As you zip past the green countryside, listening to the lulling chukk-chukk sounds of the train, it’s easy to forget that there is someone who is sitting at the front and operating the locomotive. The engine driver or the locomotive pilot wears many hats: he is in charge of safety, getting you to your destination on time as well

In 2009, Resul Pookutty became the first Indian sound designer to win an Oscar, for his work on Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. Since then, he has been awarded a Padma Shri and a National Award. When we went to meet him at his Mumbai studio, Resul showed no outward signs of all this acclaim. He had had a long day of wading through red tape at the visa office, and he was visibly exhausted. It was 9pm on a Ramzan night, and he was yet to break his fast. Brushing our concerns aside, he sat us down and spoke to us for a fantastic two hours about his life, his struggles and the art of creating soundscapes. Here’s a peek into that conversation.