Australian music producer Victor Van Vugt makes his Malayalam cinema debut

Music producer and sound artiste Victor Van Vugt is visiting India for the first time in his life and is a little overwhelmed. From the beachside Varkala in Keralam to the valleys of Ziro at Arunachal Pradesh, it has been quite a journey, he says. An Australian currently based in Berlin, Victor has been in the industry for over four decades, beginning his journey in music with eminent rock artists such as Nick Cave&The Bad Seeds, The Triffids and The Go Betweens. “In my 20s, when my friends were all travelling to India, I was busy touring with bands. Now, I am here and it is great,” says Victor. He is designing sound for the Malayalam filmTharkkam, produced by Sajin Baabu and Anup Kutty. 

A new aesthetic

Anup is a friend and the reason why he got on board. When Sajin, who is also the director, sent him a rough draft, Victor knew it would be an entirely new aesthetic, vastly different from the way European films sound. Set in the backdrop of the Kodungallur Bharani festival, the film has a vibrant and dynamic soundscape. “We are talking about a festival where thousands throng… there are the sounds of drums, bells, people talking, music … there is a lot going on,” says Victor. “But our thoughts aligned,” he adds. 

Victor with the team of Tharkkam

The film has four songs, with Tamil rapper Arivu and Malayali playback/folk singer Resmi Sateesh, singing two of them. Victor describes his love for music rather simply: “For me, the question has always been how music can make a person feel,” he says. “Music reflects the human psyche – elation, surprise, suffering. It brings out the deepest of emotions.” 

Victor’s work has won Grammy, BRIT, Mercury and ARIA awards and has sold millions of copies worldwide. Having worked with artists and bands such as PJ Harvey, Depeche Mode, Beth Orton, The Pogues, Chrissie Hynde, Einstürzende Neubauten, Gogol Bordello, Fischerspooner, Athlete, and The Knocks to mention a few, Victor has been a formidable presence in the alternative and indie music scene. 

Over the years, he has also seen how much the sound of music has changed. “Change is inevitable, but I sometimes miss the human touch,” he says. “Today everything is programmed and we have access to any instrument we need. Entire productions happen with people who have never met each other. Years ago, if one needed a strange instrument, one would have to find somebody playing it. And this artist would bring a hint of his/her own personality to it – interpreting the melody in their own unique way. I miss that sort of production.”

Working in films

Even while working with musicians, Victor always kept his interest alive in scoring for films. Before he became a sound producer, he lived in New York where he did live sound design for the show, The Birthday Party. “I had left film school to go to London to work in music. The plan was to make a record and go back to film school, but the music held me back and I stayed on in London. But I was always in touch with films. I was surrounded by filmmaker friends,” he says. 

He always kept experimenting with his own work. “I was picking projects here and there, which were different to keep things interesting. I’ve tried to throw myself into the deep end.” 

Victor also helps artists/bands find their voice. “I always try to get the meaning of the song out of the artist. I have discussions with artists to help them find what their own inspirations are and help them tap into that,” he says.  

A residency for musicians

Victor and Anup Kutty have been discussing the possibility of a residency with Indian artistes, as well as bringing artistes from other countries to India. He visited the recently concluded 13th edition of the Ziro Festival of Music in Arunachal Pradesh with the intention of understanding Indian artistes and their craft and exploring what is possible here. “We have been thinking about how to go about it and Ziro, we thought, would be a great starting point,” he adds.

For a sound artist, who knows exactly what he wants in his music, Victor says India has a lot to offer. “And I am sure I am going to have to come to India a lot.”