Roaring Bansuri & Tabla | Pandit Rupak Kulkarni & Ojas Adhiya | Raag Jog | Music of India

#darbarfestival | “The bansuri is just a simple piece of bamboo. But it brings many benefits, not only for your ears but for your entire body and soul. To play it is to meditate.” (Rupak Kulkarni)
Learn more about the music:
Rupak Kulkarni is one of today’s finest bansuri exponents. Essentially just a tube of bamboo with holes bored through it, it has no moving parts. The sound is thicker, breathier, and more versatile than the Western flute, blending long sustained tones with percussive slaps and swooping microtonal inflections. Rupak was the star disciple of Hariprasad Chaurasia, and has since sought to expand his guru’s pioneering approach. Rupak has created new ragas and even new flutes, including the bass-toned ‘adbhut bansuri’ [flute of wonder], and takes a deep interest in the therapeutic use of Indian music.
Ojas Adhiya combines extraordinary technical aptitude with a vast knowledge base, playing with a maturity that belies his years. Born in a small Maharashtra village, he was drawn to the tabla from infancy, experimenting with the instrument at the age of two. He taught himself keherwa taal soon afterwards, shocking his father when he first overheard him. Soon after he was listed in the Limca book of records as India’s youngest tabla artist, having debuted at the age of four. He began to accompany his parents, spiritual gurus, in their ceremonies.
Aged five the family moved to Mumbai so he could study classical tabla with Shri Mridangraj of the Ajrada gharana. During his time as a student he also delved into jazz, ghazals, and Carnatic rhythm, and advises young players to play everything they hear. He combines exuberance with restraint, citing the influence of modern stars such as Zakir Hussain, Swapan Chaudhary, Kumar Bose, and Anindo Chatterjee. Today he accompanies top artists and is firmly establishing himself as an exciting solo performer.
They are playing Raag Jog, which seeks to conjure a ‘state of enchantment’. It is a popular raga with a finely balanced mix of major and minor phrases, loved among Western listeners due to its almost bluesy tension.
Recorded for Darbar on 25 Oct 2018, at London’s Barbican Centre
-Rupak Kulkarni (bansuri)
-Ojas Adhiya (tabla)
WATCH HUNDREDS OF FULL-LENGTH VIDEOS on our premium subscription service. You can also get the Darbar App which will let you download content and watch later, this is great for when you are offline or travelling. Please join us and support Indian classical music and artists. Start your free trial at - bit.ly/3urynms
Here are some links to our most-watched full-length videos.
- Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan & Ojas Adhiya (69 minutes) - bit.ly/3urSTUf
- Aruna Sairam full concert (108 minutes) - bit.ly/3vPcAW2
- Percussion Masters concert featuring Satyajit Talwalkar, Sukhwinder Singh Pinky, Sai Giridhar & Giridhar Udupa (108 minutes) - bit.ly/3xNix7X
- Churning The Ocean documentary film on the Dhrupad maestro Ustad Bahauddin Dagar (66 minutes) - bit.ly/3h9aKv6
- Pandit Venkatesh Kumar full concert (93 minutes) - bit.ly/3vILwHW
The best thing is that you can experience this amazing music with your family any time from the comfort of your own home. It provides you with the warmth of a live concert experience and gives you access to some of the finest performances by the world’s best musicians playing their favourite ragas. We believe that the cultural education experience for you and your whole family is priceless.
We are passionate about Indian classical music and have the largest online archive of videos - we want everyone to experience the bliss of Indian classical music. This is one of those things that can’t be put into words, this is something that must be experienced. Even if you decide to leave after this trial, that is perfectly fine.
In closing, the best part of your membership is that you can feel 100% confident that you are supporting Indian classical music and musicians through a registered non-profit organisation.
Click bit.ly/3urynms to start your free no-obligation 3-day trial immediately. You are only one click away - transport yourself into the largest online archive of Indian classical music 😊
Darbar believes in the power of Indian classical arts to stir, thrill and inspire. Through shared experiences and digital connectivity we ensure that one of the world’s finest art forms reaches the widest possible audience. Founded in 2006, we deliver premium quality live events, music education, broadcasts and online engagement through promoting artistic innovation and creative technology. We are also committed to providing a platform for new talent from India and the UK.
All Rights Reserved ©2019 Darbar Arts Culture Heritage Trust