How a Maharashtrian cattle-grazer taught himself the intricacies of Hindustani music

Rambhau Pawar, 89, got hooked as a child. Today, he sings with a fidelity and passion that appeals to connoisseurs.

Sumana Ramanan

· Mar 29, 2017 · 11:30 am

Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan (1927-2017): The last of the four pillars of sitar’s golden age falls

Acclaimed for his unique style and melodic originality, he made a formidable foursome along with Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan and Nikhil Banerjee.

Sumana Ramanan

· Jan 06, 2017 · 11:30 am

Babanrao Haldankar: The Agra gharana loses one of its most forceful voices

The Hindustani musician, who passed away on November 18 at the age of 89, did much to propagate this demanding but grand tradition of khayal singing.

Sumana Ramanan

· Nov 21, 2016 · 11:30 am

Higher ground: Farmers line up at a classical music festival in a Maharashtra village

The 76-year-old Aundh Sangeet Mahotsav, which takes place every October, is one of India’s most un-selfconsciously inclusive classical music festivals.

Sumana Ramanan

· Nov 08, 2016 · 11:30 am

Why a cultural festival in a Chennai fishing village could be the start of a revolutionary movement

Artistic and social barriers came crashing down as Bharatanatyam shared the stage with paraiaatam, a dance and percussion genre associated with funerals.

Sumana Ramanan

· Mar 09, 2016 · 02:30 pm

Music in the time of misery: Chennai festival faces a moral dilemma

The city's music and dance season is likely to go ahead despite the floods, spurring a heated debate as leading performers such as Bombay Jayashri pull out.

Sumana Ramanan

· Dec 09, 2015 · 09:15 am

Why the rivalry between Federer and Djokovic is near-perfect

Matches between the tennis greats are not just a duel between contemporary tennis’ best attacker and its greatest defender; it is also a contest between art and science.

Sumana Ramanan

· Nov 28, 2015 · 04:30 pm

Away from limelight, a growing grassroots movement is seeking justice for Dabholkar, Pansare

Despite receiving threats, groups have been taking to the streets in Maharashtra to push the government to investigate Hindu extremist groups.

Sumana Ramanan

· Nov 17, 2015 · 09:15 am

The Big Five of men's tennis are great role models and not just for their sporting greatness

Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Murray and Wawrinka, who began their US Open bids this week and have won all but two Grand Slam titles over the past decade, uniquely combine grace with vulnerability.

Sumana Ramanan

· Sep 03, 2015 · 07:30 pm

2,000 classical compositions from musicologist Bhatkhande’s century-old books are now on CD

In a staggering effort spanning six years, Indudhar Nirody has sung and recorded all the bandishes in the six-volume 'Kramik Pustak Malika'.

Sumana Ramanan

· Jun 01, 2015 · 10:30 am

Why Indian parents need to stop obsessing about the 10th and 12th standard results

These are not definitive signs of intellectual achievement ‒ or failure.

Sumana Ramanan

· May 22, 2015 · 04:30 pm

A polymath’s memoir evokes the time when Bombay was at heart of Hindustani music

An English translation of Govindrao Tembe's memoir in Marathi, Maza Sangeet Vyasang, is set to make the landmark work accessible to a wider audience.

Sumana Ramanan

· Feb 18, 2015 · 09:00 am