Nirvair Singh Rai, a Mumbai-based freelance photographer and filmmaker, felt an immediate connection to the city upon his arrival in 2016. Since then, he's wandered its streets, discovering the myriad realms where people find solace amidst the pressures of urban life. Frame by frame, he shapes the Mumbai of his heart, capturing the essence of dreams, devotion, duress, and distress in its diverse spaces. Fascinated by how people navigate adversity with fortitude, Rai is particularly struck by the unity evident in places like Bandstand and Marine Drive. Despite the city's vertical divisions, these locations showcase Mumbai's character—ever ready to embrace and assimilate. Rai cleverly captures the unintended role of tetrapods, originally designed to protect the shoreline but now becoming sanctuaries for lovers, shielding them from an invasive world. Similarly, Rai portrays nature on the fringes of the sprawling Urbania, highlighting the tenacity of life despite the challenges. Beneath his infectious enthusiasm, an undercurrent of distress emerges as he observes the city's relentless expansion, encroaching upon the ocean with euphemistically labelled reclamation posters. He questions the extent of this advancement, wondering how far people must go to reclaim their own little oceans when "development" threatens to drown out sunsets. Rai's treatment of space is noteworthy, influenced by his upbringing in Punjab, where the landscape takes centre stage. This trait quietly accompanies him in his intimate portrayal of the city, where his portraits blend restfully as parts of a larger landscape. Through his lens, Rai endeavours to reclaim space for his subjects, allowing them the freedom and dignity to exist within the vibrant tapestry that is Mumbai city.