MIFF Homage section celebrates Raghu Rai and Palghat Raghu through documentaries

MUMBAI: The 19th Mumbai International Film Festival turned its spotlight on two towering figures of Indian art and culture with a special Homage section showcasing documentaries on legendary photographer Raghu Rai and mridangam virtuoso Palghat Raghu.

The screenings featured Raghu Rai: Hearing Through the Eyes and Tala and Rhythm – Mridangam Played by Palghat Raghu, offering audiences an intimate look at the lives, philosophies and creative legacies of two masters whose work has shaped India’s visual and musical heritage.

Directed by Suvendu Chatterjee, Raghu Rai: Hearing Through the Eyes traces the artistic journey of Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photographers. Through archival images and personal reflections, the documentary explores his evolution as an artist and the experiences that influenced his distinctive visual language.

Rai, who was nominated to Magnum Photos in 1977 by legendary photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, is shown reflecting on his philosophy of “darshan”, which he describes as a deep emotional and spiritual connection with his subjects.

The film highlights Rai’s belief that photography goes beyond documentation, instead serving as a bridge between the inner and outer worlds of the photographer. It revisits some of his most iconic images, including portraits of Mother Teresa, as well as scenes from everyday Indian life such as Ganesh Visarjan, the Taj Mahal and Naga Sadhus, capturing the country’s cultural diversity.

A notable feature of the documentary is the inclusion of his daughter, filmmaker Avani Rai, whose perspective adds a generational dialogue on art, memory and visual storytelling.

The second documentary, Tala and Rhythm – Mridangam Played by Palghat Raghu, produced by Films Division of India and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal, focuses on the rhythmic foundations of Carnatic music through the lens of the mridangam, one of its most revered percussion instruments.

Featuring Palghat Raghu, the film explains complex concepts such as tala (rhythmic cycles) and rhythmic improvisation, offering viewers an accessible entry point into the structure of Indian classical music.

Through demonstrations and performances, the documentary showcases the discipline, technique and creativity required to master the instrument, from intricate finger movements to tonal variations that define its expressive range.

It also highlights the oral guru–shishya tradition that underpins Indian classical music, emphasising the importance of mentorship, discipline and intergenerational transmission of knowledge.

Together, the two documentaries offered MIFF audiences a reflective cinematic experience, honouring artistic excellence while preserving the legacy of two masters whose contributions continue to resonate across disciplines.

The Homage section thus reinforced MIFF 2026’s commitment to celebrating India’s cultural memory, bringing timeless artistry back to the screen for a new generation of viewers.