This Indian violinist is changing the way you see classical music

Forget everything you know about a classical musician Formerchild prodigy Yadnesh Raikar son of violin maestro Pandit Milind Raikar is a selfconfessed social media butterfly who jams with your favourite Bollywood stars and tunes into some Chick Corea when hersquos not on stage In a video that went viral last month we saw Raikar sit down with Bollywood heartthrob Jubin Nautiyal ldquoIt started off as any collaboration I donrsquot think he expected much of the classical violin But once I played the first few notes his face lit up ldquoI love your music manrsquo he saidrdquo Raikar recallsRaikar interacts with the late Ustad Zakir Hussain in Mumbai in 2024Ahead of the premiere of his new performance Ananta a jazz fusion showcase at a SoBo venue he admits that ldquopeople are yet to discover the magic of the classical violinrdquo Growing up under the tutelage of Milind Raikar Yadnesh saw it early on ldquoMy parents tell me I held my first violin when I was just one year old Itrsquos hard to believe sometimesrdquo he laughs Going international was written in the stars or the strings in Raikarrsquos case ldquoMy father had a Russian student who gifted him a childrenrsquos violin to be passed on to me In a way I think she foresaw what was comingrdquo Raikar revealsThe premiere although an ambitious foray into creating his own identity on stage is far from his first onstage rodeo Raikar has played for audiences only a few can impress In 2024 he performed for the late Ustad Zakir Hussain at an event in Mumbai ldquoWhile I had performed for Ustad ji before my memory fails me because I was too young The 2024 performance will stay with me foreverrdquo he says More so wersquod reckon when the Ustad himself sealed it with a ldquobahut khoobrdquoYadnesh Raikar jams with singer Jubin NautiyalWhy jazz up a successful cushy career in classical music we wonder ldquoYou should meet my fatherrdquo says Yadnesh revealing that the Pandit Milind Raikar we know today was a freespirited bass guitarist rocking it out on the shores of Goa once upon a time ldquoAs things would turn out he had to put his love for Western music on the back burner once he started training under his gurus When the time came to train me he gave me the freedom he never hadrdquo he adds The violinist recalls jamming to Shakti American jazz saxophonist Chris Potter and John McLaughlin with his father while on international trips in the WestWith his training wheels off the musician has teamed up with two likeminded genrebenders for the upcoming show Pianist and keyboardist Arka Chakraborty protege of the legendary Carlton Kitto will join percussionist and electronic musician Shravan Samsi a mentee of Pandit Yogesh Samsi Ranjit Barot and Trilok Gurtu to form the Ananta triplet ldquoWersquore aiming to create a sonic identity that blends Indian Western jazz and even Arabic elements Therersquos also some experimentation with electronic sounds in Samsirsquos end to add a layer of newnessrdquo Raikar revealsWe bid the artiste adieu he has big shoes to fill and miles to go on this new journey ldquoIt does get overwhelming sometimesrdquo he agrees Having played his first recital for an audience of 600 at a Matunga venue at the age of four hersquoll do just fine we think ldquoSometimes I wonder if things were easier back then Irsquod storm onto the stage with no worry in the world Things are different now mdash I am aware of the privilege and the legacy I carry and Irsquom doing my best to live up to itrdquo he concludesON October 12 630 pmAT Experimental Theatre NCPA Nariman PointLOG ON TO inbookmyshowcomENTRY Rs 1000World of jazzTune into these international jazz tunes from the violinistrsquos playlistgtgt Hiccedilaz Dolap by Laco Tayfagtgt Exclamation by Chris Pottergtgt Raju by John McLaughlingtgt Got a Match by Chic Coreagtgt Caf by Jesus Molinagtgt Bahlato by Trilok Gurtugtgt Meat Eater by Mohini Dey