Chowrangee’s ‘Monsoon Magic’ Captivates Hyderabad with Musical Excellence
Chowrangee, the flagship cultural initiative of the Bengal and Beyond Foundation, presented ‘Monsoon Magic: Rising Stars from Kolkata to Kochi’ at the historic Taramati Baradari, treating audiences to an evening that celebrated India’s rich musical traditions through a blend of Hindustani classical, ghazal, folk and contemporary performances.
Curated in collaboration with the Green Room Tapes Collective, the concert brought together a talented ensemble of emerging musicians who seamlessly blended classical traditions with contemporary influences. The programme traced a musical journey from Kolkata to Kochi, showcasing diverse genres while honouring India’s cultural heritage through fresh artistic interpretations.
Set against the backdrop of the historic monument and complemented by the monsoon ambience, the performance created an immersive cultural experience that resonated with music enthusiasts, artists and patrons alike.
The ensemble featured acclaimed vocalist Srinath Nair, alongside Rajdeep Mukherjee (vocals), Kaanjana Sriram (vocals), Sameel Sikkani (tabla), Anurag Rajeev Nayan (guitar), Sumit Jaiswal (bass guitar), Anantharaman Anil (keyboards) and Sanjai Arakkal (sound engineer). Together, they delivered performances marked by technical brilliance, creative collaboration and emotional depth.
The concert concluded with standing ovations from the audience, who praised the event’s thoughtful curation and its seamless integration of classical integrity with modern musical expression.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Santanu Paul, President, Chowrangee, said, “Monsoon Magic celebrates the extraordinary diversity of Indian music and the creative energy of a new generation of artistes who are reinterpreting tradition with originality and integrity. At Chowrangee, we are committed to crafting cultural experiences that transcend geography and bring distinct artistic traditions into meaningful conversation. The response from Hyderabad’s audiences reaffirms the enduring power of music to connect people, ideas, and emotions.”
Reflecting on the evening, Dr Paul added, “We envisioned Chowrangee as a platform where four roads meet, a confluence of diverse thoughts, cultures and ideas. Today’s concert truly embodied that spirit. We experienced the beauty of multiple languages including Urdu, Bangla, English, Punjabi, Hindi and Malayalam, while traversing musical genres ranging from Hindustani and Carnatic classical to ghazals, qawwali and contemporary music.”
Shri Ranjan Roychowdhury, Chairman, Bengal and Beyond Foundation, praised the artistes for their exceptional performances, highlighting Srinath Nair’s vocal and harmonium skills, Sameel Sikkani’s tabla performance, Rajdeep Mukherjee’s rendition of Miyan Ki Malhar, and the musical contributions of the accompanying ensemble.
With Monsoon Magic: Rising Stars from Kolkata to Kochi, Chowrangee continues its mission of creating world-class cultural platforms that showcase emerging talent while fostering meaningful dialogue between tradition and innovation.
