Rahman-produced documentary ‘Headhunting to Beatboxing’ premieres in Melbourne

DIMAPUR — The documentary film “Headhunting to Beatboxing,” produced by Academy, Grammy, and BAFTA Award winner AR Rahman, celebrated its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

The film, which explores the rich musical heritage of Nagaland, was a highlight of the festival, according to an update from the state DIPR on Sunday.

Rahman was conferred with the Excellence in Cinema Award at the event.

Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland and Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), and Theja Meru, Chairman of the Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA), Nagaland, attended the premiere as executive producers of the film. Metha also participated in the festival’s talks and conversations, highlighting the cultural significance of the documentary’s themes.

“Our rich and vibrant culture has been passed down generation after generation for millennia, and today these stories are being told to global audiences by our artists and cultural ambassadors,” Metha shared during the festival.

He also spoke about the age-old festivals of the Naga tribes and gave an overview of the Hornbill Festival, which he described as a legendary celebration of the Naga way of life and an exhibition of the creativity, energy and vibrancy of Naga youth. He invited the global community to come and experience the “festival of festivals”.

Metha expressed gratitude to Rahman for collaborating with Nagaland and acknowledged the support of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, crediting his vision for making the project possible.

The premiere attracted prominent figures from the film and music industries, including directors Imtiaz Ali and Rajkumar Hirani. Other Indian film personalities, including Karan Johar, Ram Charan, Malaika Arora, Nora Fatehi, and Kartik Aaryan, were also present at the festival’s awards night, the update stated.

Speaking at a Q&A session following the premiere, TaFMA Chairman Theja Meru recognised the musicians and artists of Nagaland as the “real heroes of the film”. He expressed hope that the film would elevate the state’s music industry, taking Naga talent to international platforms.

Meru thanked the festival organisers, the Victoria and Melbourne governments, and expressed his desire for future collaborations to create more opportunities for Nagaland’s youth.