Writer & Photographer

An old man in Mumbai is done with the business of living. He wants to die and he has convinced his wife it’s a worthy endeavour. In December 2017, Narayan Lavate and Iravati Lavate wrote to the President of India petitioning him for “death as mercy”. Official selection at Film Southasia 2019, Mumbai Film Festival 2020, South Asian Short Film Festival 2020, and Macau International Short Film Festival 2020.  Special Mention at the National Human Rights Commission Film Competition 2020.

Shivaji Nagar is a slum at the edge of Mumbai, right next to India’s largest garbage dump. The SVJ Boyzz, a group of young men from the area, produce a crime show — Govandi C.I.D uploaded on their channel on YouTube. Their show is modelled on popular crime dramas on Indian Television and aims to fight the rampant drug abuse by the area's youth. ​ ​ Official selection at Film Southasia 2015, Mumbai Film Festival 2016, Astra film festival 2016.  Special Mention at the Göttingen International Ethnographic Film Festival 2016.

An informal water market has emerged in the Mumbai suburb of Govandi. Water connections are not available to new migrants coming into Mumbai and people are forced to buy water, sometimes this includes 'pila pain' — a fetid mix of creek water.

Dantewada. February, 2018 Phagun Madai is a nine day festival in India's Bastar region. Different tribes carry their individual deities, making for over 400 gods, to the Danteshwari temple. The idea is to reunite Danteshwari with her family, and for people to meet each other. Many tribes — Marias, Murias, Abhujmarias, Dhurwa (Parja), Dorla, Bhatra, Halba, and more come together to celebrate the arrival of spring.This is the wedding procession of Goddess Danteshwari being taken in a palanquin to the Narayan temple.