Beyond the Maidan

Football beyond the spotlight

Kolkata’s relationship with football is much bigger than its famous clubs, packed stadiums and historic rivalries. Football lives in neighbourhood grounds, local clubs and community tournaments, where young players get the chance to compete simply because they love the game.

Beyond the Maidan explores this side of Kolkata football.

The project looks at how football became such an important part of the city, why grassroots competitions matter, and what happens when people come together to create opportunities for players who may not otherwise have access to organised football.

It is also a record of my own attempt to give something back to the sport that has given me so much.

An overhead, bird’s-eye view of a small neighborhood rooftop football pitch in Kolkata, outlined by bright white chalk lines on faded green turf. Low brick walls ring the pitch, their surfaces covered in peeling paint and faint, abstract patterns that hint at old football graffiti without using text. On the field, scattered cones, a solitary ball, and a tangle of colored bibs suggest an intense practice session paused mid-drill. The city’s dense rooftops and water tanks form a textured urban backdrop beyond the edges. Early evening floodlights cast sharp pools of cool white light across the pitch, contrasting with the warm, fading sunset glow on nearby buildings. The photographic realism and bold top-down composition create a dynamic, urban grassroots atmosphere.