Attend this sitar performance being held in Mumbai to encourage mental health

Rishab Rikhiram Sharma at a previous performance; (right) Pandit Ravi Shankar in 2009. Pic/Wikimedia Commons

As someone who has observed music as a complex, difficult art form, playing music for fun is beyond the ken of this writer. Yet, for many musicians, the medium remains a space of comfort. As the last disciple of the late Pandit Ravi Shankar, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma seeks to share this musical space with his audience.

Sharma's Sitar for Mental Health at the Royal Opera House this week is an example of this concept. "I realised the importance of mental health in 2020. I lost my grandfather, and was also battling anxiety. It led me to seek counselling," the sitarist admits. He found comfort in an old friend - the sitar. "Sitar for mental health began as a way for me to deal with my own anxiety. It has always been my coping mechanism. But I have learned that music is an empathetic transaction with others," Sharma remarks.

(From left) Sukanya Shankar, a young Sharma and Pandit Ravi Shankar

The 24-year-old's journey has had its twists and turns. As the fourth-generation of the prominent Rikhiram music stores in Delhi, Sharma was born to a legacy in music. It was at the workshops that he was drawn to the instruments. "As a kid, I was always at my dad's store watching them being made. It was very interesting to see how all that noise and craft led to the creation of a beautiful sound," he reminisces.

Having learnt vocals and Western music, he picked up the guitar at the age of nine before turning his attention to the Indian sitar. "My father started teaching me first. We prepared a short video piece for my grandfather's anniversary later that year," he shares. That video made its way to the doyen of the sitar, Pandit Ravi Shankar. "I am not even kidding when I say that I was discovered by Pandit Ravi Shankarji on YouTube," Sharma says jokingly.

Having known the family for years, the musical legend quickly spotted this young talent. "He was a very strict teacher, and extremely disciplined. It was interesting because he would acquire a different aura when he picked up the sitar," Sharma recalls, adding that his guru would often remind him of the dedication and fervour required to find his peak potential.
It was not easy. The New York-based producer admits there were times when he was overwhelmed. These moments remained hidden till they found expression in 2020.

On February 4, the musician will bring his process to Mumbai after having travelled to New York, Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune. The interactive session will, in addition to the performances of comforting alaaps, include breathing exercises and conversation prompts. "I often put forward question prompts to the audience that encourage conversation. I prefer that to them simply attending the show," he remarks.

A show of two halves, Sharma promises that the second session will see him introduce Lo-Fi sitar music with a fusion of Bollywood and hip-hop. This experiment extends to his next EP, Sitar and Chill, which will be released on Valentine's Day (February 14).

Even for that show, he shall be walking the path of the pioneering Pandit Ravi Shankar. It was his collaboration with The Beatles that changed the perception of Indian classical music in the West. "With fusion, it is important to know your roots, but it is also important to take it forward - one step at a time," Sharma concludes.

ON February 4; 7 pm
AT The Royal Opera House, Mathew Road, Charni Road East, Girgaum.
LOG ON TO royaloperahouse.in
COST RS 800 onwards