The Warli Revolt

The Warlis or Varlis are an indigenous tribe or Adivasis, living in mountainous as well as coastal areas of India (Maharashtra & Gujarat) border and surrounding areas. They have rich art work, culture, poetry and music that is world famous but now is under threat. The Warli Revolt is a non profit project that gives a voice to the endangered Warli tribe.

The urban development plans of the government has turned out to be urban destruction for the Warli tribe. In the name of 'Progress' a full scale cut down of over 5,00,000 trees in the center of the city. Destruction of biodiversity and culture, forcing the tribals to relocate to concrete jungles to make way for Mumbai metro lines, stations and commercial spaces.

The Warli tribes have been living in harmony with nature before even the city of Mumbai was formed. The government has asked these tribals to show their land ownership papers and bulldozed their traditional homes calling it 'Slums' .

Swadesi a hip-hop collective has taken these Warli poetry and fused it with hip-hop/rap lyrics and modern electronic music along side traditional folk music. Their art work and drawings have been converted to animation.

We want the urban population to know about these people and their culture. We want the people to realize that their development is coming at the cost of these Warli tribes.