HELLO! India Exclusive: Ragas, riyaaz and refrains revisited with Rishab Rikhiram Sharma

Every once in a while, there are melodies that tug at your heartstrings for the sheer weight of what they symbolise. 'Hedwig’s Theme’ from the Harry Potter franchise, for one, is a tune that millennials hold sacrosanct. Then there’s the opening track of Game of Thrones that’s touted as one of the best shows ever written. But what happens when such iconic music finds new expression, say, in a sitar? It appeals to  a whole new segment of admirers, while maintaining a  firm grip on its existing fan-following. This, in a nutshell, describes the phenomenon that’s Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, the maestro taking contemporary sitar-trap from urban India to the biggest concert halls — and even the White House! 

PHOTOGRAPHY: TARUN KALYANI 

STYLING: GOPALIKA VIRMANI

HAIR & MAKEUP: SHADAB SHAIKH 

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR: SHALINI KANOJIA 

ASSISTANT COORDINATOR: SHISHIR SARKAR 

ASSISTANT STYLIST: GRACE SONI 

LOCATION COURTESY: WELLNESS CLUB, SHANGRI-LA EROS NEW DELHI

For the rest of the cover story, subscribe to HELLO! India and grab your copies now.