Thread by @CinemaRareIN

Documentary films based on Indian Artists and Indian Music...

A thread..

#ZindagiEkSafar (1989) by #SandipRay, a video documentary on the life of #KishoreKumar.

Commentary by #AmeenSayani, and feat. @GangulyAmitK @SrBachchan #RajeshKhanna @mangeshkarlata @ashabhosle #RDBurman #AshokKumar and @iamsrk.

Link: songs.kishorekumar.org/zindagi-ek-saf…

The life journey of #JagjitSingh who broke through the norms and revolutionised the Ghazal scenario.

#KaagazKiKashti (2017) by @brahmanandsingh.

Streaming on @PrimeVideoIN.

Buy/Rent :

@jabeenmerchant @MobiusFilmsIn

#PanchamUnmixed (2008) by @brahmanandsingh, that takes an incisive look into the life and music of #RDBurman.

Link 1 :
(Free till Sept 27th)

Link 2 :
(rent/purchase)

@ashabhosle @MobiusFilmsIn

#LataInHerOwnVoice (1991) by #NasreenMunniKabir, a 6 part docuseries for Channel 4 on @mangeshkarlata.

The series also featured Gulzar, Jaya Bachchan, Naushad, Waheeda Rehman, Majrooh Sultanpuri, and Manna Dey.

Only the last part is available:

#Asha (1986), a documentary profile on @ashabhosle by #NevilleBolt.

Link:

#DastaanERafi (2006) by #RajniAcharya and #VinayPatel, featuring Shammi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Sonu Nigam & Javed Ali, about Mohammed Rafi. On the occasion of his 92 birth anniversary.

Streaming on @ZEE5India.

YT:

#Rafi : #WeRememberYou (2009) by #KuldeepSinha, a biographical film on the legendary singer Mohammad Rafi traces his life and contribution to Indian cinema and music from his birth in Punjab to his journey to Bombay.

Link:

#JaiHo (2015) by #UmeshAggarwal & #DeepakGattani which brings a hitherto unseen and unheard narrative of one of the greatest musicians the world has ever known - #ARRahman.

Link:

@arrahman

#LeavingHome: #TheLifeAndMusicOfIndianOcean (2008) by #JaidepVerma, a full-length documentary film on one of the most significant contemporary Indian bands - #IndianOcean.

Link:

@indianoceanband

This documentary shows the rich variety of instruments used in Indian music, which virtually provide the ‘looms of sound’ on which the musicians weave a rich pattern of melody and rhythm.

#MusicOfIndia (1966) by #ABhaskarRao.

Link:

@Films_Division

#Dhrupad (1983) by #ManiKaul.

A documentary feature based on the oldest surviving form of Hindustani Classical music and the Dagars.

Link:

@Films_Division

#Raga (1971) by #HowardWorth, a documentary film about the life and music of Indian sitarist and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Link:

#UstadAllaRakha (1970) by #ChandrashekharNair, a documentary feature on the art and life of Tabla Maestro Ustad Alla Rakha.

Link:

@Films_Division

#UstadAmjadAliKhan (1990) by #Gulzar, a documentary feature on Sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

Link:

#SangEMeelSeMulaqat (1989) by (1989) #GoutamGhose, a documentary feature that captures the magic of #UstadBismillahKhan's music : the shenai, and his hometown Benaras.

Streaming on @mubiindia and @nfdcindia's cinemasofindia.com : cinemasofindia.com/#product/unkno…

#UstadBismillahKhan (2007) by #DineshPrabhakar, a documentary short on contribution of Shehnai Maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan to the music world.

Link:

@Films_Division

#BansuriGuru (2013) by #RajivChaurasia, a documentary feature on the classical flautist #PanditHariprasadChaurasia.

Link:

@Films_Division @PicturesPVR
@SrBachchan

#Baba (1969) by #NDKeluskar, an intimate portrait of the maestro #UstadAllaudinKhan, the founder of the Maihar Gharana.

Link:

@Films_Division

#StringsOfMelody (2011) by #AlokeBanerjee and #JaydipMukherjee, a film on the life and work of Sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

Link:

@PSBTINDIA

#PanditBhimsenJoshi (1992) by #Gulzar, a documentary feature on the life of one of the greatest Indian Classical Vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

Link:

@Films_Division

#SangeetNidhiBhimsenJoshi (1994) by #Gulzar, a tribute to Bharatratna #PanditBhimsenJoshi, eminent Hindustani classical singer of Kirana Gharana.

Link:

@Films_Division

#Tarana (1994) by #RajatKapoor, a national award winning documentary short based on the "Tarana" gharana of Indian Classical Music.

Link:

@Films_Division

#GirlSong (2003) by #VasudhaJoshi, a look at the life of #AnjumKatyal, a blues singer, drawing on her poems and songs.

Link:

@PSBTINDIA

#ToCatchTheWind (2008) by #VasudhaJoshi, a film exploring the connections between the American blues music and folk music from North East India.

Link:

@PSBTINDIA

#HansAkela (2005) by #JabbarPatel, a documentary feature showcasing an insider’s take on the legendary vocalist #KumarGandharva.

Link:

#Khayal : #AMusicalJourney (1988) by #UshaDeshpande, a film about the Indian classical music.

Sitar maestro Pt. Ravi Shankar and the santoor maestro Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma explain their concepts of a raga, a gharana, and their world of music.

Link:

#ParEkDin (2017) by #JaideepVarma, a documentary film on the band #CityHaze from Mumbai. The film showcases 11 of their songs in various stages of readiness, while carrying on a lively conversation about their lives.

Link:

@HumaraMovie

#AmirKhan (1970) by #SNSSastry.

The film portrays the personality and family life of Ustad Amir Khan, the famous vocalist and his music.

Link:

@Films_Division

#Sama : Muslim Mystic Music Of India (2012) by #ShaziaKhan.

The Film explores Islamic music traditions in India and their interactions with other traditions, to become a truly magnificent sound.

Link:

@PSBTINDIA

Ray brought a musical sense and skill to his filmmaking and used music as an element in the organic structure of his films.

#TheMusicOfSatyajitRay (1984) by #UtpalenduChakrabarty.

Streaming on @nfdcindia's cinemasofindia.com : cinemasofindia.com/#product/unkno…

#GullyLife: The Story Of Divine (2019), a documentary feature on @VivianDivine, directed by #AkshatGupt.

Link:

@redbullindia @RedBullMedia @gullygangindia @SupariStudios

To be continued..

#OceanOfMelody (2014) by #LailiDutta, a two-part documentary that delves into the key aspects that construct the framework of Indian classical music vis-a-vis its two forms: Hindustani and Carnatic.

Part 1:

Part 2:

@PSBTINDIA

#MastiBharaHaiSama by #AshokRane, a documentary on the musical journey of music director #DattaramWadkar, known for composing music for films like Ab Dilli Door Nahi, Parvarish, Kala Aadmi, Santaan and Qaidi No. 911.

Link:

(H/t : @gaanepurane)

#SangeetMartandPanditJasraj (2000) by #MadhuraPanditJasraj, a biographical film on the music Maestro Pandit Jasraj.

Link:

@Films_Division

#SharanRani : #TheDivineSarodPlayer (2010) by @BackliwalNarain, a documentary that celebrates the life of India's first woman Sarod player - Sharan Rani.

Link:

@rajshri

#BismillahOfBenaras (2002) by #NasreenMunniKabir and presented by @arrahman, a documentary on the Shehnai Maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Link:

A documentary on Carnatic Vocalist #DrMBalamuraliKrishna by #AmbarishSangal.

Link:

#RomancingTheBansuri (2018) by #RajivChaurasia, a documentary feature on flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.

Link:

#MannFaqueeri (2012) by #MKRaina, a documentary exploring the syncretic tradition of Kashmir, through the Sufiyana kalam of the Valley.

Link:

An impressionistic biographical look at Siddheshwari Devi (1908-1977), the classical singer whose voice was appreciated by the maharajas and public alike.

A "poetic documentary" #Siddheshwari (1989) by #ManiKaul.

Link:

@Films_Division

#Sadhana by #AmbarishSangal, a documentary on the Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

Link:

Journey in search of a lost song...

Rasoolan Bai from 1950s India used her own singing methods and changed the lyrics to create different versions of a 'thumri'.

#TheOtherSong (2009) by #SabaDewan.

Link:

An impressionistic film that paints a picture of Kozhikode in North Kerala and the spiritual immersion of its ordinary town-dwellers in music.

#Ormajeevikal / #MemoryBeings (2019) by #SudhaPadmajaFrancis.

Link:

@PSBTINDIA

Documentaries about Indian hip-hop:

Dharavi Hustle :

Kya Bolta Bantai?


The SlumGods of Mumbai

Bombay 70

#TheLostMusicOfRajasthan from the BBC series #Imagine (2011), which takes a road trip round the desert state of Rajasthan, meeting musicians whose existence is under threat from the new India.

Link:

#ClassicalMusicOfIndia by #JamesBeveridge for the Jamia Millia Islamia University, featuring Bhimsen Joshi and Pandit Jasraj.

Link:

#Sadhana (2016) by @rehmatphotofilm, a short film exploring the concept of sadhana - Three musicians discuss the immersive devotion.

Link:

#HeartOfRhythm (2016) by #SushantChaudhary, a short documentary on #BernhardSchimpelsberger, a cross-cultural rhythmic visionary who brings a deep affinity with Indian rhythm to his roots in jazz and Western classical.

Link:

#HiddenDrummersOfIndia (2020) by @Ruairi_Glasheen, a three part documentary series that explores the world of Carnatic music, and in particular India’s most awesome drum, the Kanjira!

P1

P2

P3

A section from the 46 episode BBC series #MovieMahal by #NasreenMunniKabir in which celebrities talk about the music from the golden era.

Link:

#Rasikapriya (2000) by #ArunKhopkar.

A cinematic exploration - the camera's desperate attempt to "see" music. The terminology of Indian classical music like Khayal and Dhrupad are examined through this canvas.

Link:

#Lokapriya (2000) by #ArunKhopkar.

A journey in to the heart of the Hindi film music industry- its sounds, lyrics, beats, notes and the people who bring them all together.

Link:

#Rasayatra : The Travelling Song (1994) by #NandanKudhyadi, a documentary on the life and music of Mallikarjum Bheemarayappa Mansur (1910-92). Visualising the music of the maestro the film explores Mansur's love and passion for music.

Link:

#BhinnaShadja (2010) by #AmolPalekar, a film on the unparalleled contributions of Ganasaraswati Padmavibhushan Kishori Amonkar (fondly known as Tai) to Indian classical music, is also an exploration of larger debates on the nature of art itself.

Link:

#TheShillongChamberChoirAndTheLittleHomeSchool by #UrmiJuvekar, a story of one man's endurance to empower his community through educational reform and allow for a system where children would live irrespective of their talents and skills.

Link:

#ColoursOfEarth by @shefalibhushan, a musical voyage to the pulsating rhythms and vibrant melodies of traditional Indian music.

Link:

#Rockumentary: #BecomingOfIndianRock by #AbhimanyuKukreja, a documentary that explores the state of rock music in India.

Part 1:

Part 2 :

#ARRahman takes a journey through his life and experiences with 15 of his most-loved songs.

#OneHeart : #TheARRahmanConcertFilm (2017) by #YMMoviesTeam.

Link:

Amazon Prime series #Harmony S1 (2018) with @arrahman in which the Mozart of Madras explores the depths and roots of India's rich musical heritage.

Streaming on @PrimeVideoIN.

Fin.
(For the time being)

Kindly share some other documentaries that we may have missed, specially the regional ones. Will include them when we resume the thread again. (Hopefully soon).