I Photographed The Miracle Robots Of India

Growing up in a city like Mumbai, I remember seeing the robots in form of installations several times during festivals and also in other private events.

But, I never really bothered about them. It is only when that I began photographing the city, some things started to develop in an interesting way.

In 2009, I started to work on this project about the Indian robots and since then I have pursued this work further for my own photographic interests.

The creative implementation of these crudely made robots is essentially very much an important aspect of the local popular culture. Approximately, this culture began from the mid-70’s and it has proliferated from one single robot maker to many more within the city.
These robots are primarily adapted from many Indian myths as deities and other mythological animals and then used during festivals for cultural strengthening. They are placed as installations in open and closed environments, with an audiovisual scripted presentation.

So, my journey in these last 7 years, took me to most of the robot makers, the festivals where the installations were placed and to various other cities where these Indian robots travelled to during other festivals. The workshops of these robot makers where these automata are conceived were not really an easy discovery even within the city and it also took a few years for me to befriend some robot makers and gain their trust.
It was a unique and surreal experience especially to see the large-scale robots, which were 20- 50 feet high and were mostly installed in outdoor environments in remote locations in Maharashtra and also other fewer known small towns in other states.

Overall, my focus has been largely on the surroundings where these robots are constructed and installed and also the relationships between the people and the robot.
“Miracle Robots” is a take on the automata and humans and their interactions.

More info: sameertawde.com

I Photographed The Miracle Robots Of India