In a departure from conventional concerts, the evening in Hyderabad began not with applause but with controlled breathing. As the tanpura’s drone filled the venue, over 10,000 attendees were guided to a moment of stillness through a breathing exercise before sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma took the stage with his “Sitar for Mental Health” tour on Friday, March 27.
The performance then moved through a repertoire of classical ragas, followed by original compositions and select Bollywood interpretations, culminating in a Tandavam finale.
The Idea Behind ‘Sitar for Mental Health’
| Purpose | Promote mental health awareness, especially in the Indian community |
| Approach | Use sitar as a voice to create awareness while highlighting its healing properties |
| Research | Raga Chikitsa and raga therapy to understand how ragas can aid healing |
| Tour Stop | 4th of 10 cities; Hyderabad |
“The idea was to promote mental health awareness, especially within the Indian community, where it remains highly stigmatised. For me, it was about using my instrument, the sitar, as a voice to create awareness through music, while also highlighting its healing properties,” Rishab told The Hindu.
A Personal Turning Point
The inspiration for connecting classical music with mental health came from a deeply personal experience.
“Yes, it was my grandfather’s death. I was very close to him, almost like he was my third parent. Losing him left me completely broken. It was through the sitar and therapy that I was able to recover. That experience became the foundation for this work.”
What Audiences Take Away
When asked what he hopes first-time attendees take away from his concert, Rishab shared:
“This was my sixth time performing in Hyderabad, and while many in the audience had attended before, some were new. Even if someone goes home and simply Googles mental health after the concert, that is a big win for me. I want people to understand what conditions like generalised anxiety disorder and depression are, and recognise their symptoms. I want people to know that they are not alone.”
The Healing Power of Ragas
Despite growing awareness, mental health continues to carry stigma in India. Rishab believes music and art can deepen this conversation while also offering a path to healing.
“The idea is to create awareness while also offering a path to healing. Our show does both. It speaks about mental health but also demonstrates how music, especially ragas, can help in the healing process. For instance, I spoke about Veer Rasa during the performance. There are nine rasas in music, each capable of evoking different emotions. Through this, we are not only highlighting the problem but also presenting a solution.”
Hyderabad’s Energetic Response
| Hyderabad | “One of the most energetic audiences. People were cheering after every piece.” |
| Other Cities | Rishab noted he hasn’t seen that level of energy elsewhere yet. |
“Hyderabad stood out as one of the most energetic audiences. People were cheering after every piece. I have not seen that level of energy in other cities yet, though there are still several performances ahead. The audience here is deeply passionate about music and appreciates quality.”
The Tour Continues
The 10-city national tour, which made its fourth stop in Hyderabad, will now travel to other cities across the country.
