Backstage Pass to the Maestro’s Mind:
48 hours prior to his sold-out Dubai Opera performance, santoor master Rahul Sharma sits cross-legged in a Jumeirah penthouse, his fingers resting over the 100-stringed instrument that previously mesmerized Amitabh Bachchan into impromptu verse. “Every performance is a yatra (journey), not a show,” explains the Kashmiri maestro, sharing how he’s going to harness Dubai’s “desert mysticism” through his santoor this Sunday.
The Bachchan Effect:
Sharma tells an unseen anecdote: “After my debut film score for “Black”, Mr. Bachchan sent me a hand-written note comparing my santoor to ‘moonbeams dancing on Dal Lake.’ That pressure to constantly innovate never falters.” This Dubai playlist features a special “Deewar”-themed raga in tribute to Big B.
Spiritual Tech Fusion:
• Pre-Concert Ritual: 4AM meditation at the Burj Khalifa base to “absorb the city’s vibrations”
• Innovation Secret: Handcrafted “Space Strings” santoor with piezoelectric pickups for otherworldly soundscapes
• Relevance Formula: Merging 14th-century Sufi pieces with AI-composed taals (rhythms)
Why Dubai Matters:
“This isn’t just another tour stop,” says Sharma, who’s working with Emirati oud maestro Faisal Al Saari on an Arabic-Kashmiri fusion piece. The concert will include:
✓ Exquisite “santoor-ghatam” duet with UAE-based percussionist Suresh Vaidyanathan
✓ First world premiere of “Sandstorm Raga” on recorded desert winds
✓ Holographic projections of Himalayan monasteries
Industry Insight:
Sharma, 47, embodies India’s “bridge generation” of classical musicians – as adept with Spotify algorithms as with swara calculations. His secret? “Treat every string like a social media feed – constantly refreshed but rooted in truth.”
Don’t-Miss Moments:
• Intermission “sound bath” with Tibetan singing bowls
• Surprise guest from Bollywood’s music royalty (hint: won a 2000s Yash Chopra classic)
• After-party at Alserkal Avenue’s experimental sound lab
