Documentary Film by students of the Journalism and Mass Communication Program at Navrachana University wins an award at the Golden Fern Film Awards

“Taal aur Tarang: A Symphony of Instrument Makers” is a documentary film which was an Award Winner in the Documentary Film category at the January 2023 Session of Golden Fern Film Festival held in Darjeeling.

The film was conceptualized and created solely by the students of the Journalism and Mass Communication Program at Navrachana University. It was directed, shot, and edited by Pranshu Shah, Chaitali Dixit conducted the interviews and wrote the script. Juhi Singh handled the appointments and schedules. Palak Shrivastava and Sharnav Garge assisted during the shoots and helped research the subject.

“Taal Aur Tarang” is a documentary on the community of musical instrument makers of Vadodara city. For over 150 years the families of these instrument makers have passed on the art of instrument making from one generation to the other. India gained freedom from the British and monarchy dissolved into democracy, but the legacy of these craftsmen still goes on. This documentary was a humble attempt to document their past, shed light on their present, understanding the future of these families. The film primarily covers three families of instrument makers – the Tanjorakar’s, the Duggar’s and the Mistry’s among other.

In the age of technology and machinery, where almost every aspect of our lives in some or the other way is commodified, these instrument makers prove that the human touch is irreplaceable. They bring an instrument to life, they offer it a soul, they are creators of sound. Unfortunately, there is little accessible documentation available about their rich history. Through this documentary the students have managed to create a lasting digital document which acts as the testament of their invaluable contribution to the musical heritage of the city.