Lost Songs Of Sundari

Mumbai, a city often defined by its relentless pace and towering skylines, was once an island city connected by the sea. This film, Lost Songs of Sundari, is my attempt to explore the forgotten narratives that shaped its identity. Sundari, the legendary ferryboat, is more than a vessel; she is a symbol of connection, resilience, and the human relationship with water—relationships that are slowly dissolving amidst the city’s rapid transformation.
I wanted to narrate this story as if a family were telling it to us, weaving together the past, present, and future. Through the perspectives of three characters—a woman who holds Sundari’s myth close to her heart, a man who is an ageing ferry operator fighting to keep a dwindling tradition alive, and a young child growing up amidst the chaos of development—the story unfolds like a generational tale, reflecting shared memory and loss.
Through Lost Songs of Sundari, I wanted to shed light on how the very progress that builds bridges can also create distances—disconnecting us from our roots, our stories, and even each other. This is not just a story about Mumbai; it is a story of urbanization and the quiet losses it brings, seen through the lens of a community once united by the sea.
I hope Lost Songs of Sundari stirs a sense of reflection about the spaces we inhabit and the histories we leave behind.