A Room in Mumbai | Department of Architecture

The film is a Calling the Shots production for the Arts and Humanities Research Council supported by BBC Arts Culture in Quarantine call. Animation by Gabriela Bran. You can access the animation on BBC iPlayer: A Room in Mumbai

This film is about today’s slums in India. In Mumbai, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) is building high-rise flats to house former slum residents, but this transition has adversely and radically affected the lives of women.

In slums the women do everything outside, but in SRA housing the cooking, cleaning and childrearing practices have all moved inside. The design of the buildings fails to deliver sufficient daylight and ventilation, but using fans and lights costs money. The women are forced to choose discomfort and distress. They have health problems, no access to childcare and no jobs. The film tells the story of one woman in the process of moving to SRA housing. All voice contributions are based on real interviews recorded on-site.