Private Project

The Music Shop - Symphony Of The City

In the bustling heart of Kolkata, a city teeming with life and chaos, stands a small, unassuming music shop—a place where the soul of the city finds its rhythm. "The Music Shop - Symphony of the City" is a poetic exploration of one man’s solitary journey as a master craftsman of Indian classical instruments.

The shop is more than just a workplace; it is a sanctuary where musicians, learners, and enthusiasts alike gather. These daily interactions give rise to spontaneous, unscripted moments of music that ripple through the shop and into the city beyond. In a world where the noise of the metro often drowns out the delicate sounds of nature, this small space becomes a haven where the symphony of the city is both born and nurtured.

This film is a tribute to the unsung heroes who, in their silent dedication, keep the music of the city alive, ensuring that the cacophony of urban life is always balanced by the sweet, sustaining notes of tradition and artistry.

  • Bijoy Chowdhury
    Director
  • Bijoy Chowdhury
    Producer
  • Korak Misra
    Editor
  • Sukanta Mazumder
    Sound Designer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    60 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 30, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Bengali
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 30th Kolkata International Film Festival
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    December 8, 2024
    Indian Premier
Director Biography - Bijoy Chowdhury

Bijoy Chowdhury graduated from the Government College of Art and Craft in 1988 and is now working as a Photographer, Visual Communicator and Film Maker. Chowdhury has several national and international awards including the Commonwealth and National Geographic Traveler Photo Award. The prestigious private magazine has also published his works twice. International Gallerie has also published his black-and-white photo features. In 2000, the government of India also awarded him with the Senior National Fellowship in Photography.
Alongside his regular assignments, Chowdhury continues to work on several long-term documentary film projects of socio-economic interest. His documentary film ' KHAWTO - THE WOUND' got several awards from India and abroad. He made it in 2017. It was selected at the 12th Istanbul International Architecture and Urban Films Festival. It received the Best Documentary Film Festival in Bangladesh’s Sylhet, the special jury mention at Spain’s FICARQ 2018 and the Best Documentary Film award at the 6th Siliguri Short and Documentary Film Festival.
His 'Undivided Solitude' won two awards – FUR Gold Lotus for best film and FUR Gold Lotus for best director - at the PSBT Film Challenge 2020-21. The competition was supported by PSBT in partnership with the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness, Dalai Lama. It was selected as part of the short films section at the 3rd edition of the Habitat International Film Festival, New Delhi and won the best short film competition of Anandalok Short-cut.
In 2022, Chowdhury directed My Son and His Grandfather which focused on the empty-nest syndrome of grandparents. Critically acclaimed musician Tajdar Junaid came on board to compose its background score. The film received the Best Short Documentary award at the 14th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), 2022. It was screened at the Mumbai International Film Festival. It then went on to receive the Satyajit Ray Silver Award for the second-best documentary at the 5th South Asian Short Film Festival, in 2022. It also bagged the Best Documentary award at the 9th Siliguri Short and Documentary Film Festival, in 2022.
In 2024, Chowdhury directed The Barefoot Journey received the Satyajit Ray Silver Award for second-best documentary and Mrinal Sen Golden Award for best direction at the 7th South Asian Short Film Festival.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The journey of "The Music Shop - Symphony of the City" began with a simple yet profound moment. For years, on my way home from a friend’s place, I passed by a modest music shop tucked away in the heart of Kolkata’s vibrant chaos. One evening, I noticed the shop’s owner—a middle-aged man—playing the sitar with a deep, meditative focus, his music a gentle counterpoint to the city’s relentless noise. This scene, so unassuming yet powerful, stayed with me.

I started visiting the shop, not with the intention to make a film, but simply to listen and watch. There was something about the way this man, through his craft, created a space of calm and reverence. His dedication to his work and the soulfulness of his music drew me in, and soon, without any clear direction, I began filming. Over the next five years, I captured these moments in an informal, organic way, allowing the story to shape itself.

This film is more than a portrait of a music shop; it is a reflection of the city’s soul, a sanctuary amidst the urban din where tradition and artistry quietly thrive. It is a tribute to the unsung heroes who, through their passion and dedication, keep the delicate balance of sound and silence alive. For me, "The Music Shop" is a love letter to the quiet spaces that nurture the music within us all, reminding us that even in the heart of chaos, there is always a place for melody.