Mumbai Women Turn Smartphones into Powerful Storytelling Tools

In an innovative project, ten women from Mumbai's M East ward transformed smartphones into filmmaking tools to document their lives. This initiative, "Mast Mahila Mandali (Cool Ladies Club)," saw the women collaboratively create a feature-length film.

The project originated from CORO India's 'Right to Pee' campaign, aiming to document community learnings. Participants were selected from an open call, with an initial focus on their perspectives on everyday life. Facilitated by award-winning filmmaker Shilpi Gulati, the women received 18 months of training every Saturday.

Initially, the focus was on sanitation issues, but the filmmakers shifted to portraying themselves as central figures in their communities and families. The resulting vignettes showcase vibrant aspects of their lives, including recreational activities and personal expressions, moving beyond narratives of hardship.

Smartphones provided by a TISS research project facilitated the filming. The women learned phone filmmaking techniques, interviewing, and participatory storytelling. They consciously aimed to create a film that celebrated their lives rather than focusing solely on the challenges of their neighborhoods.

Their work demonstrates acts of routine rebellion and resilience, such as one woman dancing despite her husband's comments, and another asserting her right to shared household responsibilities. The documentary premiered at Regal Cinema on April 28, marking a significant achievement for the participating women.