Colours of Sound

Exploring movement, touch, imagination and love, this triptych of films reveals the sensorial world of three blind musicians and celebrates the resonating power of music. We meet Baluji Shrivastav OBE, a charismatic sitarist whose musical talent propels him from rural India to London, where he founds Britain’s only blind orchestra, Inner Vision. Born blind, Japanese viola player, Takashi, is determined to transform his musical practice. Exploring movement in dance, and imagining colour, he brings dynamism to his music. British-Nigerian soprano, Victoria, woke up in blackness after an eye operation aged six, and began to see colour in sound. Embracing a new perception of her voice, she sings a powerful aria, revealing her unique syneasthetic vision. Celebrating the players musical heritage and extraordinary journeys, these playful, heartfelt films have survival, hope and creativity at their heart.

Victoria Oruwari
British-Nigerian soprano

Victoria Oruwari started experiencing synaesthesia when she lost her sight aged six. Finding the colours she saw became stronger with music, she embarked on the beginnings of her musical career. Victoria speaks of feeling extra powerful on stage, and that it is one place that she feels most in control, being in the role where she is the giver.

Takashi Kikuchi

Japanese viola player 

Born blind with no light perception, as a child Takashi struggled to move his body freely. Exploring dance he breaks out of feeling physically inhibited, transforming his viola playing. He performs improvised pieces, colour by colour - blue, red, purple and white - as he imagines them. Between shifts working as a waiter, he painstakingly memorises every note from a braille score to play a symphony with a sighted orchestra. On stage, immersed in colour, Takashi shares his unique perception and musical expression with us, and fulfils his dream of becoming a professional musician.

Baluji Shrivastav OBE

Indian multi-instrumentalist

Baluji is an award-winning blind Indian sitarist, whose innate talent propelled him from an Indian village to Europe, where he founded Britain’s first blind orchestra. He reflects on the adversity and opportunities that have shaped his journey. Losing his sight in a tragic accident as a baby, his mother’s prophetic dream sealed his fate as a great musician. Restricted by prejudice and strict confines of the Indian Classical tradition, 1970s Europe offered a new world of sound and experimentation. Through a chance encounter in Paris, he meets his wife Linda who opens his mind to a new perception of music and life.

There will be an introduction by director Marie-Cécile Embleton and a short performance by each musician before each film.

For more information please visit

https://www.coloursofsound.co.uk