photo essay: the hidden graffiti of bandra

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The contemplating sage at Nagrana Lane

I moved to Bombay, sorry Mumbai, this February. And I chose Bandra as my home. It was one of those ‘destined’ moves as I like to term it. 🙂

Bandra grows on you. It slowly becomes the center of your life, and you start believing that there is no other world outside of it; an aberration one slowly and gleefully slips into.

When people ask me what is it like to live in Bandra, my answer, with a grin, is everyone walks in slippers, takes rickshaws, eats breakfast for dinner at Good Luck Cafe – an Iranian restaurant – for 110 rupees, prays at Mount Mary’s, meets at Bandstand, Mehboob Studio is the landmark for everything, and you have Shahrukh, Salman, Rekha, Farhan Akhtar, John Abraham, etc. etc. living down the road. It is towering high rises, charming Koli and East Indian villages, and centuries old churches, juxtaposed next to each other in quaint harmony.

Bandra’s bent towards juxtaposition can perhaps be surmised as the very core of its reputation as a culturally and artistically ‘open’ minded suburb, which often blatantly, and at other times in subtle undertones, gets expressed. A classic example of the latter being its graffiti decorated walls that have been written much about. Google Bandra + Graffiti, and you will know what I mean. They are works of art in their own right created by National Institute of Design students and aspiring artists.

But there are works you will not find on Google. As I walked back from St Peter’s Church on Hill Road this morning, powerful unabashed statements on gender issues met my eye. A street vendor selling keys, seeing my excitement, suggested I take the tiny side lane, Nagrana Lane, by the bus stop further down. “There is much more there. You will like it!” I didn’t just like it. I was smitten. Bandra was turning its magic on me, a bit more.

Graffiti essay: Tackling gender inequality on Hill Road
Executed by Population First as part of their Laadli campaign against sex selection and the falling sex ratio in India.

Ms. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall


Gender inequality: The unheard voice


The multitasking woman = X


My favorite… Bharat pita ki jai

Graffiti essay: Modernism at Nagrana Lane
The street art in Nagrana Lane is the creative expression of Harshvardhan Kadam painting under the pseudonym Ink Brush N Me.

A walk through art


Ink brush n me


Left: Detail, ‘Fuck Bollywood’; Right: Woman at the white window


Flaming locks and the hijab

Graffiti period: Steps of Bomanjee, circa 1879

213 thoughts on “photo essay: the hidden graffiti of bandra”

  1. living on either side of Hill road for 2 decades, can identify with every word in the blog. Eternal confusion being whether its Nangrana lane as written in Hindi or Nagrana lane as written in English. venture out on Chapel lane where you would find handpainted pictures of bollywood stars.

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    • Thank you Chaitali for your affection and encouraging words. Am grateful to wordpress for selecting my blog post and introducing it to so many wonderful people around the world. 🙂

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  9. Don’t worry, you can call Mumbai Bombay. It’ll grow on you eventually. I’ve lived in Bombay for a really long time, and I don’t think Mumbai is the name it deserves. In my heart, I only have a place for Bombay. I loved the street art you’ve shared. I’ve not been in Bandra often, but I wasn’t aware people over there had an artistic eye. 😀 I hope you settle in well.

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    • Happy that you liked the post Zaina. 🙂 Am very grateful and honoured wordpress selected this for freshly pressed and I could share the charms of Bandra on such a large scale.

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  19. In America, India is usually associated with extreme poverty and overpopulation and people doing without easy access to things they need. Thank you for showing us the beauty and fun of the art in your place. I love it that the art is outside where everyone can see it and smile.

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    • Yes, things are not always easy in India, but people here have found a way to celebrate life nevertheless, and this shows up everywhere, including in its cities’ street art. 🙂

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  20. I was in Mumbai for a few months. I used to live in Malad. I frequented Bandra quite a few times but I don’t remember having seen any of these. No one goes to Bandra to view these graffiti. But next time I visit Bandra, I will make it a point to see these.

    By the way, how did you track these? Did someone tell you are is it so evident?

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  22. Pingback: photo essay: the hidden graffiti of bandra | Sanjay Kaul

  25. I really enjoy you’re blog. I am 15 and I aspire to become a screenwriter/ director. I post regularly but I have only just started so I have not got very many followers. Could you please read my blog and give feedback in comments section? Writing is my passion. And being heard is too. Can you share me if you like the blog and only if you like the blog. Thank you.

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    • Dear Little Big Aimer, thank you for stopping by and writing to me. We only achieve as much as we aspire, so do aim to be all that you want to be. I started writing when I was also 15, but we did not have blogs back then! Writing is one of the most beautiful forms of expression. Do share, Read. Learn. And keep getting better at your passions. And see them turn into the foundation stones of your success, right in front of your eyes. 🙂 I promise, I’ll read your blog and send you my feedback. Promise.

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    • Thank you for stopping by, and taking the time to comment. Am happy you enjoyed the post. Mumbai is full of street art. 🙂 One of the many things that gives the city that extra jazz.

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  31. Pingback: photo essay: the hidden graffiti of bandra | Forbidden/Verboten

  34. Reblogged this on Mindculture's Blog and commented:
    Appreciation of beauty and excellence is one of the 24 character strengths in Positive Psychology. If it turns out to be one of your biggest strengths, finding ways to exercise this strength daily can make you feel happier. Here’s more information about it: http://www.viacharacter.org/www/Character-Strengths/Appreciation-of-Beauty-and-Excellence
    In the meanwhile, enjoy this post from http://returnoftheprodigal.wordpress.com

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      • You are welcome. I need to look at more beautiful things and smile, so your posts helped. Thank you! I am following your blog now, so I’ll see more of them. Wishing you strength to continue.

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  38. I absolutely LOVE how you have introduced street art in Bandra to everyone. I recently blogged about the street art in Shoreditch.. put a few photographs up on instragam and had the graffiti artists (or friends of) get in touch with me.

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  39. Pingback: Photo Essay – The Hidden Graffiti of Bandra | Graffiti in India

  40. Pingback: photo essay: the ‘un’hidden graffiti of bandra | rama arya's blog

  41. Pingback: art focus – curated bandra street art walk – st+art mumbai | rama arya's blog

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