sharell..i don’t think i’ve ever seen u’r husband’s picture….but boy, is he cute or what?
seriously…now i understand why you moved all the way from aussie land to india….he’s handsome.
Hi goo, thanks so much!
Yes, he is cute. hehe. And better still, he has the sweetest personality ever! 