The lost indies: Desolate canines filmed during pandemic find gallery space

During the lockdown months in 2021, Goa-based photographer Rohit Chawla often walked across beaches taking pictures of indie strays.

- Aarushi Agrawal

A pet parent to three indies rescued during the pandemic, photographing dogs was second nature to him. However, when by the end of the enterprise, he found himself looking at 10,000 frames, he decided there may have been a bigger purpose behind the endeavour.

“I wanted to sensitise people to the plight of indie dogs,” said Chawla, ahead of an exhibition of 60 photographs titled ‘Rain Dogs’, which opens at a south Mumbai art gallery today.

One of the frames in the exhibit is that of a man staring at the sea and horizon, a dog seated by him. The man, a migrant from Bihar, was stuck in Goa during the lockdown. “I would see him every day. I have at least 70 frames of him and the dog - pictures of desolation and helplessness,” said Chawla. “I never found the man later but the lonesome dog was seen on the beach often.”