The 'troika' of Mumbai: 3 dons, 3 spheres, 1 city's underbelly

In the early days of Mumbai's underworld, a trio of influential figures shaped the city's criminal landscape: Karim Lala, Haji Mastan, and Varadarajan Mudaliar. These three, known collectively as the "troika," controlled smuggling routes, gambling dens, illicit liquor networks, and local rackets, wielding their power in neighborhoods and communities beyond the criminal world.

Born in Afghanistan, Karim Lala arrived in Mumbai and made his name by resolving disputes and organizing fellow Pathans. He expanded his operations to include smuggling gold, silver, electronics, and gambling, drug, and protection rackets, becoming the first "don" of his kind in Mumbai. Similarly, Haji Mastan, who arrived in Mumbai as a porter, became a major player in the smuggling of precious metals and later developed close ties with Bollywood, financing film directors and studios.

Varadarajan Mudaliar, hailing from Tamil Nadu, initially worked as a porter in Mumbai and later became involved in stealing dock cargo with Mastan's assistance. His influence was particularly strong among Tamil migrants in central Mumbai, and he helped settle these migrants in the slums of Antop Hill. Mudaliar's life later inspired Mani Ratnam's acclaimed film "Nayakan."

The old order of Mumbai's underworld, characterized by crime, community influence, and public generosity, eventually gave way to a more violent phase under the leadership of Dawood Ibrahim. Dawood, who had links with the older generation, rose to power through a violent confrontation with the Pathan gang. This conflict ultimately marked the decline of the old Mumbai underworld and the emergence of a new, more aggressive generation.