Produced as Nair’s thesis project at Harvard, this fascinating diaristic encounter captures the cacophony of street life around the Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque, in the old city of Delhi, India. As she trains her camera on the bustle of activity and on the inherent contradictions of the ancient customs and traditional occupations practiced in the midst of this large and complex city, Nair must factor in her own disconcerting presence amongst a neighborhood of people uncertain of what to make of this young Indian woman alone behind a camera.

This short film takes the documentary to the far edges of credibility and delight. Bombay residents, mostly middle class, meet early in the morning with their instructors to perform a series of laughing exercises. The techniques are taught in the schools as well. Uninhibited laughter seems to cure bodily disease and to provide relief from the oppressions of everyday life and release from tragic personal histories. We see a lot of Bombay in the film and meet some captivating individuals. Audiences will be challenged to remain uninfected by the laughter.