Immersed In Music

Vasundhara Gupta literally eats, sleeps and breathes music. A professional sound designer, sound editor and vocalist, she has worked on several films under awardwinning sound designer and post-production mixer, David Van Slyke, apart from producing her own extended play record, One.

- Joseph Rozario

VASUNDHARA GUPTA HAILS FROM A MARWARI joint-family based in Kolkata, where the love for music runs deep and across generations. Given her family’s large variety of musical tastes—be it Western or Hindustani— it was but natural for her to be inculcated with a deep passion for music. Rather than look to pursue a career in business, as most other Marwari youngsters like her perhaps would, she gravitated towards the world of notes, beats, chords and lyrics instead.

An early start

“Music seemed like a natural and obvious choice for me ever since I can remember thinking about my career,” says Vasundhara, whose relation with music began at the age of five, when her mother enrolled her into a singing class, along with her elder sister. “She must’ve sensed my ability and knack for music, because since that day, she’s made sure I never stopped my lessons or my riyaaz,” she adds.

The love for music continued through school and college, until it was time for further studies, when she considered appearing for SAT (a standardised test widely used for college admissions in the United States) and putting in other college applications, just as everyone around her seemed to be also doing. It was then that realisation dawned upon her that her best bet was studying music, and this especially kindled her interest in Berklee College of Music, a premier music college in Boston, USA, about which she had first heard from her high school friend, Aradhita Saraf. It took her to Mumbai for her interview and practical exam. About a month later she got her acceptance letter, and she hasn’t looked back since then.