In our second edition of Arts Adda, which showcases Mumbai’s culture champions, we celebrate the Govandi Arts Festival, a homegrown jugaad-backed biennial event, that promotes on art and media literacy in the oft-ignored, stereotyped address. The two brave women who took that leap of faith, tell us more
The BMC Ground in Natwar Parekh Compound will host the celebrations. PICS COURTESY/GOVANDI ARTS FESTIVAL
You’d have to be out of your mind to think this neighbourhood could ever host an art festival,” we remark instinctively, while navigating the lanes of Govandi’s Natwar Parekh Compound (NPC). In hindsight, we should’ve watched our words around artist-researcher Natasha Sharma and community organiser Parveen Shaikh, who taught 60-odd households in NPC how to change their lives using art in 2019. In 2023, the duo pulled off an unlikely feat by organising the first Govandi Arts Festival. Once dismissed as an unsanitary, crime-ridden corner of Mumbai, Govandi is now home to theatre actors, rappers and photographers. They were always here, we’re seeing them now, Shaikh reminds us.
A view of the venue being cleared for the upcoming edition
So profound was the festival’s impact on the youth that it will return for a second edition from December 10 to 14. As we make our way to a community room in Lane 6B to know more, we sense a palpable restlessness among countless youth who are juggling their duties. Luckily for us, everybody here seems to be a good sport. “Looking back at it, you might be right. There was definitely a streak of madness to it all,” concedes Sharma.
Excerpts from an interview.
What did you see in Govandi that planted the seed for an art movement?
Parveen Shaikh: I have been living in Govandi for 17 years. Until 2019, art was an alien concept to us. I could never fathom what people think about while viewing paintings in swanky art galleries. I met Natasha in 2019, as part of an initiative by the Community Design Agency, where we were reimagining public spaces in the neighbourhood. She told me she wanted to bring this alien concept — art — to Govandi.
The 2020 mural that sparked the art movement in Govandi
We gave it a shot by cleaning and revamping one of the dirtiest walls here with a mural. The response was overwhelming. In the following weeks, families and friends converged at the wall every day with brushes in hand. We’d sing, dance, and feast together, watching the mural slowly take shape. The same wall on which passersby would urinate, spit, and dump wet waste, became a treasured masterpiece. That wall mural eventually changed the fate of Govandi; it was the first time we realised the power of art.
Putting together an art festival is not nearly as easy as painting a mural…
Natasha Sharma: Once we knew there was promise in the youth, we spread the idea through word of mouth. Architect Bhawna Jaimini from the team supervised the infrastructure. Children roped in their friends from the neighbouring Gautam Nagar and Lallubhai Compound. This process unearthed budding rappers, actors, musicians, and planners. Incidentally, in 2022, the British Council sent out an open call for funding community festivals in India as part of bolstering India-UK relations. We sent them a detailed plan, and fortunately, bagged the grant. This year, we are supported by the IMC India, and UNESCO and SEVENTEEN’s Going Together Grant Scheme 2025.
Parveen Shaikh (left) and Natasha Sharma show us a detailed map of Natwar Parekh Compound; PICS/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
PS: We were fully aware that this could be our first and last opportunity. During our initial workshops, I would remind the residents that the world did not want to listen to us complain. It was important that we showed them how life here was changing through art. We began by clearing a BMC ground at the heart of NPC with the community in 2023. It was a Herculean task, but each of the 250-sq ft homes here were abodes to artists and architects. The years of household jugaad proved handy.
The team shares a lighthearted moment at the main venue
Was it difficult to convince longtime residents that this pursuit was worth the effort?
PS: I remember when the funding initially came in, a few residents believed we were pocketing money amounting to crores, and that the festival was just a front for money-making. Those sceptics are still around. I ask them to pick any child from our team and ask them what the Festival means to them. Just a few years ago, if you browsed the Internet for Govandi, you’d see grim news articles. Today, that has been replaced with rap songs, short films and success stories from the neighbourhood.
A quilt stitched by women of Govandi will be displayed at the festival
NS: This stigma is perhaps why we decided to steer clear of title sponsors. When the festival poster is put up, you’ll find names of each of the 200-odd residents who have played their part. We are often approached by NGOS and politicians; we extend them an open invitation to attend, but never to attach their name with the project.
Your learnings from the first edition that will help in the upcoming festival?
NS: The biggest lesson we learnt was that the festival cannot be our sole goal. We started regular workshops after the first edition to ensure these talents didn’t burn bright and fade fast. What was a batch of 25 artistes in 2023, has grown to 100. Members who were mentees last edition, have turned mentors this year. Earlier today, we finished stitching a large tapestry depicting life in Govandi. After its time at the festival, it will head to the upcoming Kochi Muziris Biennale.
One of the highlights this year is a board game called Gully Mohalla that we built in our workshops. It revolves around planning a better neighbourhood for residents. The game will be launched at the festival, and will be on sale soon after.
The walls of the neighbourhood sport posters leading up to the festival
PS: We have also learned to foster relations with our well-wishers, including the BMC and Mumbai Police. The 2023 festival reminded authorities that there is still hope in Govandi. This year, the Mumbai Police will be on stage with a special presentation on crime prevention. At the end of the day, the rest of Mumbai, including the police, administration, and civic authorities can extend a hand to Govandi. How we manifest that support, is ultimately in our hands.
Log on to: @govandiartsfestival on Instagram
Govandi ke superstars
Code 43
This rap crew of four members, who borrow their stage name from Govandi’s 400043 postal code, started as a group of young boys rapping about life in Govandi. Since the first edition, they have travelled across India with their music, and also featured at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.
Sana Shaikh, 23
Sana’s short film Those Three Months, has made its way to New York Film Festival and the South Asian Film Festival. Recently, the film was also screened at the prestigious International Film Festival of Kerala 2023, where she joined a team of decorated panellists on stage.
Tayyaba Darvesh, 22
A theatre enthusiast who found her calling in the first edition, Taiyyaba is now excited to present Govandi ke Superheroes, a sci-fi comedy that follows an alien invasion in Govandi. “I feel the happiest when I’m on stage,” she tells us.
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