Mumbai is India’s most cosmopolitan metropolis with a population of over fifteen million and a density of about twenty five thousand people per square kilometre. The city seldom comes to a stand still. Its suburban rail systems carry a total of 2.2 billion passengers every year. Its streets are forever buzzing with people and activity but apparently all the hustle and bustle is insufficient to draw aspiring photographers out of the confines of their studios. Mumbai is the glamour capital of the country and the field of fashion photography holds large rewards and thus the attention of its photographic artists. As a result, the art of ‘street photography’ has taken a major setback.

It is widely accepted that a good photograph always encapsulates more than what is seen in the photograph itself. Renowned photographers have the capacity to empathise with their subjects. Sadly, we seldom see this in today’s photographers.

Through this exhibit I have, most importantly, tried to establish empathy with people on the streets of Mumbai. Photographs are taken through a cross-section of Mumbai. Some are from the more wealthy areas but the principle focus is on the poorer districts including the slum areas of the city. There is a vast difference in culture and lifestyle among the people here.

The Gateway was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in December 1911. It is thought by many to be the symbol of the city of Mumbai.

Khotachi Wadi is an East Indian residential colony that has recently been declared as a National Heritage by the Heritage conservation society of India

Below are photographs of buildings from Khotachi Wadi

The middle photograph was taken ouside Thane railway station. It represents a typical scene characteristic of almost every railway station in the city. Buses, auto rickshaws, fruit and vegetable vendors jumble amongst the throng of people. Thane itself lies on the outskirts of Mumbai.

The shots of taxis are taken through the window of another taxi. The vehicles were travelling along the Lamington Road which is a hardware hub of Mumbai.

These photographs are taken just outside Victoria Terminus or what is now called Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. It is the most famous railway station in the city and is a replica of the Victoria Terminus in London. It's colonial architecture is breathtaking. There are a number of other buildings in Mumbai that were built during this period that provide similar spectacles.

Below are images of the Kalbadevi area of Mumbai. This region is known predominantly for its markets, in particular its flower and vegetable markets. Kalbadevi has not changed for centuries and it gives a sense of what this city might have been like during the British rule, and maybe even prior.

These are a few photographs of the street fashion along Hill Road in Bandra. Bandra is a distinct suburb of the city of Mumbai.

The pictures below are of children who reside in the slums of Mumbai. The photograph on the right of a manual labourer hammering rocks at a building construction site is a common sight at building works around the city.

The Ganpati festival is ten day long event, dedicated to the Hindu God Ganesha. This is one of the most celebrated festivals in Mumbai. It was popularized by the great Indian freedom fighter LokManya Tilak. People take big or small idols of Lord Ganesha to their homes and worship them daily for a week and a half. On the final day, these idols are led in a procession to various water bodies in the city where they are ceremoniously immersed. The photographs below were taken at Girgaum Beach.

The newer artists of this city lack originality particularly those in the film and music industry. Not only the rhythms but the entire stories of movies are copied from the West, and they do a very bad job at that. This clearly reflects on society especially the upper middle class who are caught between the devil and well … the devil.

Mumbai is the biggest city in India in every way and people here often compare it to New York City. I have been there and there are quite a few similarities. We used to refer to Mumbai, like NYC as ‘the city that never sleeps’ (we still do), but in the past three or four years, Mumbai does sleep.

There is a lot one can learn and innovate from ancient Indian art, architecture and ideologies. However there is a growing trend whereby ‘new age Indians’ seem to be giving it a blind eye. Ironically, westerners and other tourists are very appreciative of Indian culture.

Girish Menon is a photo-journalist that lives and works in Mumbai, India. To view more of his insightful work, visit his website at http://www.connect2gyrax.com/