Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Imogen Heap teams up with prolific composer duo Vishal-Shekhar for a track inspired by the Tagore poem, ‘Where The Mind Is Without Fear’. This episode was filmed at the luxurious, 475-year-old Samode Palace on the outskirts of Jaipur in Rajasthan.
Set against the frenetic pace of the city of Mumbai, this episode features a cross-border collaboration between Pakistani singer-songwriter duo Zeb & Haniya, and two veterans of Bollywood – composer Shantanu Moitra, and lyricist Swanand Kirkire.
An intimate visit to Delhi with Indian Ocean, folk rock giants and perhaps the biggest band in India today. Joining them is Mohit Chauhan, celebrated playback singer and balladeer extraordinaire.
From the lush green hills of Panshet, to the bustle of Pune, this episode sees the union of two of India’s long-standing classic rock icons – Parikrama and Agnee. Adding flavor to the collaboration is the lilting voice of acclaimed playback singer Shilpa Rao.
The desert landscapes of Jaisalmer and its surrounding villages provide the backdrop for the eclectic combination of U.K.-based breakbeat pop performer and producer Shri, singer-songwriter Monica Dogra, and folk collective Rajasthan Roots.
The verdant landscapes of Kaziranga set the stage for Angaraag ‘Papon’ Mahanta and Rabbi Shergill. The former is a native of the state, and revered within it for introducing an entire generation to ancient folk melodies that would otherwise have been lost forever. The latter introduces his Sufi-tinged, intrinsically Punjabi sound for a memorable collaboration.
Preeminent Hindustani classical singer Shubha Mudgal joins forces with folk rock band Swarathma, one of the most exciting independent acts to emerge from the country in the past few years. Together, they explore the city of Mysore – historic capital, and the city in which the Bangalore band was born.
Pioneers of Indian electronica Midival Punditz meet Sikh-Canadian rapper Humble The Poet for this unique collaboration by the scenic shorelines of Goa. Singer-songwriter and our host Monica Dogra also features on the track, marking her second appearance as an artist on the series.
Acclaimed producer, percussionist and composer Karsh Kale travels with guitar virtuoso Baiju Dharmajan to the sleepy town of Angadipurram in the southern state of Kerala. There, they write and perform ‘Sacred Science’ with Harigovindan, a master of the edakka drum who runs the world’s only temple devoted to percussion.
Fittingly, our season finale takes place in Shillong, Meghalaya – also known as the Scotland of the East. The episode features The Raghu Dixit Project, an act that has truly pushed boundaries to make dramatic strides both in Indian and in international markets. Joining them is Guru Rewben Mashangva, a performer, songwriter, and music researcher who is hailed in the Northeast as ‘The King of Naga Folk Blues’.
Our season opens with a cross-border collaboration where East meets West in the spiritual journey that is 'Let Go'. The episode features the emotive acoustics of British singer-songwriter Fin Greenall and the soulful voice of Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan from Pakistan, as they experience Mumbai through the eyes of their hosts Salim-Sulaiman, the prolific Bollywood composer duo. Fin adds his indie-folky style to Shafqat's powerful vocals, while Salim and Sulaiman produce a contrasting yet effective fusion that can only be understood as sufi-step.
'Tom, Dick & Harry' is a powerfully droll satire penned by the outspoken English rapper, teacher, poet and journalist, Akala, and the equally versatile Piyush Mishra -- actor, music director, lyricist, singer, and scriptwriter. Watch as they spar with each other to comment on the political cul-de-sac that is the state of affairs, away from the worldly clamour in the untouched, stunnning Andaman and Nicobar islands.
'Today' is a mélange of pulp and pop by Shaa'ir + Func and La Pongal. Randolph Correia and Darbuka Siva match each other, beat for step, as the incredible vocals of Monica Dogra and Anthony Daasan create high-octane folktronica, where eccentricity grooves with the humility of folk music from Chennai.
'Make Love' is a mixed bag of alternative-funk by Thermal and a Quarter, the bluesy rhythms of Adil & Vasundhara and the inspiriting notes from Ashwin Srinivasan's flute that seamlessly blend to create an old world charm. Bangalore plays host to this eclectic mix that makes one pause for a moment and laugh at the eccentricity of life
'The Gypsy' is an ode to wanderlust, featuring Anoushka Shankar on sitar, Sanjeev Shankar on shehnai, and Pirashanna Thevarajah on percussion. Much like the city the episode was filmed in, New Delhi, the track is unapologetically modern, and yet steeped in tradition.
Dualist Inquiry and Advaita travel to Shimla to create a sound that neither have dabbled in before. Watch as they build a musical chemistry and blend their sounds together.
'Qutub Minar' is a song that singer-songwriter Akhu first wrote with Imphal Talkies. The song is about the experiences one man has while taking the historic Qutub Minar from Delhi to Imphal. The song gets fresh legs with Asian Dub Foundation as they add a deep, driving bassline with electro-folk elements on a rock beat.
In this episode Brooklyn Shanti and Mou Sultana come to their home town Kolkata. Nucleya joins them to create a track about their relationship with the city. The song has two distinct parts, one featuring a bass-heavy dance beat and the other a mellow bengali rap. Watch as they talk about their beginnings and make 'Bangla Bass'
In this episode, award-winning percussionist Trilok Gurtu teams up with electronic folk duo Hari + Sukhmani in their hometown of Chandigarh. 'Maati' is an ambient folk song that is set to the poetry of 18th century Sufi poet Bulleh Shah. The song has been given legs by a range of sounds thanks to the percussive genius of Trilok Gurtu.
'The Minstrel's Tale', the song written on the season finale of The Dewarists, is a track about the thoughts of a traveler who's a long way from home. The song has a Celtic melody with a mix of English, Assamese and Hindi lyrics.
Our season premiere raises its curtains in the snow-capped mountains of Manali, where our collaborators - Eric Pare, a light painter and visual artist from Montreal, Canada Prashant Mistry, a multi-instrumentalist and founder of Engine-Earz Experiment and Monica Dogra, the vocalist from indie rock duo Shaa'ir + Func. The collaboration explores the theme of duality. While Monica and Prashant explore the various musical possibilities, Eric and his Light-painting creative assistant, Marie-Line Migneault work on incorporating light patterns with the music to create a multi-sensory experience that pushes the envelope of how these mediums have sought confluence in the past.
Renowned installation artist Shilpa Gupta joins indie-pop legend, Lucky Ali, on our sophomore collaboration this new season. Together, they explore their experiences of urban life in Mumbai and the sentiments it evokes. Shilpa Gupta's ability to convey intangible thoughts visually and Lucky Ali's way of connecting with the deepest human emotions allow for a common meeting ground and inspiration in "Khirama".
Intrigued by the story behind the creation of the urban jungle that is Mumbai our collaborators - hand shadowgrapher, Amar Sen and audio-visual collective B.L.O.T. decided to showcase the creation of the island city from its colonial past to the city of today. The collaboration - "Aaina" uses the darkness in Amar Sen's work with shadows and B.L.O.T.'s light projections to tell the story visually while Suryakant Sawhney from Peter Car Recording Co. provided vocals to compliment the visuals. The music video tells the story through the eyes of a young girl evolving alongside the city. She goes through two parallel experiences, a slow walk through the city where she encounters moments that typify life in Mumbai, while on the other hand she searches for a sense of belonging. The 'Aaina' (mirror) plays an important role in describing her state of mind during her evolution and search for meaning. Her lover is an elusive character who is personified by the city, the collaboration concludes with the girl and the city becoming one.
The fertile, grassy slopes of Manali play host to our co-creators on our fourth collaboration of this season. They are: Lagori, a highly energetic folk fusion band from Bengaluru, and Actor's Cult, a theatre group from Mumbai. Inspired by a street game of the same name, Lagori is interested in reviving interest in folk music through their combination of Indian classical melodies with inflections of rock. Joined by Actors' Cult, whose energy is as infectious as it is inspiring, the theme of their collaboration resonates throughout Manali -- the goddess, Hadimba. The outcome of their collaboration is the high octane song that in part inspires awe and in equal part, fervor.
Our fifth collaboration this year features Jayachandran Palazhy, founder of the Attakkalari Centre For Movement Arts and his dance troupe. They are joined by Delhi based hind-rock band Euphoria. Set by the tranquil shores of Pondicherry, the collaboration fuses contemporary movement arts with the effortless energy of Euphoria.
Our sixth episode on The Dewarists this year looks back upon the collaborations where music and art met to create a multi-sensory experience. Monica Dogra, takes us through the diverse locales where each artist worked to create art, that inspires those around it. We go through the minds of our collaborators and understand the sacrifice and love for their art and how living true to it keeps them going.
Our season finale features a pastiche of form, genre, media and style through a collaboration between India's folk rock collective, The Raghu Dixit Project; a contemporary dance troupe, Nritarutya; mask maker, Sridhar Murthy; and graffiti artist and animator, Harun Robert. Shot in the agglomeration that Bengaluru has come to be known by, our artists rework the visual, verbal and visceral, as they come together to create a spectacle that promises a fitting end to Season Three of The Dewarists, where music meets art.
‘Yaad’ the first episode of fourth season of The Dewarists unfolds with a collaboration of American clarinetist and music composer, Shankar Tucker, and gifted vocalist Nirali Kartik. Inspired by one of the subcontinent's greatest Urdu poets: Faiz – whose poetry still speaks to those hopeful for love. They try to recreate the words of Faiz in a melodious tribute to both the poet and the poem ‘Kab Yaad Mein Tera'. The track reflects the individual styles of the artists, the mood of the mellifluous raga, and the mysteries of longing and separation. In Season 04, we pay homage to the original verse-makers before our time. Here poetry meets music. Follow the Dewarists as they are led by India's finest poets to far corners and beyond, in search of a song. Join us for Season 04 of The Dewarists – A Dewar's Initiative.
In the Second episode of Season 04, we see Vishal Dadlani Collaborating with Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Cafe to create the song 'Fakiri' which is neither betwixt nor between, but inspired by both Kabir’s life and his poetry, ‘Lago Mere Yaar Fakiri’, which is about letting go.
In the third episode of The Dewarists Season 04, The Raghu Dixit Project and Bindhumalini, travel to Rajasthan. Where they find inspiration from a local poets’ community, Chang, by the Prince of Alsisar Mahal, Abhimanyu Singh. This inspiration from the local poets and the surreal beauty of Alsisar Mahal, led our Dewarists to do magic with the colourful words of Amir Khusro, in ‘Daiyya Ri’, a poem written to express his love of his pir. In Season 04, we pay homage to the original verse-makers before our time. Here poetry meets music. Follow the Dewarists as they are led by India's finest poets to far corners and beyond, in search of a song. Join us for Season 04 of The Dewarists – A Dewar's Initiative
Kashmir bears witness to the fourth collaboration of this season, where Shantanu Moitra and Papon create a song inspired by Tagore’s poem, ‘O Megh’ — a tribute to a child’s imagination and his dilemma at leaving his mother behind while he’s tempted to go and play with clouds and waves. In Kashmir, they meet local poets who introduced them to local traditions via Bhand Pather’s performance. As our Dewarists jam together,The Poem takes them back to the memories of the time they spend with their parents, back home. In Season 04, we pay homage to the original verse-makers before our time. Here poetry meets music. Follow the Dewarists as they are led by India's finest poets to far corners and beyond, in search of a song.
From shadowgraphy to installation arts, #TheDewarists has travelled far and beyond the ordinary to create collaborations that will stay with us forever. Here is the episode that will take you back in time where art and poetry complimented the creations of our Dewarists. Watch the full version of #TheDewarists Season 04 Epiosde 05 right here.
For the Season four finale Nucleya and Shruti Pathak travel to the land of the beautiful blue waters, Phuket, Thailand to find a tune for the words of our Poet Dewarist Waris Shah. Shruti Pathak, is a playback singer and lyricist from Bollywood. She is best known as the voice behind songs like ‘Mar Jawaan’ (Fashion), ‘Subharambh’ (Kai Po Che), She has been on tours all over the country promoting her band ‘Guzzler’ and has taken one step ahead as she launched ‘Guzzler’ as a radio show. Nucleya redefines Indian electronica by creating a fusion of complex cut up edits and unheard Indian sounds, with cutting edge production and genre-defying rhythms. While they explore the islands, Nucleya comes up with a basic melody and they work further on the track. He takes the help of his producer friend, Dub Sharma to write some lyrics inspired by Heer. Nucleya also meets a group of local Thai folk musicians who perform local folk songs that have been sung through years and have been passed on from one generation to another, while also trying his hand at playing a local Thai instrument, Ranad. The dewarists discuss the poems of Waris Shah also popularly known as William Shakespeare of India for his most famous work Heer Ranjha. Waris Shah’s words gave the poem much more meaning than just a love story; it is also about a man’s search for, and tenuous relationship with, his creator. They both feel that love being such a universal language would work great as the theme for the song and the poem would do justice to it.
Benny Dayal, the voice behind Bollywood's best chart-busters and indie-pop numbers has carved his niche in the industry. His passion is so deeply rooted, it drove him to the heights he is at today. Dayal is today as recognisable for his Dewarist spirit as he is for his voice. Naezy, like most rappers, experienced an early life battle - a tough childhood, a rough neighbourhood. Rap was what he turned to for escape. His work lives true to its source, as he covers life stories around him with startling and undisguised realism, making him a passionate Dewarist.
Explore the verdant beauty of Ladakh with Clinton Cerejo, Bianca Gomes and Deepak Ramola. The vast mountains and peaceful monasteries inspire them to write Ikka Dukka, a passionate quest for a higher power. Watch as they translate these LIVE TRUE moments into a song that perfectly blends their passion.
Ankur Tewari and Prateek Kuhad set off on an inspiring journey to the hills of Shillong in Episode 3. They create a beautiful masterpiece with Dil Beparvah, a song about relentlessly following your heart no matter how the world perceives it. Their commitment and passion for songwriting, singing and storytelling represent the Dewarist spirit perfectly. Watch their LIVE TRUE journey come alive amidst the beautiful mountains of Shillong finally leading them to #TheDewarists Stage at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender.
Let's take you to the magical palaces of Udaipur, where Dhruv Ghanekar and Mame Khan bring their passion for music alive. Divided by cultures and musical backgrounds, these Dewarists unite to tell you their LIVE TRUE tale.
Immersed in the beauty and serenity of Hampi, Nucleya and Papon converge on a journey steeped in passion. In episode 5, they create a sound that is set in the present and inspired by the echoes of the past. Watch their LIVE TRUE journey weave ancient history and soulful music together with electronic beats in Memories.
Watch Amit Trivedi and V Selvaganesh sail through the serene seas of Sri Lanka on a journey to LIVE TRUE with Panchiyaa. While exploring the idea of someone who loves being in love, they set out to create something as pure and soulful as the scenic views around them.
