CITY OF LANES (GALIYON KA SHEHER)

About the film

The documentary looks at the implications of the recent Kashi Viswanath Corridor development project in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, through the perspectives of the city's residents. It explores themes of religiosity, citizen-state engagement, development, urban land rights, and socio- cultural dynamics in the city. The evolving notions of modernity that this film explores shed vital light on Varanasi's current social and political climate. It is a glimpse into how individual citizens are impacted by government decisions taken far away.

About the director

Modak KS is a producer, director and cinematographer. As a cinematographer, his experimental feature titled 'Do Birds Hide When It Rains' depicts a moment in the life of a family as it copes with the decision to part ways. His directorial feature debut delves into the life of a food delivery agent. As a producer, his first feature documentary explores the entanglement between humans and wildlife in Jawai, Rajasthan.

Ragini Rao Munjuluri is a researcher, interested in questions of political economy and state capacity in India. Her work explores the relationship between state and citizens, and its impact on India’s policy and democratic processes. She is currently a Schwarzman Scholar pursuing a Master's in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University, Beijing.