Funded by the India Foundation for the Arts, I worked with contemporary dancer Aishwarya Raut and cultural activist Dhammarakshit Randive to reinterpret the mid-19th century folk ballad Governor and Koli: A Fisherman’s Legend through dance, music, and documentary storytelling in a docu-fiction short film. The narrative follows Aishwarya Raut delving into her family’s history, specifically the life of her great-grandfather, the socialist leader Rajaram Balkrishna (Bhausaheb) Raut. By researching private family archives, interviewing Koliwadi residents, and studying state records, Aishwarya aims to uncover important gaps in the family’s oral history, particularly the absence of stories about the women in her lineage. This absence is held within the broader transformation of Bombay and the struggle of the Koli community to preserve its identity in the face of colonial and industrial changes. The film blends documentary and fiction, following Aishwarya’s journey through historical archives and personal reflection, interwoven with imagined conversations with her ancestors. Through dance, she transforms her curiosity of her identity and transforms historical texts into abstract movements, reinterpreting the ballad for a contemporary audience. While Dhammarakshit Randive from Yalgaar Sanskrutik Manch, will reinterpret the music of the ballad, combining traditional folk forms with modern political themes. His work will reconnect the Koli identity with its oral traditions while reflecting on the evolution of the community over the last century.