Water Mafia
Overview
Water Mafia is a VICE x Docubay docu-series directed by Naman Govil — winner of Best Director at the Indian Telly Awards 2025 — offering an in-depth exploration of the extensive underground water market across Delhi and Mumbai. Through first-hand accounts with individuals connected to the water mafia, their victims, whistleblowers, and experts, the series details how criminal networks regulate water access for a significant portion of India's urban population. The graphics package spans maps, data visualisations, news headlines, tweets, lower thirds, and document callouts — all built over a drought-textured backdrop that roots the information visually in the subject matter. Document highlights were additionally rendered in English for Docubay's international audience.
Maps
Animated area maps pinpointing specific neighbourhoods at the centre of the investigation across Delhi and Mumbai.
Maps
Animated area maps pinpointing specific neighbourhoods at the centre of the investigation across Delhi and Mumbai.
Data Visualisation
Animated data sequences translating the series' statistics — water shortfall figures, tanker pricing, supply vs. demand breakdowns — into readable on-screen graphics.
Data Visualisation
Animated data sequences translating the series' statistics — water shortfall figures, tanker pricing, supply vs. demand breakdowns — into readable on-screen graphics.
Headlines
Headline stacks overlaid on actual footage, keeping the statistics grounded in the visual reality on screen rather than pulling viewers into a pure graphics moment.
Headlines
Headline stacks overlaid on actual footage, keeping the statistics grounded in the visual reality on screen rather than pulling viewers into a pure graphics moment.
Tweet Graphics
Animated tweet callouts overlaid on footage, surfacing public discourse while keeping the viewer in the reality of the scene rather than cutting away to a standalone graphic.
Tweet Graphics
Animated tweet callouts overlaid on footage, surfacing public discourse while keeping the viewer in the reality of the scene rather than cutting away to a standalone graphic.
Document Highlights
RTI filings, government reports, and investigative documents animated as on-screen callouts — zooming into key passages, underlining figures, and overlaying English translations for Docubay's international audience.
Document Highlights
RTI filings, government reports, and investigative documents animated as on-screen callouts — zooming into key passages, underlining figures, and overlaying English translations for Docubay's international audience.
Archival Treatment
Consistent on-screen graphics contextualising archival footage and photographic material without pulling focus from the content.
Archival Treatment
Consistent on-screen graphics contextualising archival footage and photographic material without pulling focus from the content.
