Adarsh Gourav: There’s a hunger in me to understand people from my own country

Adarsh Gourav has begun filming a tentatively titled docu-series, The Tribal Voice, which explores the cultural traditions and indigenous communities of Northeast India. The series follows the actor as he travels across the region, engaging with local voices and documenting stories rooted in heritage and identity.The first leg of the shoot began late last month on Majuli Island in Assam. Through music, oralhistories and everyday practices, the series captures the resilience and creativity of communities whose traditions continue to shape the region’s cultural landscape.Speaking about what drew him to the project, Adarsh says, “The main reason I said yes to thisproject was the opportunity to explore the cultures of the Northeast in a way that felt intimate and immersive.

Through this series, I’ve been able to engage closely with local communities, tasting their cuisines, listening to their stories, and learning about the histories of their tribes through firsthand conversations. To me, this experience in itself is invaluable.”He adds, “Collaborating with producer Shekhar Bhattacharjee, the founder of Edstead, was another important factor. His production house is known for championing stories that truly matter, and knowing the project was backed by them gave me a great sense of assurance.

There’s a genuine hunger in me to understand people from my own country, about whom I admittedly know so little. While I love travelling and exploring off the beaten path, I don’t think I would have had access to some of these communities without this series.

Showcasing these experiences on a platform with such a wide reach also makes it a powerful educational tool.”In a previous chat with us, while talking about working on international sets and highlighting the contrast with Indian productions, Adarsh had shared, “In India, there is often a last-minute approach, a concept of jugaad. Abroad, everything is planned well in advance. For instance, a location for Alien Earth was booked a year and a half ahead to let the landscape mature naturally. Technical departments started work a year prior.

Everything is streamlined, and each person has a defined role, which increases productivity. In India, we improvise more. Neither approach is right or wrong; they are just different cultural ways of working.”