Oscar and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman has made a significant mark at the 77th Cannes Film Festival by unveiling his latest music documentary, “Headhunting to Beatboxing.” Directed by Rohit Gupta and produced by AR Rahman himself, the film explores the transformative power of music within the Naga tribe of Nagaland, a state in northeastern India once plagued by violence and bloodshed.
Rahman’s fascination with the region began when he attended the annual Hornbill Festival, a cultural celebration that showcases the rich heritage of Nagaland’s ethnic groups. Captivated by the musical renaissance occurring there, Rahman saw an opportunity to document and share this unique story with the world. In a interview with Variety Rahman said,
I was blown away, the whole story, that we’ve been hearing for years, decades, and suddenly the transformation of young people taking to music and they’re all out in the streets. It was like a dreamland for me. I said, ‘Oh, my God, this exists and nobody knows about it
Teaming up with Gupta, who is known for his work on the Netflix documentary series “The Creative Indians” and his adeptness with shooting on the iPhone, Rahman embarked on a journey to capture the essence of Nagaland’s musical revival. The documentary, produced by Rahman’s ARR Immersive Entertainment, also highlights the establishment of an orphanage where children are taught music, emphasizing the community’s intrinsic musical talent.
The film’s philosophy resonates deeply with Rahman’s own beliefs.
We also adopted an orphanage there to teach music. We teach them strings. They’re much quicker because they have this church choir, so they have music in-built in their process.
In addition to the documentary’s unveiling, Rahman plans to further support the musicians of Nagaland. This includes training them at his KM Music Conservatory, mentoring them as part of the NEXA Indie Indian Artists initiative, and integrating them into his film compositions. He also aims to showcase these talented musicians at prestigious venues like the Hollywood Bowl.
The unveiling took place at India’s Bharat Pavilion, a hub for Indian cinematic arts at Cannes.
In a interview with Variety the films director Rohit Gupta said ,
The film is truly special for me for many reasons. It took us five years and many hours of footage to arrive at a film that we are both proud of and captures the essence of what we set out to achieve. Each note carries a story, each scene a journey, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience the beauty we’ve uncovered.
Rahman’s work serves as testament of the uplifting and healing power of music as “Headhunting to Beatboxing” makes its way around the film festival. Through this documentary, he hopes to bring global attention to the Naga musicians and their incredible stories, showcasing music’s ability to transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.
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