Amitabh Bachchan, Waheeda Rehman, Mike Pandey, Suniel Shetty, Anil Kumble, Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan among others endorse Roopkumar Rathod’s Photo Book, Wild Voyage At the opening preview of Meraki, a group photography exhibition at Nine Fish Art Gallery inByculla,Roopkumar Rathod launched his coffee table photobook, aptly titled Wild Voyage. Inspired by the music of nature in creative pursuits, Wild Voyage flows with an elemental rhythm and tranquillity. It is a journey from the depth of the ocean, unaffected by waves, with the perfect moment just before capturing to the calming chaos it brings with it. Roopkumar Rathod, veteransinger-musicdirectorand now, an author, feels that it is about his passion, the buzz of adrenaline when a picture comes to life! Being a forest lover and a wildlife enthusiast, he loves the jungle-y wildernessandthewhisperingwinds through the trees that tell their tale.“Sometimes,wejustneed to listen! The jungle transmits the enchantment and mysteries of its surroundings to the questing pilgrim. It is my meditative space. The Earth has magic for those who believe in it!”, avers he, while adding, “I have filled my canvas with moments that feel bona fide, vulnerable and uncontrived. HereIam,steppingofftheedge with an open heart and this is my journey into the wild… My wild voyage!” With a foreword by, none otherthan,theShahenshahof BollywoodAmitabhBachchan, the testimonial read, “A lot of research has shown that, although we live in houses or buildings in the city,we are still cavemen at heart. The basic wiring in our brains and how we interact are the same as thousandsofyearsago.Nature iswherewestillbelong.That’s why we all enjoy a walk in the woods, gazing at the stars, watching a sunset, being on a beach, or going camping. I thank Rathodji for sharing his experiences with us through his superb photography. He has my blessing for continued joy and success with his love for photography,” states Amitabh Bachchan. Acclaimed filmmaker and wildlife activist Mike Pandey expresses the pleasure it is to glidethroughandsavourmagicalmomentsofwilderness.He adds, “Roop's unique perspective opens another door into nature's enigmatic world. The special moments in the wilderness, bathed in equally stunning magical light have been captured and frozen for eternity by stunning images and timing... This has been a work of patience, crafted with care and wonderfully presented. Wild Voyage actually transported me to the wilds, leaving me wanting for more. The Earth needs more Roopkumar!” Here is what Suniel Shetty has to say. “A musical genius, a soulful singer, a magical photographer and a forever friend. Roop, you always inspire and brighten every room you enter, your energy is infectious. May you continue to breaks your own mould as an artist and keep rediscovering your own talents.” Padma Shri Cricketer Anil Kumble says that Roopkumar Rathod’s exploits in music is well-known. He also adds that not many are aware about his passion for wildlife photography. “This book is a window to his love for animals; a delightfulcollection,fullofbrilliantcaptures, that takes you on a journey into the magical world of nature. We we r e awa r e o f Roopkumar's ear for music, and now this book is a testament to his eye for nuance!” ShankarMahadevanofthe famed Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy triobelievesphotography tobe an amazing art in itself, especially when a person’s musicalityandsensibilitycomesinto it.According to him, the whole picture changes and that is whatRoopkumarRathod’s talentisallabout.“Therearevery few musicians in our country who have immense depth and knowledge about Indian classical music and at the same time can adapt to any genre ofmusic,andRoopbhai isone ofthem.Thisdepthandknowledge translate in his amazing wild life photos. Every photo looks like a songandeveryscenefeelslike a melody. He has been a wild life enthusiast for many years and his passion for the jungle is equal, if not a minuscule more,thanmusic!”Awaitingthe launch, he believes that RoopkumarRathod’spatience, passionanddedicationisclearly evident. Another stalwart in the Indian music industry is Hariharan, a dear friend to RoopkumarRathod.Theyhave known each other since the 1980’s. Hariharan imparts that, apart from being a talented singer-composer,Roopkumar Rathod is also aTabla Nawaz. “He is a born artist and his artistry took a turn to another field,photography.I sawmusical compositions of the wild being in its surroundings. The wild being took the form of a melody and the surroundings provided harmony. Awesome photographsareclickedwhen the timing is right and indeed, Roop clicks at the right second,” he avers. Celebrated bariatric surgeon Dr. Muffazal Lakdawala says that Wild Voyage stunningly captivates wildlife for photography enthusiasts. Bringing the same unbridled pas s ion of Roopkumar Rathod’s singing to photography, he divulges that he had a small role to play in pushing his dear friend to take on photography as a hobby. “Inthisbook,hehasbrought his artistic aesthete, signature detail and an eye for natural beauty tothefore.Iwouldurge everyone to grab a copy!” Apart from these dignitaries, royalties of the likes of Maharaj Shakti Singh Mewar of Udaipur, Rajas than, acclaimed wildlife photographers Sudhir Shivram and Latika Nath, actor-politician Beena Kak, Vijay Darda of Lokmatgroup,Dr. JamunaPai among others also endorsed the versatile Roopkumar Rathod’s Wild Voyage. Morepowertowildlifephotography with Wild Voyage!