Childhood: Ojas

stalwarts such as Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, Pandit Kumar Bose and Pandit Swapan Choudhury.”

Adhiya, who released an album called Tabla Symphony a couple of months ago, feels that tabla has a wide range that goes beyond just Indian music. “Tabla has been utilised by the Hindi film industry for decades, alongside western instruments such as drums, violins, saxophone and guitars. Later, tabla was featured by our stalwarts in western countries, and they jammed with jazz and rock musicians, and people willingly accepted the instrument,” says the 34year-old, adding that the instrument has evolved to a great extent: “All thanks to our masters such as Ustad Allarakha ji, Ustad Thirakwa Khan saab and Ustad Zakir Hussain, who established it as a mainstream instrument and not just an accompanying one.”

Besides being part of the same music circle, Adhiya is also ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas’ son-in-law. Talking about their equation, he says, “Pankaj ji has been an inspiration for me for many years. I look up to his music and humbleness.”

OJAS ADHIYA,

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ OJASADHIYA