IN THE MAGAZINE

SLUM LORD

How an English Gentleman Reclaimed a Favela From the Police and Thieves

INTERVIEW BY MAX BARTRAM    PHOTOS BY GIUSEPPE BIZZARRI



Thirty years ago, an English film producer called Bob Nadkarni decided he’d had enough of London so he packed his suitcases and headed to South America. Eventually, he settled in Tavares Bastos, one of Rio de Janeiro’s drug-lorded favelas. Not only did he decide to make an impoverished, shack-filled slope his home, he also managed to almost single-handedly clean the place up, chase out the machine-gun-toting dealers and build an art gallery to live in that gradually became a hotel.

Bob’s building became known as The Maze and now contains bars, swimming pools, monthly music nights and a guest list that includes Snoop, Tim Roth, Edward Norton and, erm, Gary Lineker. Due to the relatively low chances of getting randomly gunned down in an argument over the price of a wrap, Bob’s favela has also become the primary location for just about every film that needs a shanty setting to have come out of Brazil in the last decade.

Vice: What made you leave London for a new life in South America?

Bob Nadkarni: I had a reasonably successful film career in England, but my marriage to a girl from art school who became a model didn’t stand a chance because we barely even managed to cross paths at the airport. The break-up hit me pretty hard and I ended up in Southampton, forgot one of my cases on the dockside and got on the first ship going anywhere, which, as it happened, was Guayaquil in Ecuador.

That sounds pretty exotic but how did you end up in Rio?

Engine trouble coming down the coast of Brazil forced the boat to pull in for an eight-day repair in the port of Salvador. I took a taxi at the foot of the gangplank for a look around and almost immediately got surrounded by seemingly crazed transvestites, one of whom opened the right door and drenched me with a bucket of water, followed by the left door through which a petite and topless girl was projected. Skipping a few sordid details, the ship sailed away with my other case and I, in my one pair of jeans and a t-shirt, discovered that Brazil was cheaper, more efficient and more fun than psychotherapy.

So you stayed?

After two months I bussed down to Rio where I stayed out the year until I was visited by the military regime and escorted straight to a ship bound for Southampton. I picked up my life in commercials in England working with directors like Adrian Lyne, but despite being on an extradition list I was determined to get back to Rio. I decided to train myself as a newsman as it was the only job that scared the hell out of the Brazilian military. As I spoke Portuguese, I got a job for NBC covering the 1974 Portuguese revolution and then covered Beirut until 1978. I returned to Rio at the beginning of 1979 as a UPITN [United Press International Television News] correspondent and spent three years crucifying the Junta. Which was fun.

What was it that possessed you to want to live in a favela?

At the beginning of 1981 I went with my maid, Creuza, to her favela home and the view from her window staggered me. I had always considered my job as temporary, planning a return to painting by the age of 50. So I built my studio up here amongst 500 people huddling in precarious shacks.

An old, white English guy who is into painting doesn’t really sound like your average favela tenant.

Naturally there’s always someone trying to rip you off. In my case a guy called Antonio Hilario tried to sell me a house which turned out to belong to a couple spending a few months back in the North-East. I smelled a rat and steered clear of him, but I subsequently discovered that he was a killer when his rage turned on me. Antonio caused me enormous headaches and stole constantly from me, almost daring me to confront him. In the end I didn’t have to. People like Antonio go around making enemies everywhere and one day he picked on someone who shot him dead.

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Comments

Anonymous, on Aug 27, 2009 wrote: hero
	Stanleyhalen, on Aug 27, 2009 wrote: One good man with a vision. The shit-stains of the world don’t stand a chance.
Anonymous, on Jun 18, 2009 wrote: v for vendetta?
Anonymous, on Jun 9, 2009 wrote: I have been to parties in the Favelas of Brazil - that shit is scary. Good on this short chubby dude for living out his life dream of helping people in more ways than his bad ass moustache.
Anonymous, on Jun 8, 2009 wrote: its nice to know people like this actually exist outside of movies. total bad ass
Anonymous, on Jun 8, 2009 wrote: what a dude
Anonymous, on Jun 8, 2009 wrote: his story is so fantastic its almost cliche, a road dahl book about an english gentleman who goes to live in a favela and brings magic into everyone’s lives.
Anonymous, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: This guy is fucking bad ass.
Anonymous, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: Theres nothing like living in a favela to spark that creative genius.
Anonymous, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: Julian Schnabel eat your tiny rotten heart out.
	megzo925, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: Straight up love this guy. How often does this sort of path play out well?
Anonymous, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: Tim Roth is cool but Buscemi would have been better. Mr. Pink and Donny Kerabatsos. Can’t beat that.
Anonymous, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: is it weird that i think having tim roth as a guest is much more impressive than having snoop?
Anonymous, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: If he is Batman, this is his Batcave. He definitely has a better view of Rio than Bruce Wayne does of Gotham. picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gitfI7euq70cvJqZ56I PjA
	rabies babies, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: nice website, max. you guys check it out if you can invest some reading time.
	greeksalot, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: I dont know whats more awesome: His Colonel Sanders ’stache, his pointy man-nips, or his Brian Cox face.
Anonymous, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: His apartment looks dope. Check out the stone flooring in the dining room. That view? Crazy. I could take up residence there especially now that the machine guns are gone.
Anonymous, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: is this a trick on the eye or are his hands really andre the giant size? those are some big grippers he’s got. wow.
Anonymous, on Jun 5, 2009 wrote: Bob has balls the size of the Hindenburg but hopefully not shaped like an ellipsis and burning. Kudos, my man. I hope you’re reading this!
	Max Bartram, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: I met Bob traveling Brazil. For more about that trip, and more about Bob check out this blog: www.maxinrio.blogspot.com Also check Bob’s website: www.jazzrio.com
	Max Bartram, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: Barely crossed paths at the airport, meaning they both had busy international careers, and therefore didn’t see each other much except occasionally bumping in to each other at airports.
Anonymous, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: he’s like the Brazilian batman.
Anonymous, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: London pretty much is a slum? no?
Anonymous, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: awesome how he put two cops away and then got the elite force in, well played, but how are they incorruptible?
	joe bananas, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: man, this guy is lucky to be alive. to take on drug lords and the police all while being old and white living in a favela. lucky lucky man
Anonymous, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: that is an incredible story. im sure there more seedy bits that have been left out but for this guy to help create such a community is incredible.
Anonymous, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: for one, rent is way cheaper. and the women don’t even compare. london girls are either trash or broken-toothed and i shouldn’t have to describe brazilian girls.
Anonymous, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: daamnn look at him going after that cops. what a badass!
Anonymous, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: Antonio Hilario isnt just a brazilian finding. thats basically all real estate agents
Anonymous, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: why would someone the leave beautiful london for the slums of brazil?!
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