The project was born from Jonny Greenwood's fascination with Indian music and his desire to collaborate with Shye Ben Tzur, a musician who lives in India and composes in Hebrew, Urdu, and Hindi. To bring their vision to life, they assembled the Rajasthan Express, a group of diverse musicians specializing in various Indian traditions, including qawwali, manganiyar, and brass band music.
Junun is an immersive 2015 documentary film directed by acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson. It captures the collaborative spirit of the recording sessions for the album of the same name, featuring Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, Israeli composer Shye Ben Tzur, and the Indian ensemble known as the Rajasthan Express. junun movie
A significant character in the film is the Mehrangarh Fort itself. The massive stone walls and open courtyards provide a natural reverb and a majestic backdrop. The film also captures the daily life surrounding the sessions, including the feeding of kites (birds of prey) from the fort's battlements and the bustling energy of the local Jodhpur markets. Musical Highlights The project was born from Jonny Greenwood's fascination
The project originated when and Shye Ben Tzur decided to collaborate on an album. Greenwood had previously composed orchestral scores for Anderson's films ( There Will Be Blood , The Master , Inherent Vice ). Ben Tzur had been living in India for nearly two decades, deeply immersed in Sufi qawwali and Rajasthani folk music. It captures the collaborative spirit of the recording
The project blends Western experimental music with traditional Indian folk, Sufi Qawwali, and brass band traditions. Directorial Style
is a 2015 documentary film directed by that captures a unique cross-cultural musical collaboration in Northern India. The film documents the making of the album Junun by Israeli composer Shye Ben Tzur , Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood , and the Indian ensemble The Rajasthan Express . Core Concept and Setting