The Art of Practice
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Ethnographic Documentary
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Master’s Thesis Project
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Cultural & Visual Anthropology
An ongoing research-led film project exploring the discipline and learning strategies of Hindustani Classical Music through 12 months of fieldwork in West Bengal, India.
This project explores the learning processes of Hindustani classical music on sitar at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan by focusing on the stilled hours of artistic practice to document the mental models and strategies students use to navigate this complex craft.
Approached as an ethnographic experiment, the film uses a phenomenological method to explore music beyond the constraints of text. As a participant-observer, I documented the intersubjective space between researcher, lens, and musician as it is practiced today.
These selections showcase the daily discipline and dedication of the practitioners. By bridging institutional records with lived experience, the film transforms field observation into a resonant encounter with a vibrant, living tradition.
