Experience Lavani like never before. 'Lavani Ke Rang' is a dynamic dance-theatre production by Mumbai-based B Spot Productions, written and directed by Bhushan Korgaonkar. Featuring both traditional and contemporary performances, including by Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Shakuntalabai Nagarkar, it celebrates this iconic Maharashtrian folk form for its bold sensuality, matriarchal roots, and timeless power to connect across age, gender, and culture.
India’s first all-female hip-hop crew breaks barriers in a genre long dominated by men. Founded by Kranti Naari and Hashtag Preeti, this Mumbai-based collective brings bold, multilingual verses to the stage, blending rhythm, resistance, and raw storytelling. Their music takes on mental health, gender bias, and inequality head-on, turning hip-hop into a powerful tool for self-expression, solidarity, and change.
Known as the 'Voice of the North East', Imphal Talkies & The Howlers is a Manipuri folk-rock band known for their politically charged anthems of resistance. The band’s music channels the lived realities of Manipur—confronting injustice, amplifying grassroots struggles, and bridging activism with artistry. Their powerful sound has resonated across festivals, international stages, and human rights campaigns alike.
Discover the nostalgia of 1990s–2000s Indian film music reimagined through the richness of Indian classical traditions in The B-Side Project by the Anirudh Varma Collective. Paying tribute to the iconic works of composers such as A. R. Rahman and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and more, the ensemble infuses beloved classics with fresh energy and globally inspired interpretations, presenting Indian film music as a voice for pluralism and inclusivity. Led by pianist-composer Anirudh Varma, the Collective has performed over 600 concerts worldwide, collaborating with more than 200 artists across albums and live performances.
The Threshold is a musical conversation between two versatile musicians who create work that responds to the present. Pallavi, trained in Hindustani classical music and rooted in Kannada poetry, and Bindhumalini, who has ventured beyond her Carnatic and Hindustani training in search of music’s pure, soul-stirring essence. Together, they weave unheard stories, songs, and poems of remarkable women, reimagining journeys across time and space and exploring gender as a lived experience with compassion.
Prem Ras' brings together two of India’s most celebrated folk voices, Prahlad Tipanya and Mukhtiyar Ali, in a powerful musical conversation across Bhakti and Sufi traditions. Singing the poetry of Kabir, Bulleh Shah, Meera, and others, their rare collaboration evokes centuries of spiritual longing, love, and wisdom. Rooted in oral traditions, their performance transcends boundaries of religion, region, and language.
Experience the meditative depth and expressive power of the Saraswathi Veena with Carnatic maestro Jayanthi Kumaresh. In this intimate Baithak, the sixth-generation musician expands the sonic possibilities of the Veena, blending tradition with innovation. Her performance draws listeners into a deeply personal musical space—where every note becomes a conversation, and centuries of heritage come alive with contemporary resonance.
Nannajja (My Grandfather): A Rhythmic Ancestry by Jangama Collective
Discover a powerful journey into forgotten ancestry with 'Nannajja', a bold rhythmic experiment performed by the Jangama Collective and directed by Lakshman KP. Bringing together percussionists from marginalized communities across South India, this performance reclaims percussion instruments as vessels of memory, identity, and resistance, turning rhythm into a medium for cultural reclamation.
Experience one of India’s most powerful indie acts as Parvaaz brings their genre-blending sound to the stage. Fusing progressive rock with folk and world influences, their music is rooted in poetry, memory, and Kashmiri heritage. With critically acclaimed albums like Baran and Kun, Parvaaz’s unmistakable, cinematic sound continues to defy boundaries and captivate audiences across the globe.
Get ready for an unforgettable finale to the Festival with Ankur Tewari & The Ghalat Family, as they bring a mix of groovy folk-rock and introspective ballads to the festival stage. Known for poetic lyrics and a sound that swings from playful to poignant, the five-piece band has performed across India and beyond. Led by Ankur Tewari, whose acclaimed work includes music supervision on Gully Boy, Gehraiyaan, and The Archies, the band continues to push the boundaries of contemporary Indian music.
