A few months back, I had created this photo essay as part of a small project. Felt like sharing it today. Feedback appreciated.

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One look at the bustling Mumbai tells a million tales. Take your pick – you may choose to see the social divide, the hypocrisy in the classes and the struggle of the masses. Or you may choose to see how beautifully they decide to stick around and find their own place under the sun.

These photographs don't intend to capture extraordinary people in ideal situations. Instead, they capture the obvious in the most evident circumstances. That is where the city and its people surprise themselves. At a glance, you see what keeps the city ticking – doggedness, aspiration, innocence with a dash of sass and belief that in the end, the jigsaw puzzle will find its piece.

May be that is why there are no misfits in Mumbai. The watchman who dares to strike a pose beside branded apparel chuckles while he does so, the man standing in a corporate glass high-rise is not the mere speck he may appear to be and a street that has a bit of everything, big and small, can always make space for more – that is Mumbai ticking for you.

THE GLAMOUR AND THE GRIME

In the backdrop of dreams, reality bites.

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THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS

So what if you make a living off others’ refuse? So what if just a wall separates prosperity from poverty? God’s still looking after you.

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CHILD'S PLAY

The city's urchins are a force to watch out for. Street smart, brash and cheeky, they know their way around the worst of the days. Yet, amidst it all, they always have a moment for innocence.

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CUPPA LIFE, ANYONE?

If you're a Mumbaikar, you know what chai (tea) means to you. It gets you going; it makes the grind easy to get by. So what if the glass doesn’t shine?

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THREE STAGES OF PROSPERITY


In Mumbai, those at the bottom of the pyramid don’t have to look too far to see what's above.

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NOTES FROM THE DISPLAY


Everyone in Mumbai wants a slice of the 'in' pie. And no matter who is looking, or for that matter, not looking, no harm in gearing up for your big moment, right?

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CONNECTING PEOPLE

Some things are for everybody. Like a private moment amidst the din. Or a swanky cell phone amidst the grime.

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STAR IN THE SKY

You may be a speck in the corporate ocean, but that doesn’t stop you from thinking you’re the king.

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UNDER THE ARC LIGHT

There's not a single soul in the city who doesn't have an impossible dream. If you’re not in the spotlight, at least you can be under it.

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LIFE’S GOOD ENOUGH

You may not live in a swanky apartment building, though you can always hope. But then again, who cares?

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