DESCRIPTION:
The Making of 'Lanka'
(Documentary Film made in May 2013).

'British Sarod Maestro', Soumik Datta performs with his new work Lanka.

'Lanka', reinterprets the Indian epic, 'Ramayana' through the lens of contemporary culture, with new music that brings together Indian classical, electronica, and live looping. This hybrid soundworld accompanied by video design and animation will result in a production that will entertain, educate and transport audiences. The premiere production by Soumik Datta Arts, this will be a one of a kind, music-theatre show.

Director Natalie Abrahami
Visuals Sander Loonen
Music Soumik Datta
Film Nick Atkins
Animation Ravi Swami, Happy Robot
Producer Jude Wright, Arts at Dartington.
Producer Sir David Green

Soumik Datta first walked into the limelight when he performed with Beyonce, Bill Bailey and Akram Khan. Today aged 29, this 'British Sarod Maestro' (Time Out) has taken the ancient, Indian, stringed instrument into a global arena. Supported by the British Council, Arts Council England, PRS and his own company SDA, Soumik creates new work on residencies in UK, Indonesia, USA and India with orchestras, dance companies and film makers. Standing with his self built Electric Sarod, he integrates classical Indian music with live looping, rock, punk and electronica. Current collaborators include Shankar Mahadevan, Nitin Sawhney, Scottish chamber orchestra and Talvin Singh. Trained at Trinity College of Music and by the living legend Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta, he is now 'one of the biggest new music talents in Britain' (Vogue). Presently, he is working on 'Lanka', an unprecedented solo Sarod show with live music, film and animation (releasing June 2013).

Commissioned by the Arts at Dartington as part of Tagore Festival 2013. Funded by Arts Council England, PRSF and Soumik Datta Arts Ltd.