A new documentary, "Cast In India," explores the foreign source of one of the city's most iconic and overlooked fixtures: the manhole cover.
Anthropologist Natasha Raheja first noticed the "MADE IN INDIA" stamp on manhole cover when she came to New York City to pursue her PhD at NYU. She decided to follow her fascination with "the social lives of objects" down the rabbit hole all the way to Howrah, India where she observed factory workers struggling under dismal factory conditions, according to The Drive.
The film has been shown around the world winning multiple awards. It's currently being promoted by National Geographic's Short Film Showcase. A trailer shows workers molding hot metal with their bare feet, see below. The full documentary can be purchased here.
