Purana Qila (Old Fort), the iconic fort and witness to centuries of conquest and change since the 1600s, is one of the oldest forts in Delhi. Impressive and formidable, its walls echo with great stories of conflicts, transformations and empires of the glorious past. Its The staggering grandeur reflects its role as a fierce protector, standing strong through the ages.
However, on March 14, the historic citadel transformed into a nutter, embracing a softer, more intimate side, making room for a unique music experience, a format that is new to India.
Live Your City organized Candlelight Open Air: Mehfil-e-Sufi, which featured Indian classical music performances by Megha Ravut on sitar, Makarand Sanan on percussion and Ashwin Krishnan on keyboard. Let’s take a detailed look at this format and what it means for live music shows for Indian audiences.
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The trio gave instrumental renditions of classics like Mast Qalandar, Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai, Khwaja Mere Khwaja, Kun Faaya Kun and Chhap Tilak Sanson Ki Mala. The compositions included compositions by music stalwarts such as AR Rahman and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, reinterpreted through the medium of sitar, percussion and keyboards.
The atmosphere was captivating and awe-inspiring. In the serene darkness, with the shadow of the fort in the background, flickering electric candles set the ambiance, lining the grand entrance, extending all the way to the lawn, and surrounding the stage and musicians as if they were performing.
Unlike traditional concerts, whether modern or classical, which are usually dominated by bright lights in a more high-energy setting with floodlights, spotlights and strobe effects, the warm light settings here feel softer and closer to the heart, where the music becomes larger than life against the backdrop of the historical monument.
Typically, live music shows are defined by scale and high-octane energy, but this format trades that scale for a new sense of intimacy between musicians and audience, allowing a new type of immersion to emerge.
This format of live musical shows, called candlelight concerts, has recently entered India. HT Lifestyle spoke to the organizers and artists to better understand what this new experience is all about, what gap it fills in live music today, and how the setting and sound shape this novel performance.
What is a candlelight concert and how does it change the live music experience?
Candlelight concerts have been present globally for some time and have recently entered India.
Pranjal Begawani, Candlelight Team Lead – India & Thailand (FEVER), sharing its growth trajectory and the need behind it, said, “Candlelight enters India in June 2024. “Candlelight emerged from the need to provide audiences a different way to experience live classical music.”
There is a difference in how live music is experienced today, with a greater focus on loud grandeur and spectacle. Candlelight concerts attempt to bridge this gap by creating a quieter and more personal atmosphere. This was evident during the Mehfil-e-Sufi performance, where the lead musician, Megha Ravut, and the ensemble blurred the boundary between the performers and the audience. The close seating allowed for a fair amount of interaction, allowing the audience to sing along, clap and become part of the sensory experience surrounded by a sea of flickering candles and historical monuments.
Now, in a traditional concert or show, while the energy is undoubtedly electrifying and heart-pounding, scale brings many challenges and distractions. From standing on tiptoe to catch a glimpse of the artist to aggressively elbowing your way through the packed crowd to get a spot, it can all seem a little overwhelming. Add to this the loud sound systems, the bright lights and seeing the artist from a distance and only on the big screen, you just listen to the music, maybe stop midway through it, rather than experiencing it.
Sharing some of the characteristics of this format, and how it differs, Pranjal elaborated, “This format focuses on experience rather than scale, bringing live music to unique, historically and culturally significant venues and presenting it by candlelight for smaller audiences.”
To add more points, this format makes classical music more palatable to younger audiences because it offers a whole, sensory-new experience. Pranjal revealed how much of the audience is young: “Today, over 70% of our audience is Gen Z and Millennials.”
Primarily instrumental, these shows reinterpret classical and contemporary music, and as Pranjal reiterated, they do so in a more ‘personal way’ while keeping the music larger than life; This time, the grandeur and grandeur is filled with the quiet grandeur of history, which is present within the walls of the monuments themselves.
The format also provides a platform for Indian artists and instrumentalists to showcase their art to a new audience.
The process of bringing an epic composition to life
At the candlelight Mehfil-e Sufi, the artistes spoke about the nuances of bringing powerful compositions to life through a unique interpretation on sitar, keyboard and percussion.
How does such a serene setting affect the way artists present their music?
We asked Megha Ravut, who leads the sitar ensemble, how performing in such a serene, mesmerizing environment changes her musical presentation.
He admitted that the candlelight vigil at Purana Qila almost felt like ‘stepping into a different time’. Thrown light on As to why a candlelight concert feels so personal, he said, “Without vocals, the music had to carry the entire emotional narrative, and on a Sufi night, it naturally became more engrossing and meditative – almost like a conversation with space.“
As mentioned earlier about the blurred lines between artist and audience, Megha also observed that the experience felt as if the audience and artist were ‘breathing together.’ This way the music is felt collectively, creating a bond in that moment.
How was the soundscape shaped in this format?
We asked percussionist Makrand Sanon, who wields a wide range of drums, cymbals and hand percussion, how he ensures that, despite the inherently loud and dynamic nature of his instruments, the soundscape remains associated with a quiet, reflective atmosphere, avoiding any sense of dominance that might go against the nature of the intimate setting.
Sanon explained in detail what this involves, “It’s really more about listening than playing. In a candlelit, mirrored setting, I naturally lean towards a softer, more textural approach – letting the rhythm breathe rather than pushing it too forcefully.”
The confrontational approach in a candlelight setting is not about rhythm or volume; It’s about responding to the melody. The percussionist described his playing as ‘flowing’, almost as if it was weaving around the raga rather than sitting on top of it, creating this gentle, intense pulse.
“The percussion doesn’t dominate but quietly deepens the mood, almost like an undercurrent that you feel more than hear,” Sanon explains, emphasizing how percussion can help heighten the emotional depth of these quiet performances.
How did originally vocal compositions become instrumental?
Ashwin Krishnan on keyboards was asked how the compositions are presented instrumentally while maintaining their emotional depth and offering a fresh reimagining.
To this he replied, “The idea is to treat the original composition as a starting point rather than as something definitive.” This means that the original songs are treated as an outline, and the musicians creatively figure out how to add certain nuances to create a fresh rendition. When they are presented instrumentally, subtle nuances are added.
Most importantly, without any lyrics to guide the narrative, Ashwin believed that harmonies here function as a separate language, yet familiar and understandable. ““Since the lyrics aren’t there, you start to reinterpret the emotional arc through harmonies, voices and subtle variations – almost like telling the same story in a different language,” he said.
upcoming shows
Here are some upcoming shows you can check out:
march:
Candlelight: Tribute to KK
Location: Rosette House
Date and Time: 29 March (Time- 16:30 hrs)
Duration: 60 minutes
Composer: Pianist – Krishna
Price: 1 ticket – Rs 1,499 onwards
Candlelight: Tribute to AR Rahman
Location: Rosette House
Date and Time: March 29 (Time- 18:30, 20:30)
Duration: 60 minutes
Composer: Pianist – Krishna
Price: 1 ticket – Rs 1,499 onwards
april:
Candlelight: Tribute to Arijit Singh
Location: Le Meridien New Delhi
Date and Time: 11th April (Time- 18:00)
Duration: 60 minutes
Composer: Pianist – Krishna
Price: 1 ticket – Rs 1,500 onwards
Candlelight: A Night of Ghazals
Location: Le Meridien New Delhi
Date and Time: 11 April (Time- 20:30)
Duration: 60 minutes
Musicians: Piano, Tabla and Singer Trio – led by pianist Krishna
Price: 1 ticket – Rs 1,499 onwards
