Young people are drawn to classical music: Sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma on why he is performing a 10-city India tour

It’s that time of the year when Indian classical musicians have blocked schedules, given the number of gigs they do. And, sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, who is believed to be the last disciple of the late sitar legend Pandit Ravi Shankar, will be performing a multi-city tour in India between April and May.

Titled Sitar For Mental Health, he hopes to fuse classical music and contemporary sensibilities in the 10-city tour, including Delhi, Mumbai, Indore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jaipur and Chandigarh. Sharing why he felt the need for a tour that’s heavy on classical music and fuses with contemporary sensibilities, Rishab says, “We are witnessing a fascinating cultural shift. Ancient ragas are resonating with contemporary listeners in new ways. Classical music isn’t just surviving in the digital age; it’s thriving. Young people are increasingly drawn to the transformative power of these age-old melodies, recognising the emotional depth and resonance they offer, often absent in today’s music.”

Calling his two-hour-long concerts for the tour a “reimagined offering”, he adds that he will “weave the sounds of the sitar with innovative sound healing techniques”, hoping to turn the show into a wellness experience.

Hailing from a family of musical instrument makers, a business started by his grandfather in 1920, in Lahore, Rishab started playing the sitar when he was 10. In 2022, he was invited to perform his Sitar For Mental Health set in former US President Joe Biden’s annual Diwali celebrations. He has often performed at a lot of tribute concerts for Pandit Ravi Shankar.