The Santoor is one of the oldest of Indian instruments and was originally known as Sata Tantri Veena (100 stringed Lute). This Kashmiri folk instrument was used for the accompaniment of singing in the Kashmir valley, but it was Shiv Kumar Sharma who established the santoor as a solo concert instrument.

Rahul Sharma’s relationship with the santoor was no love at first sight, having picked up the instrument only when he was around 13; he recalls not taking the instrument seriously at all.

Instead, he started on the harmonium, only switching to the hundred-stringed santoor when he had mastered Hindustani music’s melodic fundamentals. He imbibed his father Pandit Shiv Kumarji’s style and has since built on it, taking the santoor to new corners of the world to a global audience and making it appealing to the New Age generation

Verus Ferreira spoke to the santoor maestro rahul Sharma on his newly released single ‘Jai Hanuman’.

So tell us something about your new webseries where you have done a song Jai Hanuman.

In late April, I collaborated with Ustad Zakir Hussain for the web series Ramyug. Together they recorded a song Jai Hanuman which has the vocals of megastar Amitabh Bachchan. Composing music for a web series is not very different from composing for a film. I had to compose four songs and given the fact that Ramyug is based on Ramayana, I knew exactly what the pulse and vibe would be. Hence, we decided to have all our legendary classical musicians such as Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Rashid Khan to provide rich tradition to the soundtrack and my compositions were made keeping in mind all these stalwarts including superstar Amitabh Bachchan for Jai Hanuman track.

How was it working on the songs with Amitabh?

Amitabh Bachchan is definitely the one and only actor who has a perfect sense of rhythm and melody.

The santoor has become more popular in Mumbai, than back home in Jammu. Can you explain the reason why not many have taken up this instrument?

The santoor was a little known Kashmiri instrument before my father gave it classical stature, he has many students who are performing around the world.  Well, Jammu is a small place and one really needs to broaden horizons and look beyond to collaborate in order to spread.

A few years ago you played a special performance for a luncheon that was hosted by PM Narendra Modi in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. You also played a few Beatles melodies. Can you share something about that afternoon?

Well, it was an honour to b invited to perform at The Hyderabad house where for a select gathering the performance was held. The PM asked if I was going to play ‘Coldplay’, on the santoor, to which I said Beatles which was more befitting the occasion. After the performance the PM wanted me to explain the intricacies of the santoor to the Prince and Princess and it was all a light hearted afternoon of music and good food in august company.

In the past you have collaborated with internationally renowned musicians such as Richard Clayderman, Kenny G and Deep Forest. How did these collaborations come about and what made you decide to do these collaborations? 

I would like to say that Atul Churamani was responsible for my first Clayderman album which became a success, and after that there was no stopping. I went on to do a good 60 albums and some of them were with Kenny G, Eric Moquet of Deep Forest and many more. Since I was already aware of these artists music, I could well imagine composing the collaborations too.

What have you been working on lately, any new releases in the offing?

Far too many live concerts and travelling, but there’s something in the pipeline.

Music has come naturally to you, from the time you joined your father at his concerts. What are the few things he has taught you that has made you what you are? 

Discipline, hard work and a flair for travel.

When not travelling for concerts, how do you spend your time, hobbies……? Are you a social media person?

I’m not on social media at all; I prefer to disappear after being in the public eye for a concert or whatever. I love spending time with my wife Barkha and my four year old son Abhinav. We often take off on holidays and discuss music at those times.

Has your son Abhinav also taken to music in any way? 

Abhinav has begun going to Dhirubhai Ambani School and already has a schedule, though he has begun learning from his renowned grandfather.

When it comes to dressing for album covers and formal occasions, are you very stylish and take a pick from your wife Barkha’s men’s boutique? 

Well all my album covers are designed by Barkha and she has great taste and us extremely creative, so I stuck to her idea of dressing which makes it easier for me to step out in style.

When can one expect a new album from you?

My last album was ‘ Dreams’ and released I think 2015, of course after doing so many albums I needed a break to be excited about some new concepts, and hopefully I’ll be out with something soon. In pre Covid days, I collaborated with the 46 piece Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in Cape Townconducted by Brandon Phillips, the recording of which is soon to be released on an album ‘Symphony of Santoor’.

Apart from the santoor, has any other musical instrument interested you?

I love the piano, English flute, harmonium and like composing on my keyboards

The santoor is a classical instrument. Through your numerous albums, like ‘Rebel’ where you put in rock influences, have you deviated from the classical tradition to make the santoor more appealing to the New Age generation who can also experience the delightful sound it produces?

My training is in Indian classical but I draw inspiration from rock, pop, world, new age and the idea is to have the santoor blend in seamlessly with either or any of these genres

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira