Lives on Mall Road Tharan Sathyadas
- photography
lives on mall road
Captured with my Nikon Coolpix 6500 on a cold April night in Himachal, the last destination to my North Indian journey. This photograph embodies a quiet yet complex moment along the famous Mall Road. Just me and my camera, fresh from a steaming bowl of momo thupka at the nearby Tibetan dhaba, soaking in the chilly night air and the unfolding scene around us.
Mall Road, always alive with the hum of movement, reveals the endless transit of people—tourists, locals, each weaving their own path between cafes and shops. In this piece, taken on my last night there, I caught an interaction between two women: a young traveler, walking confidently into an unseen future, and an older local, observing her familiar street with a gaze that speaks of history, memory, perhaps a sense of nostalgia.
I chose the monochrome palette because I felt monochrome tones invite viewers to explore the scene’s layers, allowing every onlooker to draw a unique story from it. For me, this image captures a subtle tension between past and future, a convergence of generations crossing paths in a space that holds different meanings for each.
the CHAOS of Chandni Chowk pt 1 & 2
These two photos were taken in late march, again with my Coolpix exploring Old Delhi. Old Delhi – a place that’s become one of my favourite spots I’ve traveled to. Growing up in South India, specifically Bangalore, which is somewhat calm and peaceful(minus the traffic). The North, though, especially Old Delhi—is different. Despite all the stories I’d heard, nothing really prepares you for the actual chaos until you’re right in the middle of it. And honestly, I love it.
Pt.1 and 2 were both taken on the same street, the iconic Chandni Chowk. My aim was to capture a little bit of the true chaos of Chandni Chowk. People walking, shopping eating, selling; rickshaws navigating roads half their size, with countless others crowding the way. Every person in a state of transit. Going from one place to another. Absolutely nothing at rest.
In pt.1, you see food stalls, vendors, and buyers all packed tightly along the narrow road. The picture captures a man transporting something, possibly from a roadside hotel. Although the vendor is in the foreground, the image really shows the compactness of the streets—tangled wires, bold signboards, and the many people on the move. One thing I really like about this piece is the uniformity of warm colours and the shadows surrounding them.
In pt.2, we see a cycle rickshaw and its rider navigating a narrow road, barely wide enough for the rickshaw itself. You can also catch glimpses of locals passing by, their faces showing a hint of confusion. I chose black and white here purely to highlight the action and movement captured in the scene. The natural lighting almost puts a spotlight on the rickshaw rider, making him stand out in the image.
Despite all the chaos, everything somehow works. That's probably why I like old Delhi . Everyone gets where they need to go, business functions as always. Hundreds of lives and stories passing by every minute, through these narrow paths, always in transit.
These 3 pieces are bits from my journal, taken when I was 19 travelling through North India. Bombay, Jaipur, Delhi and Himachal. All travelled my train or bus. With my backpack in one hand and my grandfather's Nikon Coolpix i had found at home a few weeks prior.
These 3 submissions are from my last 2 destinations, all displaying the form of being ‘in transit’ In their own way.
This journey has opened doors to freelance work, blending his love for art, photography, and storytelling.
Explore Tharan’s work:
Instagram: @th.sathyadass
Prints/Postcards: [tharansathyadass.mini.store]
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