SABR’ presents a powerful combination of tradition and innovation, fusing the depth of Indian classical music with contemporary global sounds. At the core of the performance is deep appreciation for the ragas and rhythms of India’s timeless tradition, but the execution is bold – layered with elements of jazz, rock, and fusion. The music comes to life through a multi-genre ensemble of exceptional talent. 

The Anirudh Varma Collective (AVC), founded and led by Anirudh Varma, is a groundbreaking contemporary Indian classical ensemble with over 150 collaborating artists from India, the U.S., and Canada. The Collective’s mission is to take classical music beyond niche audiences, blending it with modern sounds while maintaining its authentic form. In just six years, AVC has performed over 600 concerts across India, the Maldives, Kuwait, and, most recently, the United States – where their 2023 tour spanned 15 concerts across 9 cities. 

Recognised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Ministry of Culture, the Collective was awarded Best Indie Band of the Year by the Clef Music Awards in 2023 for Naino Waaleya, featuring Darshan Doshi and Kamran Zafar of Coke Studio fame. Their albums ‘Perspectives’ (2018) and ‘Homecoming’ (2022) were both named among Rolling Stone Magazine’s top indie releases of their respective years. 

The evening will feature Anirudh on piano and keyboards, joined by a stellar lineup of musicians, including Suyash Gabriel on drums, Shrikant Biswakarma on electric guitar, Madhur Chaudhary on bass guitar, Soumitra Thakur on sitar, Rohan Prasanna on sarod, and Saptak Sharma on tabla. Vocals will be led by Prateek Narsimha, Saptak Chatterjee, Aastha Mandle, Pavithra Chari, Basudhara Roy Munshi, and Suhavi Kalsi – each bringing their unique voice and style to the Collective’s layered and immersive music.