Nagpur: What does it take to make a single, cohesive sonic resonance with 36 speakers across 1km of open space on a lakefront? For Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty, the challenge at Futala Musical Fountain goes far beyond acoustics and clarity.Returning to the lakefront after nearly five years, Pookutty, in an exclusive conversation with TOI, revealed how the ambitious sound installation weathered years of delays, why sound in an open viewing gallery has challenges in its acoustic design, and what still needs to be fine-tuned before Nagpur can finally witness the grand spectacle.At the heart of the installation is a German-made d&b audiotechnik sound system featuring 36 speakers — 24 top speakers and 12 subwoofers — along with imported amplifiers. Describing it as “one of the longest sound installations in the world, almost 1 km,” Pookutty explained that maintaining consistent sound quality across such a vast open-air setting poses challenges unlike those of a conventional cinema hall. The key, he said, is to ensure that audiences experience uniform sound throughout the viewing gallery, without sudden fluctuations in volume, regardless of where they are seated.Yet, what surprised the Oscar winner most was how well the equipment had survived the prolonged interruption. “To my surprise, it is sounding fantastic,” he said after assessing the installation, adding its performance remained impressive despite years of exposure to the vagaries of weather.For Pookutty, whose Academy Award-winning work established his reputation in cinema, Futala represents an unusual departure from film sound design. “I had never undertaken a project like this outside my career in film sound design. When Futala was offered to me, I was overjoyed. Having witnessed similar shows in Singapore and the United States, I had always wondered why we couldn’t create something like this in India,” Pookutty said. He credited Union minister Nitin Gadkari with initiating the collaboration after seeing a production the team created in Rhode Island.However, Futala’s audio installation is not intended merely to accompany a stunning nighttime water fountain show, featuring colourful lights that dance with water jets. Its soundscape forms part of a larger multimedia narrative exploring Nagpur’s historical identity. “Many empires have come here and gone. The team consulted historians and explored the city’s rich past, from ancient kingdoms and historical upheavals to the freedom struggle and lesser-known stories surrounding Zero Mile. All these elements were taken into consideration while developing the presentation,” Pookutty said.The wider production involved several prominent personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Gulzar, R Rahman, technical director Alphonse Roy and many others.With programming and acoustic adjustments underway, the sound system must eventually work in synchronisation with the fountain’s water jets, lighting and projections.Despite the technical challenges and delays, Pookutty remained enthusiastic about the installation’s potential. “This is one of a kind in the world. We can be proud as Indians and especially the people of Nagpur,” he said, while urging citizens to experience the completed show for themselves. Pookutty also indicated that he may return to Nagpur, as the complex technical work cannot be completed in a single day.
