The Sound Alchemists, a documentary series on South Indian classical instruments, launched  

Sound Alchemists, a documentary series, turns the spotlight on the veena

What makes the veena captivating? Is it the way its long neck seems to stretch toward the heavens, or how the kudam vibrates with a subtle intensity, as though it holds centuries of unspoken melodies? It exists in a realm where sound and spirituality intertwine. Each string, when plucked, not just produces a note but an emotion. 

Over the years, masters of the instrument have developed distinct styles, while modern-day players continue to explore the instrument’s possibilities. This balance between heritage and innovation is the pulse of The Sound Alchemists, a documentary series curated by musician Savita Narasimhan and produced by the Museum of Performing Arts (MOPA). Ambitious in scope and intimate in execution, the debut episode was devoted to the veena. The series is an ode to South Indian classical instruments not as artefacts but as living, breathing entities. 

Through the artistic lens of Ramana Balachandhran, The Sound Alchemists takes us deep into the heart of the veena. The documentary took over a year’s research, and curates an experience. We see the meticulous craftsmanship behind each instrument, from the selection of aged jackwood to the precise chiselling of the kudam. We hear the quiet intensity of Ramana as he speaks of his relationship with the instrument, how each pull of a string, each slide across a fret, is a dialogue between the artiste and the instrument.

The series also sheds light on the less visible but equally vital contributors to the veena’s  legacy — the artisans. In Nelamangala, near Bengaluru, generations of instrument makers have passed down their knowledge about jackwood’s resonance, the importance of beeswax in holding the brass frets, and the balance between tradition and adaptation. 

Yet, what sets The Sound Alchemists apart is its refusal to romanticise the past at the expense of the present. The series dares to ask: How does the veena stay relevant in the modern soundscape? How does it assert its voice in an era dominated by louder, and more amplified instruments? 

Ramana Balachandran answers these questions not through words but music. The soul of the series lies in the music itself. His performance is an intricate balance between honouring tradition and embracing evolution. His gamakas are intricate and nuanced, his rhythmic experiments are bold and unrelenting. The series reminds us that music is not confined to what we hear. It lives in the silences, in the spaces between notes, and in the resonances that linger long after the last string is plucked. 

Watch the debut episode of The Sound Alchemists on MOPA’s YouTube channel.