Music for Peace

Filmmaker Manish Manikpuri is deeply impacted by the music of his father,a folk singer,as well as the latters brushes with the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh while performing across the state.

Filmmaker Manish Manikpuri is deeply impacted by the music of his father,a folk singer,as well as the latters brushes with the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh while performing across the state. Every time my fathers troupe went to perform in places that were hit by the Naxalites,they would be stopped by the rebels, he says. However,the troupe was given safe passage and also an escort by the Naxalites after learning that they were artistes.

They have a lot of respect for artistes and would often ask my father about his art. For some reason,we believed that if we tried to change their ideology by using music rather than force and violence,they would be more receptive, says Manikpuri. Thats the reason,he felt,that he got inclined towards the subject for his first film,Aalaap.

Scheduled to release on July 27,the movie captures the lives of four young engineering college students,who start their own rock band to spread the message of peace. It features actors such as Raghubir Yadav,Pitobash Tripathi,Rituporna Sengputa,Vijay Raaz,Abhimanyu Singh and former Miss Sri Lanka,Gamya Wijayadasa.

Aalaap was shot in those locations in Chattisgarh that have a history of Naxalism. Even after shooting in such areas for 57 days,Manikpuri was never worried. However,he adds that the cast and crew were cautious.

Tripathis reason for signing the film is a personal one. I am originally from Orissa and I have experienced the problem firsthand over there,too. Hence,when Manish (Manikpuri) came to me with the script of the film,I immediately said yes, he says. He plays an introvert from a lower-middle class family,who is forced into studying engineering,but all he really wants to do is form his own rock band.

The movie marks the Bollywood debut of the Indian rock band Agnee who has composed seven songs for it as music composers. Both Tripathi and Manikpuri say that the music is the key element that drives the storyline.

We wanted someone who could understand the angst of the troubled people in Chhattisgarh and also,why they went to the extent of turning against the government. The fact that they respect artistes,shows their humane side. The music was aimed at capturing these elements and Agnee has created a unique sound for all the seven songs, says Manikpuri. The music is a fusion of folk with rock creating a sound that is very original and gels with the basic theme of the film.

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Music for Peace

Filmmaker Manish Manikpuri is deeply impacted by the music of his father,a folk singer,as well as the latters brushes with the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh while performing across the state.

Filmmaker Manish Manikpuri is deeply impacted by the music of his father,a folk singer,as well as the latters brushes with the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh while performing across the state.