Swetha Basu Prasad into Film Making - Roots Documentary Indian Classical Music

Swetha Basu Prasad Became a Director - Roots Documentary Indian Classical Music

Swetha Basu Prasad, the National Award winning actress for Iqbal and Makdee is all set to become a documentary director. The title of the documentary is called Roots that focuses on the traditional value of the Indian classical music and its propagation among the modern day Indian youth. Speaking about the documentary, she said that she is from a family of musicians and music lovers. Swetha Basu Prasad herself is a sitar player and it is natural that her interests lie in the field of Indian classical music.

The documentary features eminent musicians and their thoughts that give the viewers lot of information about the value of our cultural and classical Indian music. It features artists like AR Rahman, Dr L Subramanyam, Gulzar, Shuba Mudgal, Pandit Jasraj, Vishal Bharadwaj and others. Swetha Basu explains that she had been working hard on this project for the past 3 years and it is this cause that forced her not to sign even a single film as an actress. The documentary film currently in its post-production works will be soon released to the audience who mostly belong to younger generations. According to Swetha Basu Prasad, it will be mostly screened in schools and colleges.

The shooting of the roots documentary started on 11th May 2011 in Ryan Global School, Andheri, Mumbai. According to Swetha Basu, the first day shoot was nervous and shabby but she was confident enough that all well also ends well.

All through the shooting she had great experiences, amazing interviews and a great footage. She recollects that all these memories would be remembered for her whole life time. Her documentary team includes some of the best crews including creative director and cinematographer, Adhiraj Bose. Swetha along with her crew had worked hard on the subject for the past 3 years highlight the importance of our cultural values and classical music gifted to us through 5000year old tradition. She feels the responsibility to bring awareness and encourage the current generation to pass on this age old tradition to the future generations.

This documentary features many eminent musicians, living legends, vocalists, singers, lyricists, music instrument makers, music academies, past and present lives of the people that depend on the traditional Indian Classical Music.

 Swetha Basu Prasad in her quest to find true form of classical Indian music and arts, featured Sangit Mahabharati of Juhu, Mumbai. This institution stands for its serious research and education on classical Indian music forms established by the internationally renowned Tabla maestro and Guru, Padmabhushan Pandit Nikhil Ghosh in 1956. Sangit Mahabharati offers certification courses in Hindustani classical music arts and dance forms. Apart from great courses from great teachers, various seminars, awareness programs, research projects on musicology are conducted in the institution.

Swetha Basu Prasad in her research for the documentary also met A.R. Rahman who is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician and philanthropist. His skilled in Carnatic music, Western and Hindustani classical music and dedication towards the music and musical world is noteworthy. In his two decade career he is acclaimed for redefining contemporary Indian film music and contributing his efforts for music industry. Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory is music research institution that offers various courses in Hindustani and Western classical music and music technology.

Documentary required great research that led Swetha Basu Prasad to approach nook and corner of this great nation to find true of essence of classical Indian music. In her effort she also interviewed Kiran Seth an Indian Academician despite his technological background in Mechanical Engineering founded a non-profit organization that promotes Indian classical music and art forms through its 500 chapters around the world through various fests, lectures, baithaks and musical conventions. His efforts were recognized by Government of India by awarding Padma Shri for his contribution to the world of fine arts.

Swetha Basu’s research also includes some other eminent personalities such as Dr. L.Subramaniam, Gulzar saab, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shubha Mudgal and others.