‘Against the Tide’ Screening and Conversation at MuSo, Mumbai

An evening of cinema and conversation with the makers of ‘Against the Tide’ (2023)— held as part of The Locavore’s Mumbai Koli Project— explored the shifting tides of Mumbai’s Koli community and their changing relationship with the sea.
(L to R) : Ganesh Nakhawa, Sarvnik Kaur, and Shubhra Chatterji during the post-screening conversation at the Museum of Solutions, Mumbai. Photo by ChefTZac.

The first in a countrywide series of screenings, the award-winning documentary Against the Tide (2023) was showcased at the Museum of Solutions, Mumbai. The screening was followed by a conversation with director Sarvnik Kaur and protagonist Ganesh Nakhawa, moderated by filmmaker Shubhra Chatterji.

The film traces the lives of two fishermen and friends, Rakesh Koli and Ganesh Nakhawa, from Mumbai’s Koli community. Bound by the sea and tradition, yet divided by their choices, the two men chart different paths. Rakesh continues to fish the way his ancestors did, while Ganesh embraces modern technology to stay afloat. Along with their brotherhood, ambition and rising tensions also unfold against the backdrop of the climate crisis and urbanisation, which are transforming the sea they depend on.

Through screenings, The Locavore, the film’s official impact collaborator, aims to bridge the distance between seafood consumers and Koli fisherfolk, while sparking dialogue on sustainability, heritage, and resilience.

Meet Our Panelists

Sarvnik Kaur, Filmmaker
Through Against the Tide, writer-director Sarvnik Kaur brings into focus the intimate stories of friendship, conflict, and survival within Mumbai’s Koli fishing community. Her practice highlights how environmental shifts and economic choices ripple into the social fabric of communities along the coast.

Get a sneak peak of Sarvnik’s work here.

Ganesh Nakhawa, Koli Fisherman and Protagonist of the Film
A prominent voice in his community, Ganesh Nakhawa is at the forefront of conversations around modernisation, sustainability, and the future of fishing. His participation in the Mumbai Koli Project underscores the urgent need to familiarise and connect consumers with the people who harvest the sea for a living.

Read Ganesh’s interview with The Locavore here. 

Shubhra Chatterji, Filmmaker (Moderator)
Explore | Filmmaker Shubhra Chatterji has worked extensively at the intersection of storytelling, food, and culture. Moderating the post-screening discussion, she guided the conversation on climate resilience, tradition, and the evolving practices of coastal communities.

Read about Shubhra’s work on her website, Historywali.

The MuSO Koli Exhibit

Before the screening, audiences experienced the Museum of Solutions’ interactive exhibit on Koli culture. This exhibit offered a hands-on introduction to the Kolis’ way of life and their approach to fishing. Here, visitors could:

  • Learn about the different types of fishing knots and what makes them strong.
  • Explore a replica of the Koli fishing boat, Golfadevi, and understand how its design is important to the tides and the sea.
  • Discover the seasonal rhythms of fishing—the months that are open for fishing and those that aren’t.
  • Step into the daily life of a Koliwada through the story of Priya, who must fetch water from far away, offering a glimpse into the community’s everyday struggles and resilience.

This immersive exhibit set the tone for the film that followed, offering visitors a sensory glimpse into the world of Mumbai’s Koli fishing communities—the sounds of the sea, the tools of the trade, and stories of lives shaped by the tides. It invited audiences to step into a world before witnessing it unfold on screen.

Post Screening Discussion

Highlights
Sarvnik shared how the film was inspired by her earlier work on resistance art in Kashmir, reflecting on how personal and community histories often go undocumented.

  • Her engagement with the fisherwomen’s collective in Marol, Mumbai, resisting commercial development, deepened her interest in fishing communities which led her to eventually work on this film.
  • The panellists discussed traditional fishing methods, struggles for sustenance for fishermen who do not use modern fishing methods, and use technology to understand climate change-driven transformations in fish migration and coastal environments.
  • Ganesh Nakhawa shared his journey into modernising fishing practices, including the use of satellite technology, alongside challenges such as bankruptcy during the pandemic which was documented in the film.
  • The makers described the editing process—400 hours of footage refined into thematic, emotional arcs—emphasising the juxtaposition of Ganesh and Rakesh’s lives.
  • The community’s battles against projects like the Mumbai Coastal Road highlighted the tension between development and traditional livelihoods..
  • Structural issues such as poor landing points, lack of storage infrastructure, and weak supply chains were raised as obstacles to sustainable fishing.
  • Younger generations need encouragement and viable futures to continue fishing traditions.
  • Consumers were urged to support sustainable fisheries by choosing local, seasonal fish such as Moonfish, Trevally, Red Snapper, and Cobia. Ganesh mentioned that just like seasonal fruits, we should also focus on eating seasonal fish.
  • Concerns around the threats posed by large Chinese fishing vessels operating illegally in Indian waters—and the subsequent issues of overfishing and human rights violations—were also discussed.

Learnings

  • The climate crisis and urbanisation are transforming the Koli community’s relationship with the sea, impacting their livelihoods and traditions.
  • Infrastructure and policy support are critical to sustaining small-scale fisheries and reducing economic vulnerability.
  • Sustainable consumer choices and awareness can help bridge the gap between seafood eaters and fisherfolk.
  • Fishing communities embody ecological knowledge essential for conservation, but are under constant threat from development projects and industrial exploitation.
  • Stories like Against the Tide are vital in capturing the complexities of resilience, conflict, and change within traditional communities and bridging the gap between consumers and fisherfolk.

As the audience lingered after the discussion, it was evident that the film had done more than just document a story—it had initiated a dialogue. By bringing together the people who fish, cook, and consume to these screenings, The Locavore’s Mumbai Koli Project continues to build bridges of understanding and shared responsibility.

The Mumbai Koli Project is the official impact campaign of the Against the Tide documentary, led by The Locavore in close collaboration with Sarvnik Kaur, Ganesh Nakhawa, and Sonia Parekh. It is supported by the Doc Society’s Climate Story Fund which enables independent media storytelling and impact strategies from around the world.