Life in a metro: This photo series on Mumbai local is the best thing you will see today

A photojournalist documents the lives and experiences of women travelling in Mumbai Local and her photographs have a story to tell

By: Anumeha Saxena |
April 5, 2017 6:00 pm

Anushree Fadnavis, a photojournalist in Mumbai working with Indus Images, has an awesome Instagram account, and her brilliant photographs will make your day.With her photographs, she has tried to document the experiences of people, especially women, on public transport, their day-to-day camaraderie, struggles, happiness and almost every emotion that you could think of.

Most of her photographs have descriptions and Anushree makes sure that she knows her subject well and give a human touch to the photograph and not be mechanical about it. For instance, in one of the photographs, one of the friends Shruti, can be seen wiping the tears of her friend, Rupali. Not just that, Anushree makes sure to give you a background of what exactly happened before that. See pictures below:

Rupali wipes her friend, Shruti ‘s eyes when she broke down emotionally in the ladies compartment of the Mumbai local train. Rupali had a verbal fight with another lady commuter . It was almost a war of words where both were not ready to let go but Shruti intervened and convinced Rupali to back down. Rupali told me that Shruti never ever gets into a fight and she’s calm as a person. Shruti got emotional and broke down after the fight stopped. I could understand why she cried . It’s just that sometimes all that some people want is harmony in life and when some people try to upset it you can’t take it. I am not saying that’s the reason why she cried but sometimes it’s okay to cry and just let go off all the frustration. I have cried too sitting in the corner of the train . And found solace in the strangers around me. Sometimes you will find peace in letting go. #traindiaries

A post shared by Anushree Fadnavis (@anushree_fadnavis) on Feb 7, 2017 at 4:18am PST

Some of them are funny . Here, a young boy, travelling with his mother and sister, tries to hide his face with his jacket, because he is travelling in the ladies compartment:

Tohid tries to hide his face while his sister, Tayaba, is seen sleeping on a seat on her mother’s lap after returning from a wedding reception in the ladies compartment of the Mumbai local train. #traindiaries

A post shared by Anushree Fadnavis (@anushree_fadnavis) on Jan 19, 2017 at 8:10am PST

Look who is peeping out A minion in the ladies compartment. “Is that you Kevin?” Shot on the upcoming Honor India phone @hihonorindia #traindiaries #everybodystreet #everydaymumbai #mumbaidiaries #mumbai #dailylife #everydayindia #reportagespotlight #myfeatureshoot #trains #swagphoneiscoming #xcavate2016

A post shared by Anushree Fadnavis (@anushree_fadnavis) on Jan 4, 2017 at 9:49pm PST

If you look at it for long enough you will find it staring at you. Skinny kid dressed in an oversized shirt and loose half pants, having his socks rolled up till his ankle, suggesting he his wearing his brother’s clothes. His mom called asked him to wear sweater which covered him up till his knees. Everyone around him was looking at the kid because he got so lost in the overgrown jacket that we all couldn’t help but smile. #traindiaries #everydaymumbai #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #reportagespotlight

A post shared by Anushree Fadnavis (@anushree_fadnavis) on Nov 27, 2016 at 6:13pm PST

#traindiaries

A post shared by Anushree Fadnavis (@anushree_fadnavis) on Mar 22, 2017 at 12:32am PDT

Nishu, a transgender, poses for a picture in the ladies compartment of the Mumbai local train #traindiaries

A post shared by Anushree Fadnavis (@anushree_fadnavis) on Dec 8, 2016 at 9:24am PST

Kajal, a transgender and a friend, poses for a picture in the ladies compartment of the Mumbai local train. Shot on the upcoming Honor India phone @hihonorindia #traindiaries #everybodystreet #everydaymumbai #mumbaidiaries #mumbai #dailylife #everydayindia #reportagespotlight #myfeatureshoot #trains #swagphoneiscoming #xcavate2016 #swagphonehonor6x

A post shared by Anushree Fadnavis (@anushree_fadnavis) on Jan 6, 2017 at 4:33am PST

Pooja and Radhika, both who are members of Iskcon and have also taken ‘Diksha ‘ and who aare seen praying using the prayer beads , pose for a picture in the ladies compartment of the Mumbai local train. Pooja was named as Parmanandi Madhavi after taking Diksha and Radhika has taken the name as Parmanandi Rasmayi Gopi. Diksa / Deeksha is usually given in a one-to-one ceremony, and typically includes the taking on of a serious spiritual discipline. It is also known as giving of a mantra or an initiation by the guru in some Indian religions. The train was pretty crowded but they got my attention . #traindiaries #everydaymumbai

A post shared by Anushree Fadnavis (@anushree_fadnavis) on Dec 23, 2016 at 8:51am PST

Nanda Wadkar, a daily traveler , rolls a ball from the woollen thread with the help of her friends on the ladies compartment of the Mumbai local train. #traindiaries #everydaymumbai

A post shared by Anushree Fadnavis (@anushree_fadnavis) on Dec 12, 2016 at 6:26am PST

Women pass around paper plates filled with food in the ladies compartment of the Mumbai local train. If there is any birthday, like in this situation it was the birthday of one of the members’ daughter, or any other festival, ladies in the compartment don’t spare any effort to celebrate that particular occasion. And they do it so lovingly and also invite the other women around them. I have also been invited in celebrations so many times. I am sure most of the other ladies also must have experienced the same. And if you think it is one woman’s responsibility to organize these then no. Women take it upon themselves, they plan and decide the budget and share. I have been welcomed so lovingly in some groups and sometimes I feel like I am a part of them. While some women want to sleep and want silence in the train . They crib of such women in groups . But there is something about these groups that I love .Sometimes it is this sense of belonging, companionship that draw these women together, . Also the love , the care and the crazy fun that they have. #traindiaries #mumbaidiaries

A post shared by Anushree Fadnavis (@anushree_fadnavis) on Oct 17, 2016 at 11:38pm PDT