Warren D’Souza, a Mumbai based Goan from Nerul,
is the Founder and Managing Director of Sound.com,
the company in charge of sound engineering for the
45th International Film Festival of India. After handling
several national and international projects, Warren,
who loves a challenge, took up the IFFI project with its
acoustically challenging indoor stadium, Dr Shyama
Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao.
With an experience of 15 years in the field of sound
engineering, Warren is enjoying his return to Goa. “I
have my roots in Goa and though I have grown up and
studied in Mumbai, I keep visiting Goa. I am one of
those Mumbaikars who moves to Goa. I did the opening
and closing of IFFI last year but this is a different
stadium. I have to get rid of the acoustic reverberation
and echo with an unorthodox but effective system. Most
sound engineers prefer using stereo systems on both
sides of the stage but my team is using the Left Centre
Right System (LCR) for the function,” says Warren as he
repeatedly checks the echo in the stadium.
For the Film Festival, Warren is working with a team
of six members who have come down from Mumbai
with their equipment to set up the systems. “The
excitement comes from the challenge itself. The goal is
to overcome the challenge with results that will make
everyone happy. There is also a form of storytelling with
sound,” says Warren.
Warren has worked on international and national
events throughout the world. In India, his team has
done the sound engineering for the opening and
closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games 2010
in Delhi, the opening ceremony of Indian Super League
2014 in Kolkata and opening ceremony of the Indian
Premier League – Cricket 2013. Musicians from across
the globe trust his sound engineering skills as he has
handled concerts of singers like Norah Jones, Yanni,
Sting, Bryan Adams, Lionel Richie, Carlos Santana, Paul
Oakenfold, Scorpions, the A R Rahman Symphony Tour,
etc. “We also do sound engineering for Sunburn in Goa,
especially handling the main stage,” says Warren.
Warren has worked with Sushant Tari, the Art Director
of IFFI, on many projects and their minds work in sync.
“For me this is an acoustical challenge and I have to show
my skill set as a system engineer,” concludes Warren,
whose company has won the Palms Award for Best
Sound Rental Company of the Year in 2012 and 2013.
