Rishab Rikhiram Sharma played the sitar at Royal Albert Hall — and for once, it wasn’t just a backdrop. The sold-out debut, attended by over 5,000 people, marked a first: the first time in decades a sitarist of his generation has headlined the iconic London venue. No fanfare, no Bollywood crossover.
Just Sharma, a stringed instrument, and a set that blurred classical tradition with something far more urgent, mental wellness. His Sitar for Mental Health initiative isn’t a gimmick. It’s a mission stitched into every note. The concert featured ambient pieces like Chanakya, Tandavam, and Shiv Kailash, but it was the Interstellar theme.
Rendered on sitar, that had audiences leaning forward. And then came Rama Rama, a Ramayana song reimagined not as devotion, but as sonic meditation. The visuals matched the mood: an ivory brocade outfit by Amit Agarwal, henna art across both arms from Santanu Hazarika, and imagery drawn from Vedic cosmology.
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