This concert brings together two of India’s most distinctive melodic instruments in a special duet format. Ninad Daithankar plays the santoor—a hundred-stringed trapezoid instrument from Kashmir, struck with lightweight wooden mallets. A Citi-NCPA Scholar, he has performed across India, Europe and North America. Saurabh Vartak plays the bansuri—the bamboo flute associated with Lord Krishna in Hindu tradition. Based in Pune, he regularly performs alongside the legendary Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and has established his own academy to pass on this tradition.

In a duet, both musicians share the melodic space, taking turns to develop phrases within a chosen raga (melodic framework) while the tabla maintains the tala (rhythmic cycle). You will hear them introduce the raga together, then alternate—one playing a phrase, the other responding or elaborating. As the performance builds, the exchanges become faster and more intricate, culminating in a three-way conversation between santoor, bansuri and tabla. The contrast between the santoor’s bell-like resonance and the bansuri’s warm, breathy tone creates a dialogue that is both complementary and distinctive.