A NEW GOAN ‘IDOL’: MEET THE GOAN SOUND DESIGNER WINNING ACCOLADES

A short film on the making of statues has won acclaim in the domestic and international platform. Aaron Monteiro who was involved in designing the sound has also won acclaim for his work. The film is on idol makers who don’t see religion when they create artistic masterpieces. A student at the Whistling Woods International a film school in Goregoan Mumbai, he is presently taking a break and working on a few documentaries with a focus on Goa. The short film that won him and his colleagues acclaim is called Ankuran-The Art of Idol Making. Shot in Pen district, Maharashtra, the film started off as a college project. The film focuses on the story of the idol makers. Aaron said these people are the heart and soul of the festivals which is celebrated with such grace and pomp. He said “They don’t see what religion they belong to when they make their idols, they have a deep involvement in every Indian festival. For them, it’s not only a business but an art form they have instilled and dedicated their life into. Every little detail on their idol shows the mastery they have achieved in their craft. We completely fail to recognize their contribution and creation. Our film focuses on their lifestyle and the process they follow to make those idols which we worship with utmost devotion. These people are not paid much for their job and still deliver to their maximum capability, sometimes even beyond that. This film shows their true craftsmanship, as we explore their beautiful, rustic and vintage workspace filled with various Idols”. We felt the film will look at their life experiences, their thoughts and struggles as they talk about their profession. Their story, he said needed to be heard and hence the team of “Ankuran” decided to bring these different aspects of their craft. He said, “This experience is much more than just a film; it’s a spiritual journey of thoughts and beliefs”. The team presented it to the college where it was appreciated and it was then decided to take it forward and perhaps showcase it in various festivals. This required re-editing, working on the sound and working on the colours in the film. The issues were sorted out and it was sent to 12 online film festivals, Nine of the festivals were in India and the rest abroad. The film evoked a good response and it won three awards. The first one was at the Tagore Film festival, the second at the Kolkata International Cult Film Festival and the third at the Virgin Springs Cine Fest. In addition the film was one of the thirty shortlisted for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Awards out of which one is usually selected for the award.  This is significant because scores of movies are made around the country every year. This nomination was an appreciation of the talent displayed by Aaron and his colleagues. He is now taking a break and is working on designing sound for a Tamil short film. Aaron smiled and said that the intended to focus on documentaries and not seek fame or glory in Bollywood. He said “I intend to focus on making documentaries in Goa. I have two years more years before I graduate. I intend to make a documentary on the fisherfolk in the state and their effect on the culture of the state. I intend to complete my course and work in documentaries. I am primarily a street photographer and I intend to stay true to that”. For one so young, he certainly knows his path and one can only hope he finds success and happiness in the future.