Music producer, composer, singer and keyboardist (Hindustani music), Abhijit Pohankar is the son of noted vocalist Ajay Pohankar. He had his training in instrumental music from santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma.

Abhijit has gained popularity for his fusion albums like Piya Bawari, released in 2002. The title song of this album was also included in the Buddha Bar compilation.

Abhijit has performed in India and abroad. He is the recipient of awards like the Della Technica award, the Rotary Club award, and the Tata AV Max award.

Archana Kanhere was born in a family of kirtankar and tabla player Vasudeo R. Upadye. She received her preliminary lessons in music from her father. This helped her in pursuing an academic career in music. She stood first in her B.A. (Music) examination from S.N.D.T. College at Pune and stood second in M.A. (Music).
She received a Sawai Gandharva scholarship in 1974 and started training with popular vocalist Manik Verma. Archana Kanhere was also fortunate to receive guidance from eminent vocalist Jitendra Abhisheki. She is currently pursuing research on vocal compositions under the guidance of sitar player and composer Shankar Abhyankar.
She has performed in many prestigious music programmes in India and abroad.
Apart from her classical recitals, Archana Kanhere has been involved with Marathi and Sanskrit Natya Sangeet. She has several commercial albums to her credit.
Archana Kanhere is the Vice-President of Swarendu. She was also a consultant to a popular Doordarshan serial Raag Ek Rang Anek.
Currently Archana is senior teacher for Indian Classical Music at the Indian Women’s Club in Bangkok, Thailand.
202 / Kshipra, Green View Complex, Nancy Colony, Borivali (East), Mumbai 400066
Tel: 022 28964972 Cell: +919867305198
Email: akanhere@hotmail.com

The Circle of Rhythm is a collaboration between Australian percussionists Greg Sheehan, Bobby Singh and Ben Walsh, known individually and collectively through their work in groups such as Taikoz, The Bird, Utungan Percussion, Skin, Pablo Percusso, Dha and many more.

Collectively the members have accrued over 30 years of touring experience world wide.
As the Circle of Rhythm they have already played in several prestigious shows.

Dilpreet Bhatia: He has collaborated with some of the leading names in the music world. He has trained in Hindustani classical vocal music, plays rhythm guitars and keyboards. He also runs his own music production company with the name of Sur ‘n’ Soul Productions.

Website: http://www.dilpreetbhatia.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/music.dilpreetbhatia

Neeraj Kakoty: A drummer since the age of 13, he has played for several Hard Rock and Heavy Metal bands, honing his skill, both in India and abroad. In the early years he played with several reputed and award winning bands from North-east India. He has also played abroad with Canadian Heavy Metal Bands when he was based there for 5 years.

Jyoti Das: Originally from music heavy North-east India, Jyoti has played with several reputed North-Eastern Rock bands. Now based in Delhi, he plays with local band The Invaders and also shares his talent and excellence by teaching guitars in Rhythm Craft, a Noida based Music School.

Tanshuman Das: Tanshuman has been performing in the Delhi/NCR Music Circuit for 4 years now. He is also a part of local Jazz Bands SPARK and Taalakya.

Manipal based Dinesh Shenoy started learning tabla at the age of twelve. Initially trained by Keshav Nayak, he received further guidance from Madhava Bhat. Later, he became a disciple of Shankar Kavadimatti of Dharwad.

Having successfully completed his Vidwat, a bachelor’s degree in tabla, Dinesh has been accompanying many renowned musicians in live concerts and on recordings.

90 Anant Nagar,
Manipal 576104.
Tel: 0820 2573400
Cell: 9845559797
Email: pandishe@yahoo.com

Gaurang Ratanjankar is the grandson of the illustrious scholar-musician Dr. S.N. Ratanjankar. Gaurang learns vocal music from Pundalik Prabhu. He has performed on several television shows and is a part of the Jhankar group. He has also been a part of other group shows for live concerts.

He is an Inflight Entertainment Executive for Jet Airways. In this capacity, he has been interacting with music labels and media for audio and video content for inflight entertainment.

He has composed music for the Jet Airways safety video.

Gaurang has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a diploma in Sound Recording from the University of Mumbai.

A/3, Parijat Society
Patel Estate Jogeshwari (w)
Mumbai Pin – 400102
gauratan@gmail.com
Mobile – 9930399443

Madhuri Naik is a music composer in Marathi, who also owns a production label Devamudra. She has produced many music shows in different formats such as folk songs, saint literature, devotional songs, and bhava geet, besides working on jingles and title songs of television serials. Her album Chandra Chandanacha had received five nominations at the Zee Gaurav awards.

She wrote and composed a few songs for the Marathi version of the audio CD based on former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam’s India My Dream. She has also composed for Maazaa Dev Ganaraj – a collection of Ganesha songs brought out by HMV

Madhuri Naik is currently working on a musical show named Aanandamayee, featuring songs by women composers in Marathi.

Njeralathu Harigovindan, the sixth son of Raama Pothuvaal and Kolleeri Lakshmikkutti Amma, was born at Angaadippuram, in Malappuram district of Kerala state. Hari inherited musical talent from his father and made his debut in 1995.

Harigovindan, a B.A. B.Ed. graduate in Malayalam literature, received the ‘Naaraayananunni Nambi Puraskaaram’ in 1996. Meanwhile he passed the audition test from All India Radio, Calicut, in ‘Ashtapadi’, a form that is played according to the rhythm of the instrument Idaykka.

He was conferred a scholarship for research in music in 2001 and his dissertation was published by Kerala Saahithya Academi, entitled ‘Kerala Sangeetham Kettathum Kelkkendathum ‘ [Melodies of Kerala; heard and to be hear].

In December 2004 Hari received the ‘Boston World Youth Cultural. He has given a new vocal style to Sopana Sangeetham by singing his own songs according to occasions. He has published many articles based on his music in different periodicals. “Yathibaakki” [The rest of the ascetic] is one of his own Malayaalam short story collections, which was released in 1999. He is also experienced as a News reporter and News editor in various cablevision channels.

He acted in a Malayaalam telefilm made by M.G.Sasi named “Anubhavangal” [Experiences] in 2004. Hari appeared as an actor and playback singer in the film Adayaalangal, which got the best film award of Kerala state in 2007.

Hari has lent his voice to the music album named ‘The Soul of Anamika in Black and White’ made by Shahbaas Aman, the tele film ‘Kaalam’ [Time] about Pallavoor Appu Maaraar by Raamachandran [Keli, Mumbai] and the documentary film Idaykka done by Bhagath.

Hari has also composed many songs, theme music and compositions for Mohiniyaattom.

About Sopana sangeetham (Note provided by Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi)
Etymology
The name derives from two Malayalam or Sanskrit words: Sopanam and Sangeetham. The word Sopanam refers to the sacred steps of main shrine of a temple and Sangeetham refers to music.
Performance
Sopana sangeetham (music), as the very name suggests, is sung by the side of the holy steps (sopanam) leading to the sanctum sanctorum of a shrine. It is sung, typically employing plain notes, to the accompaniment of the small, hourglass-shaped ethnic drum called ‘edakka’ or idakka, besides the chengila or the handy metallic gong to sound the beats. Sopanam is traditionally sung by men of the Marar and Pothuval castes of Ambalavasi (semi-Brahmin) community, engaged to do it as their hereditary profession.
Sopana sangeetham has its essential features born out of a happy blending of the Vedic, folk and tribal music of the region that’s now called Kerala. It has it set of distinct raags like Puraneera, Indalam, Kanakurinhi, Sreekanti, Ghantaram and Samantamalahari, but has also a lot of ragas that are commonly used in the south Indian classical Carnatic music. However, unlike in Carnatic music, Sopanam follows a more uncomplicated plain-note profile (a technique called Aantolika gamakam), and is canonically devoid of microtones. All the same, like in Carnatic, it has an introductory segment called alapanam (alapana), though it’s based on ‘akaaram’ or the sole use of the sound Aaa (unlike ‘ta’, ‘ra’, ‘na’, ‘ha’ or ‘ri’ that are employed in Carnatic music). This is followed by the song (paattu), quite like the concept of Kriti in Carnatic music, though, again there are no flourishes like niraval or Kalpanaswaram.
Sopana sangeetham shares at least one similarity with the north Indian classical Hindustani music in the sense that both have ragas prescribed for rendition during particular time of the day.
The structure of the Sopanam music is believed to reflect the experience of the devotee in scaling the heights of devotion. It has its beginnings through the practice of singing invocatory songs in front of the ‘Kalam’ (a stylised five-colour carpet drawing on the floor using natural powders) of Goddess Kali. That is later believed to have adopted for rendition near the temple sanctum. Like most traditional music forms, Sopanam too has its set of schools, each varying in subtleties. They include ones being sung at south Kerala temples like Pazhoor and Ramamangalam (on the banks of the river Moovattupuzha) and the northern ones like Thirumandhamkunnu and Guruvayoor (to name a few). These temples have their own set of musicians hereditarily practising the art in their precincts.
The late Njeralattu Rama Poduval of Thirumandhamkunnu bani, Janardhanan Nedungadi of Guruvayoor and Damodara Marar, a practitioner of the temple art called Mudiyettu, from Pazhoor have been some of the most authentic experts of Sopana sangeetham. Late masters like Pallavoor Kunhukutta Marar used to present Sopana sangeetham to the accompaniment of instruments like harmonium. Experts like Thrikkambaram Krishnankutty Marar have strived and succeeded in presenting it in the form of a solo concert (also using the instrument called Kudukka Veena).
Sopana sangeetham is traditionally taught by the family members to the next generation. It is still the case, largely. However, these days there is a certified institute called Kshetra Kala Peetham in the temple town of Vaikom that is training students in Sopanam, in addition to other Kerala temple arts.
The rendition style of Sopanam, though basically a temple art, also extends to providing audio accompaniment to traditional Kerala dance-dramas like Kathakali, Krishnanattam and Ashtapadiyattam besides as devotional music in Kalam pattu and dramatic music in Mudiyettu.

Fascinated by music since his childhood, Shankar had initial training in vocal music from G. Madhava Bhat of Udupi. He holds an Alankar degree in vocal music from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Miraj, and the Vidwath grade from Government of Karnataka.

Having a keen interest in harmonium, Shankar started accompanying vocalists in the Hindustani music genre, on the harmonium, gradually developing proficiency in playing the instrument.

Shankar has accompanied many leading artistes across the country in concerts, recordings and through television channels.

Presently in service at a private firm in Manipal, Shankar also spares time to guide and groom music students in and around the coastal region of Udupi and Manipal.

C/o Manipal Drugs,
4 Megh Malhar Apartments,
Vidyaratna Nagar,
Manipal 576104.
Tel: 0820 4292095 Cell: 9242409937
Email: manipaldrugs@sify.com

Qualified as a Chartered Accountant, Rahul Gole is a self-taught harmonium player. Has accompanied well-known vocalists in various concerts.

He has also played the reed organ for many Marathi musical theatre productions or Sangeet Nataks.

He is the great grandson of Ganpatrao Bodas, a highly recognized actor and Director on the Marathi stage.

Sakshi Deshpande is a professional singer and an aspiring music composer, who specializes in stage, shows featuring Marathi and Hindi light and semi-classical music. She did her Masters in Indian Classical Music at the Amravati University, and then studied further under the guidance of Kumud Hirurkar.

Sakshi also learnt the basics of music composition at SNDT Mumbai under the tutelage of noted arranger and composer Anil Mohile, among others. She has recently released a private album of seven of her compositions, and continues to perform in stage shows in and around Mumbai.

The Samvaad band came into existence as a result of the collaboration of two key artistes since the year 2000. Vaibhav Tole and Anekant Dhagat.

Vaibhav Tole

Pianist, Music Composer, Arranger

Vaibhav learnt initially under the tutelage of knowledgeable musicians of central India Ravindra Tole and Aditya Tiwari and Ushatai Chandorkar. Later he had formal western classical piano lessons from Manik Patel ( LTCL ) and internationally acclaimed pianist & a teacher Roxana Anklesaria Doctor.

Vaibhav successfully cleared Grade-08 piano solo from Trinity College London, International Examinations Board in the year 2005.

Apart from being the winner in many music contests at state & national level, he has been performing in various concerts, theater productions & radio stations all over India & International Radio Veritas, Philippines.

He has been composing, arranging music since an early age and has a special interest in experimental music and Free Jazz specially involving a combination of tabla & piano with fusion of Indian classical music with western classic & Jazz styles.

Vaibhav actively conducts music appreciation sessions and other workshops.

By profession Vaibhav is a qualified Software Security and Audit Specialist and is a working professional in High tech Software Industry since 2006.

Anekant Dhagat

Percussionist (Tabla & Drums), Rhythm composer, Rhythm Arranger

Anekant learnt under the tutelage of Nagendra Shukla and was also fortunate to receive guidance from maestros Zakir Hussain and Kishan Maharaj.

He has successfully completed B.Mus. in Music (tabla) from Allahabad University, India.

Anekant has been performing in various concerts, theatre productions & radio stations all over India and International Radio Veritas, Philippines.

He has special interest in experimenting on tabla with Free Jazz music involving drums and allied percussion (mouth percussion, pot percussion and more).

Apart from music, he has completed Bachelors in Commerce and Masters of Business Administration and is a working professional in the diversified field of Human Resource and logistics management.

Belonging to a musical family, Shantheri started her training in Carnatic vocal music under her mother Maithri Kamath, a Carnatic musician at Tirthahalli.

Highly inspired by Hindustani music, she started learning Hindustani music from Madhava Bhat at Udupi. Presently she is being guided by her uncle P. Shankar Shenoy, a well-known Harmonium player and vocalist.

Shantheri has won many music competitions at the school and college level.

Soppugudde, 2nd Cross,
Opposite Court,
Tirtahalli 577432
Cell: 9743091296/8105647113

Suresh Bapat started his training in Hindustani Classical vocal music at the age of eight under the guidance of Leela Shelar, Bhaskarrao Phatak and Y. T. Vaidya.

After learning the basics in vocal music, he became a disciple of A. K. Abhyankar, a senior disciple of eminent Kirana gharana vocalist Phiroze Dastur. This was followed by rigorous training under the well-known vocalist Prabhakar Karekar. His music was further groomed by Dr. Ashok Ranade, renowned musicologist and doyen of the Gwalior gharana.

He was awarded a Gold medal in 1994 by the Government of Maharashtra for his performance as actor- musician for playing the role of Ustad Jamnalal in the musical Sangeet Panditraj Jagannath.

An ‘A’ grade artiste on AIR Mumbai since 2001, he stood first in the national examinations conducted by the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and secured the Sangeet Visharad degree.

Suresh Bapat has toured all over India and abroad for performances and received many prestigious awards for his achievements in Music.

He has performed widely on Indian television and cut several audio CDs.

304 Neelkanth Vihar Society, Bhaskar Colony, Naupada, Thane 400602

Tel: 022 25402873 Cell: +919869545094

Suvarny Nayak has had her training in music from noted teachers like Madhukar Samant, Pundalik Prabhu, Tulsidas Borkar, Hema Gurjar.

In addition to classical music, her repertoire also consists of bhakti and bhavsangeet.

She regularly trains children and adults.

Born in Udupi, Ranga Pai was initiated into music by his mother. He began learning tabla and violin (Carnatic style) at the age of ten at the Academy School of Music & Fine Arts, Udupi, founded by Dr. TMA Pai, belonging to the Manipal Group of educational and health care institutions.

After graduating in Mechanical Engineering of Mysore University from MIT Manipal, in 1970, he started working with the Manipal Group and also taking active part as a volunteer at the music concerts and festivals organized by Sangeeth Sabha Udupi. Here he got to listen to and interact with many prominent personalities in the field of Hindustani and Carnatic classical music, which motivated him to develop a deeper interest in classical music. Efficiently managing his spare time, he completed his Vidwat grade examination conducted by the Government of Karnataka along with securing a first class with distinction in Sangeet Alankar of Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal.

He had the privilege of learning tabla from gurus like Madhava Bhat of Udupi, Keshav Nayak, Rama Bhat and Shankar Kavadimatti of Dharwar. He is presently being trained by Bapu Patwardhan of Mumbai, a senior disciple of illustrious tabla maestro Ahmedjan Thirakwa of the Farukkhabad gharana. He also receives guidance from popular tabla player Omkar Gulvady of Mumbai, who he considers as friend, philosopher and guide.

Ranga Pai has accompanied many leading artistes of Hindustani and Carnatic music on tabla and violin for their concerts and albums. He has performed at major festivals in India and for leading television networks.

Pai has been actively involved in the field on music as a student, listener, performer and organizer. After retiring in his capacity as Deputy Registrar of Manipal University, he has been entrusted with the responsibility of heading Dr. TMA Pai Polytechnic as Principal. He is also a qualified Lead Auditor for ISO certifications.

He is a member of the board of examiners for Govt. of Karnataka and Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Miraj. He was Chief Co-ordinator, Karnataka State Chapter, SPIC MACAY, for the year 2004-05. He was Secretary of Music & Fine Arts Education Trust of Manipal, which runs the Academy School of Music & Fine Arts in Udupi and Manipal and was President of Sangeeth Sabha Udupi established in 1962.

He was awarded Shree Krishnanugraha Prashasti by the Paryaya Shiroor Mutt, Udupi.

1 Megh Malhar Apartments, Krishna CHS, Vidyaratna Nagar, Manipal 576104.
Tel: 0820 2570034 Cell: 9845242110
Email: trangapai@email.com