What is Kīrtan Chanting and Why is it SO Popular as a Global Phenomenon?
Georgia Wyss Filmmaker of MANTRA, the movie, speaks on the global phenomenon of kīrtan, what hooked her, and what the next evolution of mantra might be.
“As a society we have lost the tradition of singing together and singing together is … when we are breathing together in one rhythm. It’s just such a beautiful phenomenon.”
Georgia Wyss the director and co-producer of the film, Mantra: Sounds into Silence, which illuminates how mantra is both a meditative practice, and also as a growing musical “movement” through kīrtan. With a 20 year history in film, she co-founded the Barcelona based production company, TengoTwo. She has been producing documentaries, directing image films and has recently edited several award-winning documentaries. Her credits include work for ABC, PBS, MTV and Nickelodeon.
Anandra had the great privilege to have talked with Georgia Wyss. The interview video below was for our Mantras for Peace: A Wisdom Gathering project.*
A Conversation with Filmmaker Georgia Weiss
Anandra: Welcome to Mantras for Peace! Today, I’m honored to be joined by filmmaker Georgia Weiss, the creative force behind Mantra – Sounds into Silence. Georgia, it’s such a joy to have you here—clearly another lover of mantra.
Georgia: Thank you, Anandra. I’m so happy to be here.
Discovering Mantra Through Life’s Challenges
Anandra: For those who don’t know you yet, can you share who you are and what inspired this amazing project?
Georgia: I’ve worked in film for 25 years, mostly as an editor on documentaries, commercials, and feature films. While in New York, I focused a lot on music documentaries, so I already had a love for music on film.
But mantra came to me in a very personal way—during a painful chapter of my life. A close friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer, and I stayed by her side for five years until she passed away. During that time, I discovered the music of Deva Premal & Miten and Lama Gyurme.
Even though my friend didn’t listen to it, I did—it became my anchor. Traveling often between Berlin and Barcelona, I would play mantra music on every flight. It gave me the strength to show up fully for her, without bringing my own fear of death into the space. It helped me stay present, compassionate, and grounded.
Later, as I returned to my editing work, I found myself still listening to mantras. Eventually, I thought: I want to make a film about this music. Nothing else feels as important anymore.
From Editor to Director
Anandra: I love that. Sometimes inspiration just won’t let go.
Georgia: Exactly. For years, I was only editing, but producing and directing was a whole new step. Still, I took the leap—and it took six years to bring the film to life.
Anandra: In geologic time, that’s nothing! (laughs) But it shows how deep the inspiration was.
Georgia: Yes—and my background in music films helped me clearly envision what it could become.
The Transformative Power of Mantra
Anandra: While filming and sharing your work, what kinds of stories did you encounter about the transformative power of mantra?
Georgia: At first, I only knew my own experience—that mantra music was profoundly healing. So my idea was to create a musical film featuring a few artists. But once we started interviewing people, it became clear: mantra is deeply transformative for everyone.
For example, our first shoot was with Snatam Kaur in Barcelona in 2013. About 3,500 people were in the audience, and the atmosphere was electric. At one point, the crowd took over the chanting—it became a huge celebration of peace. Even our cameraman, who had no background in mantra, had tears in his eyes. That’s when we realized: this film isn’t just about music, it’s about community.
Why Sanskrit Mantras?
Anandra: That’s beautiful. Still, for many of us in the West, Sanskrit mantras aren’t part of our own cultural tradition. Why do you think people are drawn to them?
Georgia: I think much of our culture in the West has faded. Singing together, like in churches, isn’t practiced much anymore. For many people, television has replaced communal traditions.
For me, chanting in Sanskrit is powerful because I don’t understand the words. It helps bypass my thinking mind and allows me to drop into pure sound. Of course, if someone wants to study Sanskrit deeply, that enriches the practice—but even without knowing the meaning, the vibration itself is transformative.
Mantra in Unexpected Places
Anandra: Have you seen mantra bring peace in unexpected places?
Georgia: Yes—we filmed inside San Quentin prison in California. Surprisingly, it was incredibly uplifting. The prison has many volunteers who bring meditation, yoga, and interfaith programs. The inmates we interviewed spoke beautifully about what kirtan meant to them.
We also filmed at a drug recovery center in Maine. Again, you’d expect heaviness, but instead we found openness and hope. Honestly, that’s why I don’t even think of these places as “difficult”—mantra softened everything.
Anandra: If mantra can bring peace in a prison, that says everything.
Unity in Diversity
Georgia: One of my favorite parts of filming was seeing different traditions come together through music. We filmed with Krishna Das, Snatam Kaur, Tibetan chanters, and more. Sometimes they even jammed together—singing Tibetan and Sanskrit mantras in turn.
Not everything made it into the final cut, but those moments showed the universal power of music to unite.
Anandra: Music makes us lovers—and lovers share. That’s the peacemaking power of sound.
Making Mantra Accessible
Georgia: From the start, my goal was to make the film accessible—even to people who had never heard of mantra. That was the hardest part: balancing spiritual depth with universal openness.
We did rough-cut screenings with audiences in Barcelona who knew nothing about mantra, and their feedback helped us shape the final film.
Anandra: And you succeeded. Your film is a doorway—an entry point to the entry point.
Georgia: (smiles) That’s exactly what I hoped.
Learn more about Georgia Wyss awesome work at : Mantra Sounds into Silence (2017)
Serve your community with sacred sound!
Does your heart long to lead others in transformative chant experiences?
Do you want to be a kīrtan leader, nāda yoga or mantra meditation teacher? We made this free peace mantras chant leader training for you to get started with easy, universal peace mantras (non-dogmatic, non-religious) that you can lead with or without instruments.
Use this free course to lead a mantras for peace chant session!
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Mantras for Peace: A Wisdom Gathering Online
Many of the world’s indigenous wisdom cultures acknowledge that the unseen sound of prayers keep the delicate fabric of life in harmony.
Learn about ancient and innovative subtle activism practices from thought leaders, teachers, and artists from 6 continents in Mantras for Peace: A Wisdom Gathering Online
👂🏽 From labels to listening
🤝 From divisiveness to deescalation
🤗 From extremism to empathy
💞 From disassociation to deep connection
Featuring radically inspiring and thought-provoking conversations with global thought leaders dedicated to a vibrant future through ancient and innovative subtle activism practices, Mantras for Peace: Wisdom Gathering is an all-volunteer project dedicated to empowering people with peacemaking skills. (Originally aired 2019 & 2021)
Hosted by Anandra George, a pioneer in the transformational personal practice of sound and mantra and founder of the Heart of Sound.
45 profound, provocative, inspiring conversations with a diverse panel of global thought leaders.
Together, let's explore ancient and innovative subtle activism practices for a vibrant future!
Featuring radically inspiring and thought-provoking conversations with
- Neuroscience Educator Dr. Sarah Peyton
- Trauma Informed NVC Facilitator Meenadchi
- Biologist Bruce Lipton, Arhuaco
- Medicine Keeper Biskungwi Marquez
- Futurist Christine Mason
- Sanskrit Scholar Dr. Katy Jane
- Tantra Expert Devi Ward Erickson
- Marketing Queen Mari Smith
- Devotional Musician Punnu Singh Wasu
- Voice Expert Chloe Goodchild
- Yoga Philosophy Teacher Bhavani Maki
- Artist Activist Zena El Khalil
- Sound Medicine Expert Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary
- Peace Activist Michelle Button
- Mantra Researcher Gemma Perry
- Musician Gina Salā
- Wellness Entrepreneur Ayana Dake
- Devotional Singer Radhamadhav Das
- Non-Violent Communication Trainer Jori Manske
- Yoga Misfit Dana Trixie Flynn
- Musician Sheela Bringi and More...
