‘Adarsh Gourav is a curious traveler’: Megha Ramaswamy On The Actor Hosting ‘Voices of the Land – Tales Of Northeast’

‘Voices of the Land - Tales Of Northeast,’ a six-episode documentary series hosted by actor Adarsh Gourav, has him exploring Northeast India. While it captures the natural beauty of the region, the series, co-written and directed by Megha Ramaswamy, also takes viewers through philosophies, identities, traditions, music, food, rituals and everyday lives of communities. Some of the rare tribes featured in the series are the Angami of Nagaland, the Mising of Assam, the Sherdukpen of Arunachal Pradesh, the Biate of Dima Hasao, Assam and the Khasi of Meghalaya.

In a conversation with Variety India, independent filmmaker Megha Ramaswamy shares how this docuseries celebrates cultural resilience and is a reminder of the extraordinary heritage of the people of Northeast India. 

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How did Adarsh Gourav come on board the project?

Adarsh and I have always wanted to work together and when this opportunity presented itself, it was the right time. He is one of my favorite performers and a dear friend. Through this series, viewers will see a side of him where he is not acting. He is a very curious traveler. He is a great learner and someone who asks a lot of questions. This is the aspect of him which really encouraged me to go where I did with this project.

What is the one anecdote from the filming of the series that has become a memory of a lifetime? 

I remember that reaching the Biate tribe in Assam’s Dima Hasao district close to Meghalaya was full of challenges. The cars kept stopping en route, but thankfully the crew’s overall spirit was upbeat. Adarsh did a jam session with the young members of the Biate tribe. The tribe is known for its musical traditions. It was so moving to see everyone perform together. 

What kind of awareness about cinema did you find amongst the tribal people?

There is a lot of awareness about cinema and films in general. They are very particular about representation. Every tribe has its own theme in the docuseries and we learned a lot from them. The Angami tribe of Nagaland is traditionally made up of warriors. We found out that being a warrior is not just about strength but also about tenderness. Likewise, we saw how the Biate tribe has preserved the songs of their ancestors while welcoming their new generation. The old songs now have new sounds in a beautiful fusion. 

Why is representation from the region missing in mainstream entertainment? 

I would say it is due to a lack of discovery on our end. I feel as travelers and citizens, we can build on a sense of community with them. The people were extremely welcoming everywhere. So, no matter how different, remote or non-navigable the journeys seemed, there was always immense generosity and open-mindedness for us. That was their spirit. I feel their only desire is that no one should ruin their ecosystems. These tribes were way ahead of their time in preserving nature and ancient lifelines. They say, “You can experience and take what you can but do not drain us.” 

After the Northeast, do you plan to make a docuseries on another region of India? What’s next for you? 

My past mainstream work has been making experimental films. I will go back to independent cinema, which I am very attached to. I am very interested in the Western Ghats, the Sahyadris. I feel the region has not been given its due in terms of correct documentation. I am from Pune, so I grew up in the Sahyadris, in the forests and secret spaces that make it very interesting. The Sahyadri mountain range and its people are areas I would like to explore.