SITAR FOR MENTAL HEALTH

When my daughter Aradhana heard that Rishab Sharma was going to perform live in Kolkata she was super excited and was determined that we all go together. She took the onus of keeping a track of when tickets would be available and booking the same. Tickets booked……now started counting down the days. 

Before I get into the actual concert let me give you a little background. Rishab  Rikhiram Sharma was born on the 17th September 1998. He was born in Delhi and has Indian roots but a strong US connection due to him living in New York also. He comes from a very distinguished musical family with his father Sanjay Sharma who was a master sitar maker and musician and his mother Manjul Sharma who is also musically inclined. 

Rishab started playing the sitar at around the age of 10 years and first performed on stage a year later. He was mentored by the legendary Ravi Shankar which shaped his classical foundation  Today, he performs globally—from large concert halls to events like a Diwali performance at the White House. 

The concert was held at Biswa Bangla and the arrangements were pretty good with the entry being quite streamlined and organised. One very impressive thing was that the concert started bang on time… Rishab’s parents came on stage at exactly 7.30pm to give a small speech with some background information. Then the stage parted and the main hero came up dressed majestically in his Indian attire fully adorned with beautiful jewellery. Yes… I know I came to hear the music but just trying to create the right atmosphere!!

So we started off with some guided breathing exercises just to calm the mind and be ready to experience the music. 

It was not just a classical concert  but a deeply meditative experience. His sitar playing felt both traditional and modern—very accessible even for non-classical listeners. He usually performs ragas in the first half but presents them in a way that feels modern and emotionally direct rather than strictly traditional. Then in the second part of the show he moved more into the fusion blend   

His concerts are often designed as experiences with calm lighting and slow build ups. This comes from his mental health initiative—he wants the audience to feel the music, not just hear it. He engaged with the audience so much so that he went to the back of the auditorium where there was a small stage set up and performed two songs with his LED sitar   just so that the people sitting further back didn’t feel excluded. 

He played a lot of his famous pieces like Burning Ghat, Shiv Pandav and Kailash so the show felt like a spiritual journey from life and death in Burning Ghat to the strength and power of Shivji to the calmness and serenity of Kailash. He even included a beautiful tribute to Asha Bhosle who recently passed away by singing “ Abhi na jao chhod kar” which was also very moving. 

To be honest I am not really into Indian Classical Music and this was my first concert so I was a real ‘newbie’ to this form of art but I had heard such great feedback that I wanted to experience it and I am so thankful that I did. To say that I was enthralled would be an understatement … his music captivates ones soul and plays on loop in your mind. Just writing about it is giving me goosebumps! I have been getting up for the last two mornings at 5 am and walking in the garden with his music resonating in my ears. Would I recommend his concert to everyone ? Definitely. It is an experience that cannot be recreated on the television or just by listening to the music. Just being at the venue and listening to him live gives one a different sense and transports you to a higher level. I for one thoroughly enjoyed it and I am sure the same could be said for the other 9,999 people at the concert last night!!! A truly memorable evening which warmed the heart and soul.