His story

A career in the city's engine room

Mumbai's municipal corporation runs the services most people never think about until they fail: drains, roads, waste, water. Udaykumar spent his working life there and rose to Assistant Municipal Commissioner.

In 'B' Ward he led demolition drives against unauthorised construction to give public space back to the public. It was unpopular work in places that had grown used to the opposite.

The workers who went back to school

The ward's Class IV staff included sweepers, manhole cleaners and road and pipeline repairmen. Many earned less than Rs 6,000 a month and had left school early.

He encouraged them to study again. Twenty-three passed their SSC exams. The recognition that followed persuaded 26 more to join night classes, many of whom had refused before out of shame.

"The recognition they received from society had a ripple effect," he later said.

From the ward to the screen

The story became the Marathi feature film Ata Thambaycha Naay! ("Now we won't stop"), released in theatres on 1 May 2025. Shivraj Waichal directed it, and Ashutosh Gowariker plays Udaykumar.

The film went on to win Best Film at the Filmfare Awards Marathi.

Environmental work today

Today his focus is the environment and civic responsibility. He documents what he sees and does in short Instagram Reels: environmental activities, public issues and lessons from a life in public service.