Hyderabad:Rain or not, Pt Prodyut Mukherjee says Hyderabad will get a show that refuses to repeat itself. “My concerts are never the same twice. Even if a Bollywood song returns, the background sounds change completely. It is all about on-stage improvisation, interaction with other artists, and getting the audience involved,” he said, speaking about One World Fusion 2025, which takes place on Thursday at Ravindra Bharathi at 7 pm.The tabla player and composer will share the stage with playback singers Roop Kumar Rathod and Sunali Rathod, Grammy Award winner and Padma Bhushan recipient Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, saxophonist Raj Sodha, and others in an evening of mostly improvised music in support of Autism Ashram.Pt. Mukherjee, a Grammy Awards jury member and winner of the GiMA Award in 2016 for his album Moods with Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, is known for his fusion ensemble Rhythm Express. His collaborations have spanned Indian classical, world music, and experimental percussion, with performances across India and abroad.He describes the event as “Bollywood unplugged in a fusion format” that will move between Indian classical, Western melodies, and African influences. He plans to use sound effects that have become part of his signature, such as rain or galloping horses created on the tabla.“Everything changes on stage depending on the crowd. There is no script, and decisions are taken then and there,” he said.His role as curator for the Sangitanjaly Foundation has brought him to Hyderabad several times in the past year, and he says the city now feels like home. “I’ve visited the Autism Ashram here, taught music for meditation and relaxation, and spent time with the children. I love Hyderabad, and I want to work here more. I’m planning to start a free gurukul for music in the city,” he said. The gurukul, he explained, would teach performance and other skills such as interacting with organisers, journalists, and audiences.Mukherjee has also experimented with reusing old instruments. An idea from a friend led him to plant a tree in the shell of a worn-out tabla, which became a decorative piece for his home. Tomorrow’s concert will feature a mix of styles to appeal to different listeners, from classical compositions to free-flowing jam sessions. “There are young people who may not have the patience for long classical concerts, but there’s still a community that loves the form. So I keep some classical fusion in the programme,” he said. His composition Kirwani West is one of the pieces he will play.He sees such concerts as a way to give younger audiences a grounding in classical music. “There’s so much talent in Hyderabad. I want to help bring them forward.”The concert is curated by both Pt Mukherjee and Abhijeeth Bhattacharjee, chairman of the Sangitanjaly Foundation, who has been instrumental in bringing the event to the city for its 12th season.
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