Review of Indus Blues (2018)
Seen in 2022.
Conservative Pakistani folk musicians and the makers of their instruments bemoan radical Islamic persecution and competition from pop.
The opening sequence is amazing. The rest is narrowly focused on the musicians and craftsmen to achieve a good depth, with above-average B-roll. We do not hear from the musicians’ romantic partners, their children, hostile clerics, friendly clerics, professional conservators, musicologists, fans, or mainstream citizens. I would guess that some traditional instruments like the sitar are still more popular, but in its limited scope, the documentary gives the impression that it’s all dying fast.