MS Gopal, who has been a street photographer for 9 years, has a series of delightful photographs with the hashtag #IndianMale. He travels to various parts of Mumbai to capture the bizarre and vibrant quirks typical to men in the country — “I want to capture Indian men doing very Indian men things,” he says.
These photographs show his attention to detail, viewing Indian men in sharp relief against the ever-changing, sometimes utterly surreal landscape of Mumbai. His photographs, from men selling sunglasses, herding goats, and barbers, to style bhais, are always gently ribbing but never unkind.
“Men who are online and have visibility are very different. They could be from London, New York or Delhi, and their photos would look the same. They aren’t the kind of men I want to photograph. I prefer taking candid shots of real Indian men living their lives. Sometimes they want to pose, and I let them,” says Gopal.
You can also follow him on his blog and Instagram.
A boy walks down a street in Shivaji Nagar, Mumbai, with an Indian version of the vuvuzela during Eid.
A man carries a child to the shrine outside the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.
A family dressed as royals on a chakkar around Pydhonie, next to Crawford Market.
Mannequins for menswear at a discount store in Parel, Mumbai, waiting to get dressed.
Man with an aviary in his house, in Ambarnath, on the outskirts of Mumbai.
Uncle Joe, a popular musician who lives off Bazar Street in Bandra.
Man selling flags.
Fake notes for sale to make your wallet look thicker at Govandi station.
A worker digging the road on the NH4 Mumbai Pune highway demonstrates how to tie the gamchha .
Wrestlers at an akhara in Chinchpokli, Mumbai.
B-grade films being advertised at Kamathipura, the old red light area of Mumbai.
This Swachh Bharat ad in Ghatkopar has an annoying vision of what a man’s role is when it comes to keeping things clean.
Ram-Leela performers playing Sita and Surpanakha getting ready for a show at Shivdi.
A man’s face is reflected in a mirror at a roadside barber shop in Thane.
An early morning Eid selfie in Shivaji Nagar.
More Eid finery in Shivaji Nagar.
Eid in Chembur.
A Rajinikanth fan channels his inner hero outside Lavanya Theatre, Bangalore.
Back to smoking after Eid, and making up for lost time.
Fabric from a shop at Mangaldas Market, stitched in Madanpura, and buttons from Musafirkhana.
Homeless man in Bandra, carrying his whole world with him.