An interview with Liron Shalit, our filmmaker-in-residence. He is an award-winning documentary filmmaker focused on social issues, human rights, and ethical urbanism. Recently, the urbz office hosted a screening of his film Living Euljiro that traces the neglected losses of those living within a centuries-old district of maze-like alleys at the heart of Seoul (Synopsis). We speak to him about his craft, his lessons from Euljiro, and his time here in Dharavi. 

Living Euljiro is a film directed by Liron Shalit. Liron has been creating award-winning short documentaries since 2017, exploring themes such as social issues, human rights, disability, natural disasters, and urban life. Since relocating to Seoul in 2022, he has focused on documenting disappearing spaces and communities, capturing the distinctive culture of Euljiro and the stories of the people who live and work there. 

In Mumbai, autorickshaws are more than everyday transport; they’re personalised spaces on wheels. Drivers express parts of their identities through small interior details. From a tiny shop in Dharavi, Nanu Woodwallah designs and stitches these custom interiors. Carrying forward his father’s craft, he transforms standard rickshaws into distinctive, character-filled environments. 

In a lane off the bustling 90 Feet Road in Dharavi, there is a tiny studio dedicated to all types of screen printing. Laxmi and Mani are an unlikely duo that expertly handle the screenprinting needs of customers across the city. They talk to us about a lifetime spent in the industry. 

Abdul is a sofa maker who has spent decades cultivating a network of friends and work associates in Dharavi. Open to new challenges and willing to experiment with his craft, his perspective suggests an acknowledgement of his current social standing and external constraints, balanced by a focus on moving forward and maintaining a pragmatic approach to his future.

Kamlesh is an itinerant welder who has lived and worked in different parts of the country. Kamlesh represents the skilled workforce that quietly underpins the city’s built environment. This is his story...

For the uninitiated, Koliwada is a mystical labyrinth. I assumed I could take it on, find my way. How little I know...

Rahul Srivastava, was awarded the Inlaks Scholarship in 1993. He went on to co-found urbz and the Institute of Urbanology with Matias Echanove. This article features an interview with Rahul by the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation as part of their Scholar Update series.  

As the title suggests, Life Got Better with Coconuts for Kausar Shaikh. He came to Mumbai 15 years ago, leaving his family farm in Jharkhand, because he was not keen on agriculture and was seeking a different path. Seeing other migrants from his region successfully start small businesses gave him the confidence to leave years of unstable work in Mumbai behind and become a thriving coconut vendor in Dharavi.

On a rainy afternoon, we visited Irfan’s workshop, somehow quieter than the surroundings. We assisted and watched him while he worked, and he narrated his story to us.