IF YOU HAVE EVER CHANTED DURING YOUR YOGA CLASSES, EVEN THE CUSTOMARY "OM", YOU HAVE TOUCHED THE ROOTS OF THE INDIAN CLASSICAL FORM OF MUSIC.

A MANTRA IS A SACRED UTTERANCE, A METAPHYSICAL, A WORD, A SYLLABLE OR A GROUP OF WORDS IN SANSKRIT BELIEVED TO HAVE SPIRITUAL POWERS.

VEDIC SANSKRIT MANTRAS WERE COMPOSED MORE THAN 3000 YEARS AGO. AT ITS SIMPLEST, OM IS A MANTRA.
OVERTIME, THE MORE MELODIOUS, AND ELABORATE THESE CHANTS BECAME, THE MORE THEY DEPENDED ON THEIR RENDITION ON THE CLASSICAL INDIAN FRAMEWORK OF MUSIC CALLED THE "RAGAS".

"RAGAS" ARE AN ARRAY OF MELODIC STRUCTURES WITH MUSICAL MOTIFS ATTACHED TO EMOTIONS OF PEOPLE SINGING OR LISTENING TO THEM. SOME RAGAS ALSO HAVE SYMBOLIC ASSOCIATIONS SUCH AS SEASONS, TIME OF THE DAY OR MOOD.
THERE IS NO DIRECT TRANSLATION OF THESE CONCEPTS IN CLASSICAL EUROPEAN MUSIC.

​THE INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSICIANS ARE GIVEN THE LEVERAGE TO IMPROVISE WITHIN THE MELODY FRAMEWORK OF EACH RAGA, WHICH THEY ARE ALLOWED TO REINVENT.

TWO CLASSICAL INDIAN TRADITIONS ARE HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL AND CARNATIC AND THE RAGAS ARE A PART OF BOTH OF THESE TRADITIONS.
SIKH TRADITIONS RENDITION OF THEIR HOLY BOOK IS ALSO BASED ON RAGAS. SUFI ISLAMIC TRADITIONS OF QAWWALIS IS ALSO BASED ON RAGAS. INDIAN FILM MUSIC AND GHAZALS ( SUNG POETRY, PROSE) ALSO USE RAGAS AS THE BASIS OF THEIR COMPOSITION.

The Experience
Bandish Bandits, is visually, cinematically & aesthetically- a magnificent auditory delight. A simple story, yet powerful at so many levels, not only in the narration but the sheer beauty of the composition of each frame.

In the vivacity of the colors of Rajasthan, India - very powerful veteran actors anchor a myriad sub-plot, in a fusion of classical and pop genres of music.

This Conversation:
How many kids in India are inspired by King Khan? We know that he was the motivation behind Sushant Singh Rajput's aspirations to create his career trajectory in Hindi Movies.
But did you know that it was Shahrukh's role in the cult movie Baazigar that upset a 4-year-old baby Ritwik when he dies on celluloid? Ritwik knew he had to be an actor then.
Ritwik is a hobbyist. He writes, plays the guitar, and says he is not a great singer. But we don't know that until we see him perform. Right? Here is an excerpt from our conversation held over Zoom from our homes in Ohio and California to the homes of Ritwik and Shreya in Mumbai. Enjoy!

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