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Life + Culture

Rishab Rikhiram Sharma: The Global Torchbearer Of The Sitar

Taking Indian classical music to global stages while preserving the spiritual depth of a centuries-old tradition.

| Team ELLE
Feature - Publive (20)

In an era where genres blur and attention spans shrink, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma stands as a compelling bridge between tradition and transformation. A sitar artist rooted in Indian classical discipline yet fluent in contemporary storytelling, he represents a new chapter in how traditional music travels across borders.

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Taking Indian Classical Music To Global Stages

As a modern classical performer, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma has carried sitar music beyond conventional concert halls and into international arenas. His performances honour the rigour of Indian classical training while resonating with audiences unfamiliar with the intricacies of ragas and taal.

Rather than diluting Indian heritage for accessibility, he reframes it — presenting traditional music with clarity, confidence and cultural pride. In doing so, he reinforces cultural identity while positioning the sitar as a global instrument rather than a regional relic.

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Reintroducing The Sitar To A New Generation

For younger listeners, Indian classical music can often feel distant or formal. Sharma’s approach reshapes that perception. Through carefully curated performances, collaborations and digital presence, he reintroduces the sitar not as something archival, but alive.

His artistry bridges generations, inviting listeners to experience sitar music as emotionally immediate rather than historically confined. By merging reverence with relatability, he has become a defining sitar artist for a generation navigating both tradition and modernity.

Tradition, Textiles & Stage Presence: The Complete Artistic Expression

Beyond sound, Sharma understands that artistic expression extends to presentation. His stage presence often incorporates textiles and silhouettes that subtly echo Indian heritage, reinforcing the cultural roots of his craft.

This holistic approach transforms performance into experience. The visual narrative complements the musical one, demonstrating that Indian classical performance is not merely auditory but immersive. Every detail — from posture to wardrobe — becomes part of a cohesive artistic expression.

Music As Meditation: The Spiritual Core Of His Sound

At its core, Sharma’s sitar music carries a meditative quality. Rooted in spiritual music traditions, his compositions and improvisations often evoke introspection and stillness. The sitar, historically intertwined with devotional and contemplative practices, becomes a vehicle for emotional grounding.

In a fast-moving global landscape, this spiritual dimension feels particularly resonant. His work reminds audiences that Indian classical music is not solely performance — it is practice, discipline and inner exploration.

Rishab Rikhiram Sharma’s journey reflects more than individual success. It signals a broader cultural moment where Indian heritage is reclaimed with confidence and carried onto global platforms without compromise. As a sitar artist shaping a modern classic identity, he ensures that traditional music continues not as nostalgia, but as living, evolving art.

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