The Cultural Council, with the support of the Student Life Committee, organized Darbari Anuranan, a musical evening celebrating Indian classical, folk, and fusion music on 6 October. Preceding the main event, a two-day workshop on Adhyay: Sham-e-Anandi was conducted on 4 and 5 October, aimed at immersing participants in the world of classical-fusion music.
Adhyay – Sham-e-Anandi: An Evening of Bliss
Adhyay – Sham-e-Anandi, an evening of bliss where IIIT Hyderabad community experienced a rare duet of a spellbinding episode, blending tradition with emotions in every note. The evening began with the divine Raag Jaijaiwanti, also known as Ragam Dwijavanti in Carnatic Classical Music set to Teen Taal, a 16-beat cycle. This was followed by soulful expressive Carnatic Classical Ragam Charukeshi set to the 7-beat cycle of Roopak Taal, followed by Teen Taal. The ragas were presented with traditional alaap and jod. And lastly, Pandit Ji concluded with an old Bollywood song “Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega Mera Saya Saath Hoga” lyrics written by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, sung by Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar and with music composed by Madan Mohan Kohli based on Raag Anandi Kalyan, popularly known as Raag Nand with live improvisation as requested by some students.
On 6 October IIIT Hyderabad came alive with the soulful strains of internationally acclaimed sitarist and composer Pandit Partha Pratim Roy and the rhythmic mastery of renowned tabaliya Pandit Amitananda Ray.
Pandit Partha Pratim Roy’s journey with the sitar is a story of deep devotion and timeless artistry. For over forty years, he has woven melodies that echo across the world, carrying the soul of Indian classical music. Guided by the Padma Shree Awardee Legendary Pandit Nikhil Banerjee and Pandit Debiprasad Chatterjee of Senia Maihar Gharana, he has performed on revered stages like the Dover Lane Music Conference and Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan, and many more, sharing India’s rich musical heritage with pride. Pandit Partha Pratim Roy’s influence stretches beyond borders, as shown by the Sammana Sanad from the International Virtual Classical Music Festival in Dhaka. Additionally, he has been recognized at home with the Sangeet Nandan Award from Suranandan Bharati and the Banga Gaurav Samman in 2022. These honours highlight his tireless dedication to enriching the world of music. Pandit Partha Pratim Roy’s contributions to the arts are manifold. He serves as a member of the Judges panel (regional) with the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training in New Delhi under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He is also an empanelled artist with the Government of West Bengal, SPIC MACAY, and the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), showcasing his deep connection with India’s cultural heritage.
By his side stands Pandit Amitananda Ray, a gifted tabla maestro who started his learning of tabla from his father, the late Asimananda Ray. Later, he learned tabla from renowned tabaliya of Benaras gharana, the Tabla Rishi Late Pandit Nanhku Maharaj. He is also a disciple of SNA Awardee Tabla Maestro Pandit Kumar Bose. He also holds certificates of Sangeet Prabhakar and Sangeet Ratna from Prayag Sangeet Samity and Bangiya Sangeet Parishad, respectively. Being a graduate of the University of Calcutta, Ray chose his passion as his profession. Apart from accompanying Classical Vocal Music, Classical Instrumental Music, and Kathak Dance, he also performs Tabla Solo, and he gives regular lessons to young aspirants of Tabla, Dance and Music. He has performed in 50th Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, Mumbai, Santur Ashram, Kolkata, Late Acharya Bishwanath Bose Sangeet Sammelan, Kolkata, Nadam Music Conference, Kolkata, ICREN Music Conference, New Delhi, Nad Brahma Sangeet Sammelan, Agartala. He received several notable honours and titles
Taalmani, by Theatre Movement, Cuttack, Odisha, Pt. Ghanarang-Prakash Samman 2020-21, Taal Bidyabaridhi, by Seni Sangeet Shabha, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Prior to Darbari Anuranan – Adhyay: Sham-e-Anandi, there was an intensive two-day workshop on Classical-Fusion Music by the maestros on 4th and 5th of October 2025.
On day 1 of the Fusion Music Workshop, they explained and taught the correspondence of the Western Music and Indian Classical Music. The participants experienced how some of the famous compositions from the western classical music compositions like the “Symphony 25 by Mozart”, the “Fur Elise by Beethoven” uses the notes of Indian Classical Ragas like Tilak Kamod and Kirwani respectively and how we can use some parts of these popular compositions as a Bandish in the Indian Classical Music and improvise to have a fusion music. The participants also got knowledge about minor chord and major chord Blues and Jazz where a striking resemblances with Raag Jog, Raag Madhuvanti (minor chord Blues; with playing around with komal and shuddha gandhar and shuddha and teevra madhyam) and Raag Bhupali, Raag Shivranjani (major chord Blues) were found. The event concluded with the famous composition “Come September”, where the artists showed improvisation with Raag Mishra Kirwani and demonstrated how to compose fusion music by a smooth transition into Raag Bhairavi using similar bridging notes or sequence of notes.
On day 2 of the Fusion Music Workshop explained and discussed the second concept, The Flavors and Glimpses of Indian Classical Music in Indian Folk Music, Theatre and Film Industries. The artists demonstrated in two live interactive sessions.
The morning session had flavors of Indian Classical Music in the Folk Music like Kashmiri Dogri, Rajasthani Folk, Khambaj-Dadra, Bengali Folk, Bhatiyali, Bihu, Afghani Folk and Bhajan.
The afternoon session had the glimpses of the Indian Classical Music in the Sufi music and the Indian theatres and film industries.
The Fusion Music Workshop and Concert has been covered by Yathra E-Magazine: THE RESONANCE OF RAGAS: A TWO-DAY CLASSICAL-FUSION MUSIC WORKSHOP AND CONCERT AT IIIT HYDERABAD
October 2025