Fact Finder - Movies

Fact
The Sitar and 'The Darjeeling Limited's' Journey
Category
Movies
Subcategory
Movie Quotes
Country
USA / India
Description
In 'The Darjeeling Limited,' the quote 'I wonder if the three of us would've been friends in real life' reflects the brothers' strained relationship. To ground the film in its Indian setting, Wes Anderson used existing scores from legendary director Satyajit Ray’s films, which heavily featured the sitar. The sitar’s buzzing, complex resonance became the sound of the brothers' spiritual (and physical) disorientation. This choice showed how an instrument can provide 'borrowed' authenticity and a sense of cinematic history to a modern movie legend. The sitar became the sonic backdrop for the film's witty, dysfunctional dialogue about family and grief.