Atika Farooqui and Resul Pookutty share a genuine, long-standing friendship rooted in mutual admiration for each other's craft in filmmaking; this rapport shines through in their conversation, marked by effortless warmth, shared laughter, and subtle nods that reflect years of professional respect.Resul Pookutty rose to international fame as the first Indian sound designer to win the Academy Award for Slumdog Millionaire (2008). In this candid chat on Waaah! Atika! with Atika Farooqui, he reveals how he nearly turned down director Danny Boyle after a heated clash, walking off set before being persuaded to return. Since then, he has collaborated with top global filmmakers and India's finest talents, bringing unforgettable soundscapes to projects like Amitabh Bachchan's Mohabbatein, the explosive audio of Pushpa 1 & 2, and Goat Life. Pookutty breaks down his craft with remarkable clarity, from God's natural sounds as the ultimate design, to how audio alone reveals a character's good or evil nature, and why sound often bypasses the script entirely. He shares creative breakthroughs, such as praising Hrithik Roshan's sound-tuned precision on set, the unique challenges of designing robot noises for Enthiran, and the profound power of silence in cinema.Step into Resul Pookutty's world with this revealing chat, where he shares powerful Oscar moments, surprising insights like the absence of dialogue writer credits in films, practical advice for aspiring directors, memorable encounters with stars, and honest reflections on his wedding, his wife's biryani stories, the shock of international newspapers labeling her the "unidentified woman" at the Oscars, which stunned family and friends, a life-changing near-death experience, navigating work-family balance, and his thoughtful views on social and political issues. Have you ever seen Pookutty this unguarded? Press play, t's a conversation that will transform how you experience sound in cinema.
