Lost Songs of Sundari

Synopsis

Once made up of villages connected by the sea, Mumbai is being transformed by giant bridges and land reclamation. For the Indigenous Koli people, this change is pushing into the past the boats that linked their villages, their fishing traditions, and a way of life and culture shaped by the sea. The film follows the story of a legendary boat and its female rower, Sundari, from Koli mythology, who carried people across the water before the bridges. Through a woman who tells Sundari’s story, an elderly boatman running a ferry between Versova and Madh, and a child witnessing the changes, the film shows how modernisation is reshaping a community bound to the sea and its traditions. Like Sundari, the Koli way of life may soon survive only in songs and stories.

Director Biography

Sudarshan Sawant

After earning his MS in Signal Processing Engineering and working for six years in manufacturing, Sudarshan embraced his passion for storytelling and cinema. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, with a Postgraduate Diploma in Sound Recording and Sound Design, he has worked on acclaimed projects showcased in commercial theatres and at many national and international festivals.

Building on his background as a Multilingual Sound Designer and recipient of several awards for excellence in sound, he transitioned to filmmaking. His debut documentary, Lost Songs of Sundari, explores Mumbai’s fading bond with its waters and history. It is the first film in a trilogy exploring the city from the perspective of the Indigenous Koli community.

Credits

Camera / Kamera

Sudarshan Sawant

Editing / Kurgu

Dhanesh Gopal

Sound / Ses

Sudarshan Sawant

Production / Yapım

Sudarshan Sawant, Charles Correa Foundation, Dhanesh Gopal, Maan Chandravanshi, Avirat Patil, Akshay Ingle, Shikher Pal