A recent viewing of Varsha Vasudev's Chinna Chinna Aasai (Malayalam feature film) starring Indrans, Madhubala and Aparna Balamurali inspired me to revisit photographs from my journeys to Varanasi in 2012, 2014, and 2018.
The film beautifully captures the spirit of a city that has fascinated artists, writers, filmmakers, and photographers for generations. While viewers may connect with the journey of Leela and Madhavan, Varanasi itself emerges as a living, breathing presence - its ghats, temples, narrow alleys, rituals, and people weaving together a story that is both deeply personal and universally human.
These photographs were made across three visits spanning six years. They are moments of faith, devotion, solitude, celebration, chaos, and quiet observation - glimpses of everyday life along the banks of the Ganges.
This gallery is a small tribute to Chinna Chinna Aasai and to Varanasi, a city that feels less like a destination and more like a character with its own emotions, memories, and timeless rhythm.
