Mazda Publications

If you are looking for us on Old Nagardas Road, you have to keep an eye out for Sharma Compound. We are in Gala No. 1 A, which is tucked in there amongst a lot of other small businesses. The air inside always smells like fresh ink and stacks of paper, which is something you just get used to after a week of working here. Andheri East is always crowded, so getting deliveries in and out through the narrow compound entrance can be a bit of a headache sometimes. We have these old printing machines that have their own moods, but they still do the job better than some of the newer stuff. There are piles of proofs and manuscripts sitting on the desks, and usually, someone is trying to fix a paper jam or check the color levels. It is not a very quiet place because there is always something running or someone shouting to be heard over the noise of the rollers. We spend a lot of time checking page numbers and making sure the binding is tight. It’s a lot of manual work, moving heavy boxes of books and brochures around the floor. Most of our day is spent making sure the text fits where it is supposed to. When the monsoon hits, we have to be really careful about the dampness because paper ruins so easily in this part of Mumbai. It is just a regular shop where we try to keep the presses moving as much as possible.