Documentary series to trace India's indie music

New Delhi: "Standing By", a six-part documentary series on India's independent music through the decades, will launch on October 13.

The series, to be released on StandingBy.in, explores the growth of independent music in India, from the nation's Independence to the present day, with in-depth and insightful inputs from stalwarts young and old.

It's an attempt to unearth some interesting stories and events that were fundamental to the formation of the now thriving independent music scene in the country.

Produced by OML and Red Bull Media House, "Standing By" features interviews of popular names of the Indian music industry -- from musicians and journalists to event organisers and label heads -- as well as never-before-seen footage and vintage images. 

The project took nearly two years to put together, shares Arjun S Ravi, the director and host of "Standing By".

"Making this documentary has been simultaneously the most amazing and most challenging experience I have ever had. Produced jointly by OML and Red Bull Media House, this is a project that has taken nearly two years. And this is just the beginning," Ravi said in a statement.

In the series, among the interviewees, of which there are over a 100, are musical legends such as Usha Uthup, Louis Banks and Carlton Kitto, and names like Vishal Dadlani, Uday Benegal, Nikhil Chinapa, Rahul Ram, Monica Dogra, Nucleya and Dualist Inquiry.

Beginning with the nation’s Independence and the exploration of the jazz scene in the country in 1947, the "Standing By" story then proceeds to the 1960s and 1970s and the rise of the beat groups, the mid-1970s to late 1980s with the nationwide spread of rock and, later, metal, the 1990s with MTV and the music video explosion and finally to the dance music boom of the present day.

Also, to complement the documentary series is a digital archive, hosted on StandingBy.in, which will comprise an interactive timeline that allows users to explore various stories, events and anecdotes from India’s alternative music scene over the decades.

In addition, users will also be invited to share their own memories of artists and events, through stories and photographs, by placing these in the appropriate year on the interactive timeline.