Filmmaker Santosh Davakhar has revealed how legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja went beyond conventional preparations while creating the music for Marathi film ‘Gondhal’. The director wanted the soundtrack to capture the cultural identity and musical traditions associated with the centuries-old ritual. Ilaiyaraaja travelled from Chennai to Davakhar’s native village in Nashik to experience the tradition before composing the film’s music.Speaking to Variety India, Santosh Davakhar recalled how the 84-year-old composer spent two days observing Gondhal performances. His visit included traditional kirtans, ritual music and performances by Gondhali artists. The composer studied these different forms before returning to work on the soundtrack. Davakhar said the effort reflected Ilaiyaraaja’s commitment to understanding the cultural setting of the story.
Ilaiyaraaja visits Santosh Davakhar’s native village
The director revealed that Ilaiyaraaja personally wanted to witness the tradition before working on the film. Rather than depending only on the filmmaker’s explanation, the composer travelled to Nashik and observed the performances himself.“He decided to experience Gondhal himself. At the age of 84, he travelled from Chennai to my native place in Nashik because he wanted the music to be authentic. He spent the next two days watching kirtans, Gondhal rituals, different kinds of songs and performances by Gondhali artists. He then went back and designed the entire music,” Davakhar said.
Director wanted to document a centuries-old ritual
Santosh Davakhar said preserving the cultural experience of Gondhal through cinema was one of his primary intentions. He wanted audiences to experience the atmosphere and energy associated with the traditional performances. The filmmaker also recalled watching these rituals during his childhood, which influenced his decision to make the film.The production team recorded the rituals at the locations where they were traditionally performed. Davakhar believed this approach would help retain their authenticity instead of recreating the entire experience on a film set.“This is a centuries-old ritual and I wanted to document it through cinema. I believe cinema is one of the best mediums to preserve such cultures. When I attended Gondhal performances as a child, I was drawn to the atmosphere. The performers brought incredible energy and devotion to it,” he said.
Why Santosh Davakhar chose Ilaiyaraaja
Davakhar also recalled discussing his choice of composer when Ilaiyaraaja asked why he considered him suitable for the project. The filmmaker pointed to the composer’s rural background and experience with traditional instruments. He wanted the music to complement the period setting without introducing sounds that would feel out of place.“I told him, as he belonged to a remote village and has performed in several stage shows using the harmonium and different traditional instruments, he would understand our tradition. I wanted to portray this ritual in a raw and rustic way, so sound was extremely important to me. I also didn’t want to use too many instruments or sounds that came into the musical landscape after the 1970s because this is a period film,” Davakhar recalled.
Filmmaker calls collaboration with Ilaiyaraaja a blessing
The director said he could not speak for the composer’s reasons for accepting the project. However, he described the opportunity to work with Ilaiyaraaja as a blessing. Davakhar also acknowledged the personal experience that the veteran composer brings to his work.“Whatever he creates, he brings his entire life experience into it before designing the scores.”‘Gondhal’ selected as India’s official Oscar entry‘Gondhal’ has been selected as India’s official entry to the 99th Academy Awards. The film’s focus on a traditional cultural practice makes its musical treatment an important part of the project.Meanwhile, Ilaiyaraaja’s most recent work was for filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj’s film ‘Dorothy’.