Rishab Rikhiram Sharma: The moment you build a community, it stops being just a concert

A lot has been said about sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma recently, but the artiste is now focused on moving forward, as he returns with another edition of Sitar for Mental Health. After performing in Mumbai in his signature style – and requesting fans to come dressed in Indian attire with henna on their hands – he is just gearing up for a tour across other cities, including Delhi. In the midst of the tour, Rishab speaks to us about why he began the tour, how his reinterpretations have become a doorway to Indian classical music, and why he believes his shows are more than just performances.‘In the period of uncertainty and grief, sitar became my balm’“Sitar for Mental Health wasn’t a strategy,” shares Rishab. As he talks about music and mental health, he calls the tour an inner calling. “After my grandfather passed away during the pandemic, I found myself dealing with anxiety and depression. In that period of uncertainty and grief, sitar became my balm. Music didn’t just comfort me – it carried me through. That’s when I felt a deep urge to share Indian music in the same way it had healed me,” he shares. ‘Our Indian instruments can move across the world without losing essence’ When it comes to classical music, Rishab says familiarity is often the doorway. “When audiences recognise something they already love, they open up instantly. I may bring them in with a Harry Potter or Game of Thrones theme, but once they’re there, they’re also experiencing traditional Indian classical music. It’s less about fusion and more about translation – creating an entry point.At the same time, it demonstrates that the sitar is not genre-bound. Our Indian instruments are incredibly versatile; they can move across worlds without losing their essence,” he says.‘THE DHEEM TA DHEEM TA HOOK HAS ALMOST BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH ME’Reflecting on the journey and reception of tracks like Shiv Kailash and Chanakya , Rishab says, “These compositions are timeless. Interestingly, Chanakya gained momentum years after its release. It’s rooted deeply in traditional Indian sound, but presented in a modern format. The Dheem Ta Dheem Ta hook has almost become synonymous with me people often stop me and mention it with a smile. Shiv Kailash is deeply personal. My mother is from Himachal Pradesh, and I spent much of my childhood in Chamba. The song holds emotional significance for many in the Himalayan region, and I wanted to offer my own interpretation. Seeing audiences connect with it so strongly has been incredibly fulfilling.”'There’s always a tendency to define experiences through labels'On the label of ‘spiritual concerts’, he reflects on how he defines the experience beyond tags. “There’s always a tendency to define experiences through labels. I describe my concerts as neo-classical experiences. The first half includes breathwork, meditation, Dhrupad alaap and jod, along with traditional compositions. The second half opens into my original music, Bollywood reinterpretations, and jazz-fusion. It’s less about fitting into a category and more about creating a holistic journey - one that feels immersive and transformative.”