Mumbai: Rich vs Poor in the Indian Megapolis | India Wealth & Poverty Documentary

It’s one of the most populous cities on the planet with 22 million inhabitants, predicted to increase to 30 million by 2035. Nicknamed ‘the infernal Metropolis’, Mumbai is a city in perpetual development. But with millions of people living in slums located on valuable real estate, how can city planners balance the competing needs of the population?

In Dharavi, the largest slum in Asia, over one million people are packed into the 2 km. slum. But although its residents are poor, there’s a real dynamism. Mahesh, 27, was born and lives in this slum and would never leave it. He runs a recycling plant and employs around 20 people. Dharavi’s underground economy is thought to generate 800 million euros per year. But it also lies on prime real estate in the very centre of Mumbai so its future is in doubt.

Every day, new towers of glass or concrete emerge from the earth. With the support of the municipality, real estate tycoon, Babulal Varma, razes slums to build luxury apartments for the upper classes. As the city constantly expands, it pushes into the surrounding forests and natural spaces, such as Sanjay Gandhi Park. The fifty leopards who live there regularly make forays into the new housing estates. They attack stray dogs, but also the inhabitants. Each year, several people are killed by feline attacks. At night, forest department rangers patrol to prevent leopard incursions.

This documentary was produced by Ligne de Front and directed by Marc de La Villardière & Manolo d'Arthuys. It was first released in 2021.
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[seasideshutterworx]

So much respect for the older gentleman who started the leather goods business. You sir deserve every bit of success I hope you have a very comfortable retirement and many grandchildren

[Bedtimephilosophy]

As an Indian and a Mumbaikar who has lived in Mumbai for 24 years, I have to admit that Mumbai is truly a shithole. No one cares about how terribly bad the roads are, how terrible the infrastructure is, how corrupt the government is. No one cares about these things.

In this country, people will be outraged over a movie that hurts their religious or cultural sentiments while still taking a shit on the street. I’m really grateful to have had the chance to gotten out of that shithole. There’s nothing wrong with that patch of land that they call India. Just the mentality of the people that holds us all back from prosperity.

[hienfable]

After watching this documentary, I'll never complain about the crowded trains in London again. These kind of videos gives u such a reality check to 3rd world problems vs 1st world issues.
So what I got from this video is gratitude, which is such an underrated virtue 😊

[MichaelDonovan-cmti]

The part at 27:42 was peak journalism, catching them in the act of coaching people what to say.

[BlurryFace-zzro]

At 15:30 when the old man cried, that was deep. I cant even describe how real it was.

[ignatiusee]

The rich get richer. The poor gets screwed. That’s what I got from this video.

[cuongnguyen-hpuh]

This is why you need to appreciate where you live right now. Not saying that these people don’t like their life.

[valentinalovendahl]

Having 9 children in the slums and then complain about the apartment being too small🤦🏻‍♀️ purely egoistic and beyond stupid. Those poor children.

[andrewmatthews]

the bloke with 9 children is such a smart guy, like havent u heard of pulling out. this is why india is growing to highest population in the world.

[Rafaelnk]

Mumbai city paints a clear picture of the gap that exists between the rich and the poor in the developing countries. Nairobi city is also another example.

[squidwardq.tentacles]

How these people are robbed of their home is heartbreaking

[yxngPrimo]

"People are not doing crime here people are doing struggling here"😂❤

[seeker_chicago]

Seoul Korea was like a little Munbai in the 50s, 60s, and even in the early 70s after the Korean War (1950 - 1953). There were patches of shanty towns, shits on the streets, and polluted rivers.

Now, Seoul's metropolitan subway is the cleanest in the world. It was the determination of the Korean people under a strong leadership that made the change.

[lyudmilbakalov]

Sad to see how "fitness models" and influencers live in luxury while other struggle for 160 usd per month...

[siimkask]

I went to India to meet some business partners and after visiting Im done. They refused to buy forklifts to unload shipping containers, because it was infinitely cheaper to get 8 guys to unload them by hand for a couple of hours. It seemed so natural to them that they didnt even see it as inhumane or weird.

[dramaqueenedits]

@30:36 Why have 9 children in a situation like that? For what purpose? What is the reason? 😢. Unfathomable.

[Anton-ydmp]

That's crazy. How they can live in that condition? What their government doing? At least, give them a proper transportation and sanitation. Seeing this, their government still proudly said their economy growth is amazing. What a joke

[Danny.Hyde]

Was in Bombay 33 years ago, got a big shock when stumbled on Dharavi.
But was fascinated by the amount of smiles.
I find the property developer in this video, to be your usual greedy scumbag.

[benjamindover]

"My mother had 12 children but she couldn't afford to feed them. I have 9 children but I can't afford to feed them. my daughter will have 11 children but she won't be able to feed them".

[prankranks]

This is the most amazing documentary I've seen on YouTube. Well thought through. I thought I would watch it in a breakdown but ended up watching the whole video all in one shot.