“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)

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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)

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