Shades of Malhar: Beyond the Monsoon

Shades of Malhar: Beyond the Monsoon We’d love for you to join us for an intimate baithak around Raag Malhar, heard a little differently from how it usually is. Often linked to the monsoon, Malhar is most familiar to us as a rain raag — but it has much more to offer beyond a particular season.

The evening brings together Madhuvanti Bhide, Srijan Deshpande, Amod Dandawate, and Suhail Yusuf Khan, who will each share their own approach to Malhar, as well as explore the different variants of Malhar. Through a mix of short bandishes, semi-classical pieces, and film music, the raag unfolds gradually over the course of the concert. Set in a close, shared listening space, this is a chance to spend time with Malhar outside the rains and hear it in a different context.

Ticketing & Event Policies

• Cover Fee: A contribution of $30 per person is required to help cover event expenses. This concert is a community-supported event, and your support is sincerely appreciated. This Cover Fee is non-refundable.

• Photography: To maintain the integrity of the performance, flash photography is not permitted during the event.

• Dress Code: While not mandatory, traditional Indian attire is warmly encouraged to honor the cultural spirit of the evening.

• Arrival Time: Performances will begin 3:00PM sharp, doors open at 2:45PM. Please arrive early to get situated, so as not to distract performers.

About the Artists Madhuvanti Bhide

Madhuvanti Bhide is an established Hindustani classical vocalist based in the Bay Area. She belongs to the pedagogical lineage of Gaan Saraswati Pandita Dr. Alka Deo Marulkar and Pandit Rajabhau Deo, and her music is shaped by the tradition of Samagra Gayaki— an aesthetic synthesis of the Gwalior, Kirana, and Jaipur gharanas developed by her gurus. Alongside Hindustani classical music, she engages with semi-classical repertoire, film music, and light classical genres such as Hindi and Marathi geet and ghazal.

Srijan Deshpande

Srijan Deshpande is a Hindustani khayal vocalist, scholar, educator, and music archivist whose work bridges performance, research, and documentation. With over a decade of experience working in leading music archives across India, he holds a doctoral degree in music research from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education. Based in Fremont, California, he performs and teaches Hindustani music and is a music research associate at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Amod Dandawate

Amod Dandawate is a dedicated tabla artist specializing in the Farrukhabad style. His musical journey began under the early guidance of his father, Late Dr. Vasantrao Dandawate, and deepened through training with several acclaimed teachers. For over a decade, he has been under the tutelage of Pt. Samir Chatterjee, receiving intensive instruction in the guru-shishya tradition. Amod is a sought-after accompanist, having supported numerous leading artists from India and the United States. He is also actively involved in teaching and promoting Indian classical music, particularly in the Bay Area. Alongside his musical pursuits, he holds a doctorate in Electrical Engineering.

Suhail Yusuf Khan

Suhail Yusuf Khan is a renowned hereditary sarangi player from a lineage of North Indian musicians known for their deep contributions to Hindustani music. With over twenty-five years of international performance experience, his playing is celebrated for its emotional depth and vocal sensitivity.

In addition to his work as a performer, Dr. Yusuf is a scholar of ethnomusicology, having earned his Ph.D. from Wesleyan University in 2024. His research explores the political and emotional worlds of marginalized Muslim musician communities in South Asia. He has held music residencies at institutions including UCLA, MIT, Dartmouth, Wellesley College, and Oxford University, and has contributed to over twenty music albums. Currently a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Santa Cruz, he continues to bridge performance and scholarship through his work.