Delhi’s Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival  celebrates classical heritage and young talent

Amid Delhi’s busy, event-filled cultural clutter, the Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival (SSMFL) stands out for its calm pace and commitment to the true spirit of Indian Classical Music.

Founded in 1947 by legendary impresario Sumitra Charat Ram, the festival emerged at an important time in India’s cultural history, making classical music more accessible to everyone. Over the years, SSMFL has set a standard by featuring legends such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and M.S. Subbulakshmi, who have shaped Indian Classical Music.

This Friday, the three-day festival returns to the open-air arena of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. What makes the festival special is its careful selection of artists, not just the number of performances. Shobha Deepak Singh, Chairperson of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra and the force behind the festival, says the goal is to present Indian classical music with dignity, discipline, and depth. This year, she adds, the spotlight is on young talent.

The first day will feature a confluence of tradition and young excellence, showcasing artists such as Ramana Balachandran, a rising star of Carnatic music; Siddhartha Belmannu, an emerging Hindustani vocalist; and celebrated sarod maestro Tejendra Narayan Majumdar.

On the second day, Sawani Shende, a leading female vocalist, and Shashank Subramanyam, the internationally recognised flautist, will take the stage. The evening will prime with a rare guru–shishya presentation featuring Sajan Mishra and his son Swaransh, representing the living transmission of the Banaras Gharana.

The final day will open with a special morning session featuring eminent vocalist Madhup Mudgal and Biswajit Roy Chowdhury, the renowned master of the sarod, who will regale with select compositions from morning ragas. The festival will culminate with a grand performance, featuring Lokesh Anand on the shehnai, Shashwati Mandal, an eminent vocalist, and the legendary pairing of Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan and Pt. Anindo Chatterjee promises an unforgettable experience anchored in tradition.

The festival will be held from March 6 to 8 at the Open Air Arena, Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, New Delhi. Entry is free.