Sonam Kalra wants to heal the world through music | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement “In February 2010, I was invited to perform at the Urs of Sufi Inayat Khan’s dargah in Delhi. It proved to be a turning point in my musical journey,” says singer Sonam Kalra. “A Sikh girl singing Gospel music being welcomed into an Islamic […]
Members of Last Minute India at a show | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Last Minute India’s new track ‘Main Sach Kahun’ is raw, real and emotional. The song is a heartfelt reflection of songwriter and composer Subodh Gupta’s emotional and psychological battles with alcohol addiction. Subodh, the founder of Last Minute India, and also the […]
For siblings Jeffrey Kochuveettil and Jonathan Kochuveettil, born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, a chenda (traditional Kerala percussion instrument) brought to the US by their grandfather Thomas Vattakatt during one of his visits in the ‘90s was not a mere novelty item but a relic of their roots in Thodupuzha, Kerala. The instrument slowly evolved […]
Arinjoy Trio | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Arinjoy Trio May 9 and 10, 9:30 pm onwards Windmills, Whitefield Entry: ₹2000 (seating), ₹750 (standing), via windmills-india.com This weekend at Windmills, the blues are in town courtesy Mumbai/Kolkata act The Arinjoy Trio. Comprising vocalist-guitarist Arinjoy Sarkar, drummer Sounak Roy and bassist Aakash Ganguly, the band has previously […]
Aswathy Jithin and Archana Anoop break the glass ceiling at Thrissur Pooram | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Thunderous fireworks, parading elephants, kudamattom (display of colourful parasols), and more. The Thrissur Pooram that dates back to 1796 draws thousands of visitors every year at the famed Vadakkumnathan temple. In the popular number ‘Kaanta’ by the band […]
Renowned vocalist Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement It was the concluding nightlong session of the 102nd Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh in Varanasi, and the courtyard of the Sankat Mochan temple saw a constant flow of devotees. Would a classical soiree work in this busy, crowded environment, one thought. But Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, […]
Srividya Iyer and Sudha Iyer performing at Sri Thiagaraja Sangeetha Vidwath Samajam as part of Purandaradasar Jayanthi. | Photo Credit: SRINATH M With endearing candour, Purandaradasar addresses Vittala: “What if I am crooked, will your name lose its worth when uttered by me?”, “What if the river twists and turns, will the water shed its […]
In a moment suspended between worlds — ancient China and 19th-century Vienna — a quiet spark leapt across centuries to ignite the imagination of a composer in Chennai. It was 2018, and Ganesh B Kumar, city-bred musician, stumbled upon a quote by Confucius: ‘Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every […]
Anirudh Varma Collective performing at the launch of its album Sabr | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The Anirudh Varma Collective recently launched its third album Sabr at a packed Kamani auditorium in New Delhi. The more than two-hour concert featured 12 tracks from the album, and two old favourites ‘Megh’ and ‘Tala Bop’. Weaving together […]
Band Anahatha performing in Hyderabad | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR Band Anahatha is a rare multilingual band from Hyderabad, featuring two female lead singers. “When I founded the group in April 2022, it was uncommon to have two women as the main vocalists in music bands,” shares Ananya Bhaskar. Ananya, one of the lead singers […]
