Mentor
Rajat Dholakia
Presented with numerous national awards and the composer of over 300 popular jingles, Rajat Dholakia, aka Juku, is a multi-faceted musician and sound designer. While he is primarily self-taught in the field of melodies, his musical routes trace back to a broad spectrum of influences. From Indian classical to Western classical to Gujarati and Hindi film music - Rajat’s harmonic rhythms have left remarkable footprints in all these genres! Currently working on composing Western classical and fusion symphonies, his accolades include the conferring of the National Film Award for the best music director for Dharavi in 1991 and for Sunday in 1992. A committed and dedicated music composer with his feet held firmly on the ground, but talent touching the skies, Rajat Dholakia profoundly navigated his musical path, carrying forward his melodious family legacy. Renowned for his work in Mirch Masala (1987), Holi (1985), and Firaaq (2008), his contribution to Bollywood by introducing Chattisgarhi music is a prominent milestone in both his career and the history of Bollywood music. He also collaborated with the music maestro, A.R. Rahman, on the song ‘Genda Phool’ (Delhi 6, 2009) bringing influences of Chattishgarhi music into the song. Another feather on his musical career cap is his sound design and music contribution to around 8000 commercial and public service films at national and international levels.Curator
Akash Bhatt
Music is an ethereal and artistic medium, when it merges with other forms of arts it results into an amazing and an inseparable aesthetic form - this is a reality. On the other hand, fact also remains that gradually over years music has been extensively commercialised, and it continues to happen. Today, we need to think and understand music beyond the predefined notion which is not-limited by set notions of market. Let's understand and imagine music not In terms of scale, raga, taal, aarohi-avrohi, makm, improvisation but as an event and occasion. Let us reimagine music as an event or an occasion in which diverse cultures, languages, eras, dialects, free thoughts - all come together to become an expression - an imagination - a reality - a story and a new paradigm. Lets accept music as an extension of self. And with this understanding let us endeavour to create, to learn and to enjoy.Gallery
Artists
Tathaagat Vaidya
Artist
Tathaagat Vaidya, Karan Shah and Meet Gadhia came up with realising an experimental rock music instrumental trio with the idea to play new compositions every time they get on stage, and never repeat a performance. The name “THE UP PHILOSOPHERS” was chosen because they would talk to their audiences during their performance, as there was never a vocalist. So the “Philosophers” part refers to the art of Talking, Conversing or Arguing. The “Up” part refers to gaining or acquiring more knowledge through conversations and rising a step above each time. Gradually when the band had completely stopped performing, in June/July…
Read more
Sonia & Rajan
Artist
Sonia Mishra Sonia is a spoken word poet, and she is studying International Relations. Her explorations with her work revolve around the persistent sufferings and state of mind in different situations. Rajan Panchal Rajan is a B.E Mechanical Engineer, a singer and a guitarist having a deep influence on the mystic poet and saint: KABIR’. He has been researching the life of Kabir for a couple of years and summing up his thoughts about Kabir by composing songs. He performs the verses of Kabir in a modern way along with storytelling using his voice and a guitar so that ordinary…
Read more
Ghanshyam Gadhavi
Artist
Born in the Charaniya region of the Kapadvanj district of Gandhinagar, Ghanshyambhai Ravabhai Gadhavi has inherited the musical tradition of the ‘Gadhavi’ community. Musical programs, reading and spreading propaganda of literature have been his passion. He has conducted many programs nationally and internationally. Worshipping words is his only religion and he made poetry his profession. He is instrumental in writing script writing, fictional plays, writing jingles and kvikiz. As a lyricist, he has created many audio-video songs. Aamraghata, Amiras, Jwalamukhi, Aavak Ekavani, Dahoj, and Pomade Divdo were the 5 poetry anthologies which were published. નીદં નિહ પાલઘડી શબદ કી િજનકો…
Read more
Aalap Kikani
Artist
Aalap Kikani is a qualified computer engineer who learned Hindustani Classical music and also studied Sound Engineering in Mumbai – he has been working as a music Programmer, arranger and composer as well. He started his own production house and has been performing LIVE music as well.
Read more
Raghav Dave
Artist
Raghav Dave is a Tabla player and a composer. Qualified as a B-grade rhythmist of Prasar Bharti – Govt. of India. He considers himself a non-professional musician with a professional approach. He has a special inclination towards semi-classical vocals and Gazals. So far he has organised and performed in many Gazal events. Promotion of this form of poetry and Singing has made him research many aspects of Urdu Gazal. He has also composed many gazals for various events.
Read more
Meera Desai, Shankar Iyer, Harmish Joshi
Artist
Meera, Shankar, and Harmish are musicians currently residing in Ahmedabad who have had unique personal journeys and professional backgrounds. Between the three of them, they have had exposure to jazz, Hindustani classical, and western classical music, so making music together always results in a distinct sound palette.
Read more
Akash Bhatt
Artist
Trained in the art of playing ‘Tabla’ in his early childhood at the Saptak School of Music, Akash Bhatt is a musician and a practising Architect. During his stay in Eastern Europe from 2001 to 2014 (had won the SOROS Foundation Scholarship for Performing Arts in 2001), he gained experience in performing various music genres such as Balkan music, Sephardic, Turkish/Oriental, Arabian Music, Contemporary, Ethno Jazz Fusion etc. He has collaborated with the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts and regularly performs as a percussionist at festivals in India, with both European and Indian artists.
Read more
Siddharth & Avanti
Artist
Siddharth Bhayani Siddharth Bhayani, a Drummer and DJ based in Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India) has been DJing since 2008 and started his career as an Electronic Dance Music Producer in 2014. The ideas behind the album were to create a movement and sensation that grooves the listener on earth and up above. Avanti Tohare Avanti Tohare, a budding poet from Nagpur, Maharashtra, is a literature enthusiast and has performed in various open mics and spoken word poetry slams. Poetry is her way to express her perception of the world around her. She draws her inspiration from nature, her travels and little…
Read more
Matang Parikh & Radhika Parikh
Artist
Shri Matang Parikh He is a Ghazal singer and multi-instrumentalist based in Ahmedabad, who has been trained in Hindustani classical music by his father Pt. Krishnakant Parikh. His sensational and emotional performances are well-known and well-loved by audiences and critics alike. He is a student of the legendary Padma Shri Pt. Hariharan ji. Radhika Parikh She is a classical vocalist in Ahmedabad who began training with her grandfather, Pt. Krishnakant Parikh. She now learns from Pt. Vikas Parikh, a disciple of Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj ji. She has participated in innumerable concerts and national competitions, showing a promising talent for…
Read more
Arif Mir
Artist
Arif Mir is a well-known performer of various genres of music including Gujarati folk songs, Bollywood songs, bhakti songs, Gujarati Sugam songs and Sufi music. He comes from a family of musicians and has inherited his musical talent from his grandfather who was a versatile stage artist famous in the cities of Mumbai, Vadodara and Ahmedabad during the 1950s-60s, and his father, Shri Rahim bhai, who was a disciple of the renowned Padmavibhushan Ustaad Gulaam Mustafa. Arif Mir had the privilege of meeting Padmashri Purushottam Upadhyay, a legendary singer, who showed personal and detailed interest in him. He received training…
Read more
