Renowned sitarist and music producer Rishab Rikhiram Sharma is poised to captivate Bengaluru audiences with his ‘Sitar for Mental Health‘ tour this Sunday.
Scheduled for a 90-minute performance, the evening promises a blend of serene evening ragas alongside a selection of popular regional, folk, and film compositions. Reflecting on his recent performances, Sharma reminisces about enchanting audiences in Jaipur with “Kesariya Balam” and serenading Chennai with a medley of A.R. Rahman’s melodies. Mumbai witnessed his rendition of Bollywood classics, setting the stage for Bengaluru, where Sharma plans to enthrall listeners with beloved film numbers such as ‘Zara’, ‘Saathiya’, and ‘Jiya Jale’, resonating with audiences nationwide.
As the youngest and final disciple of sitar legend Pandit Ravi Shankar, Sharma emphasizes the delicate balance required in rendering ragas, highlighting the significance of playing them gently to evoke introspection. “Rupak taal” will mark the classical segment of his performance, followed by a repertoire of both released and unreleased compositions.
Beyond his musical prowess, Sharma is a staunch advocate for mental health awareness, advocating for the therapeutic power of ‘raga chikitsa’ (raga therapy) rooted in centuries-old tradition. Sharing his personal journey, Sharma reveals his own battles with depression and anxiety following the loss of his grandfather during the pandemic. Seeking solace, he turned to therapy and rediscovered the healing potency of music.
In 2021, during a therapy session, Sharma was advised to integrate coping mechanisms such as exercise and reconnecting with his sitar. Recognizing the profound impact of classical music as a meditative outlet, he embarked on a mission to share his music with the world through social media platforms like Clubhouse and Instagram.
Having traversed the globe with his tour, including stops in the US, Canada, and South America, Sharma remains steadfast in his mission to raise awareness about mental health. Accompanied by Raaghuraman R on guitar and Prashant Trivedi on tabla, Sharma’s performance aims to not only enrapture audiences with the beauty of classical music but also to foster dialogue around mental well-being.
