Echoes of Tradition: Indian Slide Guitar, Tabla Duet (Akram Khan <> Sanju Sahai)

Something extraordinary is about to unfold. Three of India’s finest musical traditions will converge on a London stage for the first time in a dialogue that promises to be as historic as it is hypnotic.

Pt. Debasis Chakroborty of Senia-Maihar tradition takes the stage first with his Indian Slide Guitar. There's magic in how he plays - that it becomes more than an instrument in his hands. It breathes. It remembers. Each note hangs in the air just a heartbeat longer than expected, pulling you forward in your seat. You don't just listen - you wait to see where the next phrase will lead. You’ll hear why few artists master its subtlety; it’s not about technique alone but about patience, about letting each note breathe. Alongside him, Pt. Sanju Sahai (tabla) needs no introduction. Hailing from the Benares gharana, where rhythm flows like the Ganges—sometimes serene, sometimes torrential—his accompaniment will be more than percussion; it’ll be a conversation.

Then, the moment London’s Indian classical community awaited: Pt. Sanju Sahai meets Ustad Akram Khan in a tabla duet for the ages. With its poetic fluidity, Sanju Ji’s Benares style dances with Akram Ji’s Farrukhabad approach—a school where precision meets explosive creativity. When these two share a stage at the Bhavan in September, it’s not just a performance; it’s a rare glimpse into how tradition breathes and evolves.

Book Tickets at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/bhavan/t-yajnmyx

Why you’ll remember this night:
- The first-ever London meeting of these tabla legends—gharana traditions colliding live.
- The slide guitar’s elusive magic, played by a true inheritor of its secrets.
- That electric moment when two masters listen, challenge, and uplift each other in real time.

So this will be one of those rare nights where music becomes more than a performance—it becomes an experience you'll carry. When artists of this calibre share a stage, every moment feels fleeting and precious. Don't miss your chance to be part of it.

Note: If you attend the event, book your tickets separately from the Bhavan's website URL mentioned in the description.

Please message and connect with other group members for pre and post-event catch-ups.