Mumbai—once a cluster of villages connected by the sea—is being reshaped by modern bridges and land reclamation. This development comes at a cost: the erasure of the old world and its indigenous people, the Kolis, who lived in deep harmony with the sea. Their way of life—their fi shing traditions and ferry transport linking these villages—is fading into obscurity. Lost Songs of Sundari follows the Koli myth of a legendary ferryboat, and its ferrywoman- who guided people across creeks, long before these monstrous bridges existed. Through the perspectives of a woman recounting Sundari’s tale, an aging ferry operator who runs the Versova-Madh ferry, and a young child witnessing the changes, the fi lm explores how progress, while practical, has disconnected a community bound by tradition and the sea. Now, Sundari lives on only in songs and stories, her memory overshadowed by urbanization, and soon that fate awaits the Koli community itself.

Filmmaker details: Sudarshan Sawant

After earning a Master’s in Signal Processing Engineering and working six years in manufacturing, I pursued my passion for storytelling at FTII, Pune, specializing in Sound Recording and Design. As a Multilingual Sound Designer, my work has been featured at festivals like VdR, IDFA, Venice IFF, and IFFI, earning recognition for excellence in sound. Transitioning into fi lmmaking, my debut documentary Lost Songs of Sundari explores Mumbai’s fading connections with its waters and history. I strive to craft emotionally resonant narratives, blending technical expertise with artistic vision to tell meaningful stories.