The Dewarists is a musical television series on MTV India. The series is part music documentary and part travelogue. The show casts musicians from various parts of the world, collaborating to create original music while travelling across India. The first season featured a total of ten episodes. It featured many musicians, including Imogen Heap, Vishal–Shekhar, Zeb and Haniya, Shantanu Moitra, Swanand Kirkire, Indian Ocean, Mohit Chauhan, Parikrama, Agnee, Shilpa Rao, Shri, Monica Dogra, Rajasthan Roots, Papon, Rabbi Shergill, Shubha Mudgal, Swarathma, MIDIval Punditz, Humble the Poet, Karsh Kale, Baiju Dharmajan, Njeralathu Harigovindan, Raghu Dixit and Rewben Mashangva.
The first season was directed by Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy, an ad filmmaker and frontman of the Mumbai Hardcore band, Scribe. The first five episodes also involved UK filmmakers, Fred and Nick. The show is hosted by actor-singer Monica Dogra. The Theme music of The Dewarists was given by Raghu Dixit.
In 2013, for the launch of a new season of The Dewarists, the creators of the program altered the format of the show to move away from music inspired journeys and expanded it to include collaborations between musicians and visual artists from India and around the world. Directed by independent film-maker, Srinivas Sunderrajan, the show was broadcast on MTV India in its new format that merges the visual arts with sound to create a multi-sensory experience. The show was also the first collaborative experience to be simulcast on television and on YouTube. Singer Monica Dogra returned as hostess, and also one of the collaborators on the season premiere of The Dewarists Season 3.
All seasons featured visual effects, motion graphics, color grading and title sequences by Mumbai-based studio Plexus, headed by its founder and director Vijesh Rajan.
The Origin The Dewarist is a property conceptualized by Wizcraft International Entertainment. The Dewarist is inspired by Tommy Dewars philosophy of "Some things are worth doing".
The Philosophy
Dewarists believe in passion and things worth doing. Their motto is Some Things Are Worth Doing. They cast musicians from different genres and different places. By the end of the journey, they record a song that will reflect each of their genres and also the sounds and culture of the places they originate from and travel to. The show aims to inspire audiences to follow their dreams and do what they believe in. The music program started in India in November 2010 with a digital series featuring international artists Dub FX and Susheela Raman. Collaborating with other artists and performing in new cities helped inspire this program.
In Season Three of the show, artists from other genres outside of music were included. The addition of visual art into the music-centered dynamic of the show offered viewers a refreshing perspective on the link between music and art. Also, the brand philosophy, encapsulated as LIVE TRUE, was the perfect platform to showcase the lives and works of inspiring artists. The result of their collaborations is seen in a striking music video at the end of each episode that encapsulates their creative journey together.
Music rights
The Dewarists is a platform for independent artists to share their beats, rhymes, and reasons, thereby inspiring others to live true to their passions. A decision was hence made for the rights for the musical collaboration to remain with the artists who worked on it, thus setting a precedent in the music industry.
Season One (2011)
Episode 1 - Minds Without Fear
This was filmed in Samode Palace and Jaipur in Rajasthan, where Imogen Heap and Vishal Dadlani recorded the song Minds Without Fear, which is inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Where the Mind is without Fear".
Episode 2 - Kya Khayaal Hai
This was filmed at the legendary Capitol theatre in Mumbai, where Shantanu Moitra, Swanand Kirkire and the Pakistani duo Zeb and Haniya teamed up and recorded the song Kya Khayaal Hai.
Episode 3 - Maaya
This was filmed in Delhi with Indian Ocean and Mohit Chauhan. The song Maaya was performed at venue called Garden of Five Senses in New Delhi.
Episode 4 - I Believe
This was filmed in Pune with Parikrama, Agnee and Shilpa Rao. The song I Believe was recorded at Shisha Café.
Episode 5 - Changing World
This was filmed in Jaisalmer with Shri, Monica Dogra and Rajasthan Roots. The song Changing World was recorded.
Episode 6 - Khule Da Rabb
This was filmed in Kaziranga. Assam worked with Papon and Rabbi Shergill to record the song Khule Da Rabb.