National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) is set to present a special listening session celebrating the artistry and legacy of legendary santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma, guided by his senior disciples and practising instrumentalists Dilip Kale and Takahiro Arai.
The session, part of the NCPA Citi Nad Ninad: From Our Archives series, will feature selected audio and video excerpts from Sharma’s recordings specially recorded at the NCPA between 1971 and 2019, accompanied by commentary and reflections by the two artistes.
The santoor, a stringed instrument rooted in the folk traditions of Kashmir, became an integral part of Indian classical music largely through Shivkumar Sharma’s pioneering efforts. By developing a distinctive style and approach for the instrument, Sharma helped the santoor gain recognition alongside other major stringed instruments in Indian classical music.
A senior disciple of the maestro, Dilip Kale has been performing Indian classical and light classical music for more than three decades at prestigious music festivals across India and internationally, including the Sankatmochan Music Festival, Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Samaroha, Pune Festival and Gunidas Sangeet Sammelan. He has also co-performed with his guru at several renowned festivals and presented specially curated live talk shows exploring Sharma’s life, music and artistic journey.
Beyond the classical stage, Kale has contributed to film, television and theatre through performances and recordings while also conducting lecture demonstrations to promote Indian classical music among younger audiences.
Joining him is Takahiro Arai, a Japanese musician who has spent the last eighteen years in Mumbai learning the santoor under the guidance of Shivkumar Sharma. Arai began his musical journey as a Western drummer and studied jazz music and theory before discovering the santoor through a recital in Japan by Setsuo Miyashita, a senior disciple of Sharma.
Inspired by the instrument, Arai moved to India in 2007 and was accepted as a disciple by Sharma after demonstrating his dedication to Indian classical music. Over nearly fifteen years, he accompanied his guru at concerts across India and internationally, becoming one of the few international disciples closely associated with the maestro’s performance journey.
Launched in 2008, Nad Ninad is one of NCPA’s signature archival initiatives, bringing India’s classical music heritage to audiences through curated listening sessions led by distinguished musicians and scholars. Supported by Citi, the series draws from NCPA’s extensive archives, which include over 5,000 hours of recorded music and 1,200 hours of rare film footage featuring legendary artistes such as Vilayat Khan, Begum Akhtar, M. S. Subbulakshmi, Nikhil Banerjee, Kumar Gandharva and Siddheshwari Devi, among many others.
The archival presentation offers audiences an opportunity to revisit and celebrate the life, music and enduring influence of one of India’s most iconic classical musicians.
