Silchar’s Susmit ‘Bob’ Nath wins Filmfare OTT award for best sound design

Silchar’s Susmit ‘Bob’ Nath has achieved a significant national milestone by winning the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Sound Design for the critically acclaimed OTT series Stolen (2023). The prestigious award was presented on Monday, December 15, at a ceremony in Mumbai, marking a proud moment for both Nath and his hometown.

Stolen, a tense thriller starring Abhishek Banerjee, is widely noted for its gripping narrative and atmospheric storytelling, where sound plays a crucial role in shaping suspense and emotional intensity. Nath’s sound design stood out for its nuanced layering, restrained use of background score, and immersive soundscape, effectively using silence and subtle audio cues as powerful storytelling tools rather than mere technical enhancements.

Hailing from Vivekananda Road in Silchar, Nath’s journey to national recognition has been defined by perseverance and an unwavering commitment to his craft. He completed his schooling at Silchar Collegiate School in 1999 and later studied at GC College, Silchar. Music inspired him from an early age, and he was once part of a local band before finding his calling in sound design for cinema.

Facing financial difficulties at home, Nath moved to Delhi and worked at a call centre, where he spent nearly three years and rose through the ranks. Despite professional stability, he realised it was not where his passion lay. Determined to pursue his true calling, he appeared for the entrance examination of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and cleared it on his first attempt.

Nath joined FTII for a Diploma in Sound Recording and Engineering during a period that proved deeply inspiring for him—the same year sound designer Resul Pookutty won the Academy Award for Slumdog Millionaire. He credits FTII for shaping his artistic sensibilities and exposing him to Indian independent cinema and global film movements. He studied at the institute from 2007 to 2012 before moving to Mumbai to begin his professional career.

Over the years, Nath has built an impressive body of work across national and international projects. His credits include Oscar-nominated documentaries such as Writing With Fire, where he served as Supervising Sound Editor and Sound Designer, and All That Breathes, for which he worked as a Senior Sound Design Consultant. His work has been showcased at major global film festivals, including Cannes, Sundance, Toronto and Venice.

Known for his belief in continuous learning and refinement of craft, Nath often speaks of striving for a sense of “Zen” in sound design and mixing. His Filmfare OTT Award win for Stolen stands as a testament to his artistic vision, technical excellence and resilience, and serves as an inspiration for aspiring artists from Silchar, the Barak Valley and the wider Northeast.