“Indian classical music has now moved to larger auditoriums and stadiums”: Sitarist and vocalist

Mehtab Niazi at ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025

• “I consider myself a fully digital musician. I use AI as a tool, not a replacement. AI, after all, learns from us”, said music composer Mahesh Raghavan
• Classical vocalist Nirali Kartik said, “Today, many Gujaratis are taking up music and we are witnessing a cultural shift.”

Mumbai, 22 February 2025: At ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025, Mehtab Ali Niazi, Mahesh Raghavan, and Nirali Kartik discussed the healing power of music during their session titled ‘Healing Power of Music, Touching the Divine Within’. The artists engaged in a captivating session that emphasised how music transcends boundaries, providing comfort and connection to the soul.

Mahesh Raghavan, Music composer spoke of his introduction to music, saying, “I grew up learning Carnatic music and the keyboard. I started when I was three and was always drawn to music. I bought an iPad just to play games, but soon realized its potential for music. Traditionally, Indian classical music had no use for synthesizers, but with an iPad, I could shift between notes seamlessly. It opened up a whole new way to explore music”.

Mehtab Niazi, Sitarist and vocalist from the Bhendi Bazar Gharana remarked,” As I grew older, I realized that music was the only thing I was truly good at, even though I tried sports and academics. Indian classical music has now moved to larger auditoriums and stadiums. With advancements in technology, we can capture even the subtlest resonances of instruments, preserving the richness of sound like never before.”

Nirali Kartik, Classical vocalist said, “My mother, a music lover, encouraged me to learn music, and thankfully, our dreams aligned. Today, many Gujaratis are taking up music and we are witnessing a cultural shift.”

On using technology for classical music, she said,” Technology is a broad term when it comes to music. If I record something in my voice, AI can replace it with someone else’s voice entirely. While some may see this as concerning, I view AI as a powerful tool for musicians.”

Mahesh Raghavan, Music composer further added,” Technology has significantly improved the clarity of recordings. I consider myself a fully digital musician, but at the end of the day, it’s all about what we want our audience to hear. I use AI as a tool, not a replacement. AI, after all, learns from us.”

The session concluded with a soulful performance by Mahesh Raghavan, Nirali Kartik, and Mehtab Niazi, leaving the audience mesmerized with their unique blend of tradition and technology in music.

ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025, centred on the theme ‘Humanity’s Next Frontier’, will convene thought leaders and innovators to explore the challenges and opportunities in India’s ascendance in a rapidly changing world. In the face of climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and technological advancements such as AI, the summit delved into India’s role as both an ancient civilisation and a demographic powerhouse in shaping the future. The two-day summit brings together a confluence of ideas from global thought leaders, intellectuals, and change-makers, covering transformative possibilities in science, medicine, social contracts, and global leadership, with experts from diverse fields offering bold visions for a better, more sustainable world for all.

About ABP Network

An innovative media and content creation company, ABP Network is a credible voice in the broadcast and digital spheres, with a multi-language portfolio of news channels reaching 535 million individuals across India via YouTube, websites, apps, and social media platforms. ABP Studios, which falls under the purview of ABP Creations – the content innovation arm of the network – creates, produces, and licences original, ground-breaking content beyond news. ABP Network is a group entity of ABP, established almost 100 years ago, and continues to dominate as a leading media company.

(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)