Dr. Seshu KMR Receives Italian Doctorate for Redefining Sonic Futures in Indian Cinema

New Delhi | July 27, 2025

In a rare honour that celebrates art, intellect, and innovation in perfect harmony, Dr. Seshu KMR—visionary filmmaker, sound designer, and author—was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Media and Sonic Studies by the University of Cuneo, Italy.

The recognition came during the Indian Intellectual Conclave 2025 held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, in the presence of distinguished diplomats from the Consulates of Jamaica, Australia, and Russia, alongside Italian academic leaders.

Seshu KMR, born Ponnapalli Venkata Seshu Kumar, is best known for creating the revolutionary Flowsound system, a breakthrough in sound layering and emotional acoustics for Indian cinema. From Ram Gopal Varma’s Ice Cream to directing 127B, and composing music for cult films like 365 Days and Singham 123, he has consistently pushed creative boundaries.

This second doctorate recognises not just his cinematic mastery, but also his agro-sonic work, crafting bio-acoustic call sequences to safeguard crops—uniting rural life with futuristic frequency design.

His book Playback: A Century of Telugu Cinema Soundtrack—the first-ever documentation of sound and music in Telugu cinema—was a milestone in film literature.

“Sound is not just heard, it’s felt—within soil, soul, and screen,”
Dr. Seshu KMR reflected during the event.
“This honour is for every silent whisper that shaped my journey.”

From writing sci-fi thrillers like Anthara-1 to launching the AI-powered Playback.ai platform, Dr. KMR embodies the very intersection of tradition and tech, art and academia.

Now with two honorary doctorates—Sonic Psychology and Sonic Media Studies—he stands not only as an artist but as an architect of India’s audiovisual legacy.