The cult favourite Tumbbad has a striking story and score behind it. The drama of the thriller/horror film is centric in narrative-creating what has become one of the most talked about movies of the genre from Bollywood. At a time when content from the industry was miserably failing, Tumbbad was quietly released on OTT platforms. It found a home there, for the kind of visuals, acting and music score that complemented every frame of the film. Today, we dive into what the movie is able to create in terms of art.
Jesper Kyd is the composer for the movie. The story goes- co-director Adesh Prasad was sampling music from Hitman: Blood Money. The composition really resonated with him, and Kyd was reached out to. Eventually, a score was made that did justice to the context, characters and the horror that unfolds.
Who is Jesper Kyd?
The composer behind prolific video games like Assassin’s Creed, Hitman, Borderlands, and Darksiders among many others-he specialises in synthesising the effect of a world. Note, this is different from getting into the emotions behind characters-even though Kyd is very skilled at doing it. He has been able to formulate a process that pushes the musical envelope. Tumbbad is one of the only films he has worked on, so the approach is quite unique.
Without revealing the amazing plot of the movie, I’ll tell you what the music creates. It is infused with mythology-fiction and reality infuse to make a cocktail that will inebriate you. It is one of the tales that is hooked on the prior premise. You miss a line, you might be lost by the end of the movie.
To create the obsolete, small village, Jesper uses strings and cellos to bring a balance between the Western sound he knows and the Indian context he gets used to. He ensures there is plenty of space for dialogue, yet accents the moments with dramatic strings and intonations. When there is no dialogue but consequential action, he makes sure the tones build to create some psychological tension.
Between characters, there is an unspoken hostility that bubbles. If it is the age bracket, the secrets or the negative emotions, they are calculated well and built by Jesper Kyd. Sohum Shah’s acting is incredible, and the cinematography was never to be outdone. Jesper ensures the story strong movie continues while creating a rendition of the music that is fitting.
Through visuals, and music
Visually, there is a lot to play with. There are minimal colours in many frames, yet there is a tonality that would let certain colours highlight. The excess of beige in the climax sequences, the dry nature of the place and long moments of distress are extended in time with Kyd’s music. The story behind each character is far more complex, and perhaps the music can only elevate what is to happen. As any sudden reveal could be made with just the music, so there are moments where you can just hear crickets. It perfectly distills the essence of the warmth of the place-while giving the illusion of time passing by much slower.
The Danish composer has really put his work in on the music. The era is captured well, and the underlying themes are understood. No matter how complex, there are waves in which the music will start making sense to you. From rainy pockets to dramatic twists, his visualisation must be incredible and vivid. Along with this, it is great to know that the entire correspondence was on the now-mocked Skype.
Storytelling masterclass
The horror aspect was lauded by critics from everywhere after the release. The climax is especially unnerving, and the music and lighting make it perfect. Tumbbad became a story heavy movie, unlike some other horror films that depend on the shock factor. Although it didn’t do very well at the time of release, it has gained the cult value over time. A rumoured second part is to come-with a sub-tale being explored from the movie.
The game music director spread his wings far and wide here, creating what he will be proud of for his extensive portfolio. Kyd is on to make many more projects, so stay tuned to know more about his music. Listen to the soundtrack here:
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