The documentary series “Sounds from the peripheries ”, produced by Centre for Media and Alternative Communication and Bhooma, New Delhi, is an effort to bring attention to the livelihoods of folk musicians across the country.
Continuing to battle the severe impacts of the global pandemic, the folk artists are faced with an absence of platforms and mechanisms to perform and exhibit their talent. With rapid changes to recording technologies without adequate support for all, the folk musicians are battling a constant crisis as they play catch up. The next generation is debating whether folk music is a viable option to sustain themselves and with that, what lies at stake are centuries of collective cultural history.
Digitisation of music while democratizing the process has thrown up serious concerns over the past few decades such as protection of intellectual property rights and exploitation of vulnerable communities through poor compensation . It is important to recognise the role of the artists that have made this music possible and ensure that proper mechanisms are in place to safeguard their interests.
The aim behind “Sounds from the peripheries” has been to provide a platform for folk and classical musicians to showcase their musical talent, and to document and archive these rich traditions that are an integral part of our cultural diaspora.
NOTES FROM THE FILMMAKER:
“We traveled across the country, to bring out the stories from under-represented communities in India. The Meghwals at the western most border at Harsani, Barmer District, Rajasthan to the Sonowal Kachari Tribe in Teporguri Village in Sohorikota, Assam.
We traveled vast distances and uncovered diverse histories as we carried out our project. The purpose of the series was to also provide opportunities for employment for the musicians. Through such collaborations, we provided professional fees to the artists and we worked on the films together.
Sounds from the peripheries, aims to showcase the beauty and meaning behind the music. Acknowledging where the music comes from and in the context within which it was created before it is separated from the artist.”
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Neelansh Mittra divides his time between making documentaries and designing sound for films and installations. From 2021-2023, he worked as a director on a documentary series with the Centre for Media and Alternative Communication, which was aimed at drawing attention to the rich and complex history of folk music traditions across India and the livelihoods of musicians who practice them. He has a graduate degree in history (Delhi University) and a diploma in creative documentary filmmaking (Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication). A Scholarship Laureate of the International Programme for Sound Documentary at ENS Louis Lumiere in Paris, he continues to explore different ways of working with the medium of sound through his practice.
ABOUT THE PRODUCERS
Parthiv Shah is a practising photographer, designer and filmmaker who has extensively researched and published on the themes of representation and visual arts. He is the Founder-Director of Centre for Media and Alternative Communication (CMAC). An alumnus of the National Institute of Design, India, he has been awarded a senior fellowship in Photography by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Charles Wallace Fellowship, UK and Fulbright Lectureship award to teach photography at the UCLA, USA.
Vidya Shah is a singer from New Delhi, India. An award winning musician, she writes and speaks on music and is the Author of Jalsa: Indian Women’s Journey from the Salon to the Studio (Tulika Books). She was the Nana Shirgaokar Chair Professor for Indian Music at Goa University for 2016-20. She is the Director of Bhooma trust, set up to preserve and promote the intangible heritage of India.
CMAC is a leading non–profit strategic communications and advocacy agency. CMAC employs the aesthetics of media and art to create communication campaigns; additionally, it produces education as well as advocacy materials on a range of socially relevant issues, including human rights, culture and public health. The aim behind “Sounds from the peripheries” has been to provide a platform for folk and classical musicians to showcase their musical talent, and to document and archive these rich traditions that are an integral part of the Indian cultural diaspora.
70% of the funds we collect are directed to the artists
Date: 17th February (Saturday)
Time: 4:30 PM Onwards
