‘Tuning 2 You’: Official Kickstarter Trailer

TUNING 2 YOU: LOST MUSICIANS OF INDIA
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PLOT
From the heart of India, comes this striking film series on the plight of rural musicians and their struggle against extinction #T2U

SYNOPSIS
Tuning 2 You is a unique documentary film series about India’s hidden folk musicians.

For the past year, two talented brothers from London, Soumik Datta (virtuoso sarod player) and Souvid Datta (award winning photojournalist), have travelled through some of India’s remotest regions filming, recording and playing with amazing musicians.

Far from the world they know, the brothers have ventured deep into the heart of rural India. Their films bear witness to India’s incredible cultures and to music’s transcendent power. It celebrates the resilience of rural artists who use song and dance to overcome the crippling forces of poverty, caste and patriarchy.

The films bring us close-up to musicians of extraordinary skill and sensitivity, musicians well known in their local communities but likely to be eclipsed by speeding urbanisation and modernity.

KICKSTARTER
The films are done; they are ‘in the can’.

Soumik and Souvid now need help to make sure their films are produced to a standard that will get these musicians the notice they deserve. To raise these funds, on 'World Music Day’ they launched a Kickstarter campaign. The funds raised will be used specifically for post-production and marketing, often expensive parts of any film making process. Quality productions depend on painstaking editing and sound engineering in a studio. Then, to get a film to audiences – whether on cinema, TV or tablet screens – requires persistent promotion.

Watch the exclusive video trailer on the Kickstarter page.

The project appeals to those who want to ensure India’s rich musical heritage does not fade away. Their help could make this ambitious and worthwhile dream come true.

STYLE & REACH
Panoramic and vivid ‘Tuning 2 You’ is a modern docu-travel show, stylishly shot with a BBC Pop-Up approach. The six part series shot in six states of India follows Soumik as the host and presenter meeting and playing with over a hundred rural musicians.

The show, albeit universal, is aimed at young audiences, musicians, reality TV and travel fans across the world immersing the viewer in the raw, intoxicating cultures of a hidden India.

Tuning 2 You is supported and nurtured by Bagri Foundation, Soumik Datta Arts, Rumi Foundation and Weavers Studio. It has also engaged several Indian partners who have facilitated the shoot in the various regions.

THE DIRECTORS
Soumik Datta is a British Indian composer and virtuoso player of the sarod – a 19 stringed fretless instrument with a nomadic history spanning ancient Afghanistan, colonial India and modern day global downloads.

Soumik is not only a solo virtuoso. He is also innovative and generous, working with other musicians to create fabulous new pieces, bringing his sarod and their instruments to new and wider audiences around the world.

Trained by the sarod legend, Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta while completing his Masters in Composition at Trinity College of Music, Soumik’s concerts bridge the world of Indian classical and contemporary music. His artistic hallmarks are his collaborations with other artists: Beyonce, Jay-Z, Bill Bailey, Manu Delago, Akram Khan, Nitin Sawhney, Anoushka Shankar, Bernhard Schimpelsberger, Talvin Singh, Joss Stone, Shankar Mahadevan to name a few.

Soumik Datta Arts is a registered UK charity organisation that supports the work of Soumik as well as creates platforms for innovative arts projects that bridge Indian arts with the world.

www.soumikdatta.com

SOUVID DATTA
Pursuing multimedia journalism, Souvid has completed commissioned and personal projects across the Europe, N.Africa, Central America, Afghanistan, S.Asia, China working for clients including TIME, The Guardian, The New York Times and Vice. In his eyes, visual storytelling is a powerful tool for self-expression, informing public debate and documenting history. He currently works as a freelance multimedia journalist and film-maker.
souvid.org