On a personal level, Indian Ocean makes me more proud of being Indian than any other entity today. Somewhere, I subconsciously set out to convey exactly why in this film.

Having known their music (and them personally) from 2001, my familiarity with their body of work gradually led me to the surprising realization that their music quite simply shows no signs of dating. That has to be a very special thing for any musical entity in the popular music space anywhere in the world.

Despite using a rock format instrumentally guitar, vocals, bass and drums (and tabla), the difficulty in slotting their music into any specific genre is indicative of their uniqueness. The fact that they sing in so many different languages (mostly Indian) and yet are tremendously accessible and catchy, suggests a lightness of touch only the greats can pull off so immaculately.

This film is also India’s first full-length band film, and in spirit at least comes from the same space as Buena Vista Social Club, The Last Waltz, Crossing the Bridge, and the like. The desire to do a film of that nature, whilst telling a truly Indian story, provided me with the impetus to go all out to do this.

The lives of the 4 band members is traced through extensive interviews with the band members, their family members, people they have worked with and people who have been a part of their musical past.

Eventually, we wanted the film to have the same forceful energy that Indian Ocean’s music has. This comes essentially from the thrust of the narrative rather than the visual style of the film (which is simple, unadorned and real).