Roysten Abel and Ranjit Barot performing percussion program in Bengaluru

Beet Root Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

On October 5, the Chowdiah Memorial Hall in Bengaluru will host a performance bridging the tradition and modernity of Indian percussion. hit the road It is an audio-visual performance conceived by renowned director and playwright Roysten Abell and renowned drummer Ranjit Barot, whose resume spans everything from film scores to global jazz stages. Together, they have sought to re-imagine Indian folk music in a contemporary context, with 10 master drummers from Rajasthan and Kerala at the center of the project.

Gayatri Krishna of the Bhumija Trust, an arts organization, approached Roysten to create a program with percussion. “I had no interest in the typical percussion ensemble,” explains Roysten. hit the road Was born. Then, he remembered Warli paintings – a tribal art from Maharashtra – which depicted dancers tarpaulin (a type of trumpet). The image sparked an idea: What if folk rhythms, the heartbeat of the earth, were transformed into a modern sound, a kind of sound based on tradition?

At its core, hit the road It includes a set of instruments that are rarely heard outside their cultural areas: the resonant sound of Chendathe metallic clang of Kartaland the seductive hum of MorchangRather than simply presenting these sounds in their traditional form, Royston sought to have Ranjit “combine folk drummers with electronic music and find the best of both worlds”.

Although hit the road It’s an experiment in fusion, one that respects the origins of its ingredients. Ranjit has created his compositions based on patterns that have existed for generations, keeping folk musicians at the centre.

“I’m just reacting to the joyful music happening around me. My job was to create contemporary music that would provide a medium for these unique composers to express themselves. He has to receive all the creations at once, and not only that, he has to be the master of the moment. “It’s a beautiful thing to see and be a part of,” says Ranjit.

Ranjit Barot Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

This respect for tradition only establishes hit the road apart. Roysten, who has worked extensively with folk musicians in previous projects Manganiar SeductionKnows how to create an intense experience. “When you’re working with artists like these, you don’t reinvent the wheel,” he says, “you just let their skills speak, but you give them a new frame. We’ve taken what they’re already doing and enhanced it with electronic elements and visual storytelling.

The visual component is just as important to the production as the sound. Award-winning filmmaker Kabir Singh Choudhary has created a vibrant stage environment to match the rhythmic intensity, combining the dry, sandy tones of Rajasthan with the lush green vibrancy of Kerala. “We try to tell a story with these elements and see what kind of experience it creates. Instead of trying to create a new story, we tell existing stories and see if a new story emerges on its own,” says Royston.

Roysten Abel | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

For Ranjit, hit the road It has been an opportunity to connect with fellow musicians. “I think there is a hidden meeting point for all things creative, where discipline, language and even tradition disappear. Once a musician has developed his craft to a certain level, the path to this meeting point becomes clear. And we all want to be where the real conversations start,” he says.

Among the drummers of Kerala, Kalamandalam Rathish Bhas (Mizzhavu), Kalamandalam Ravikumar Babu (Mizzhavu), Kalanilayam Sathish Kumar (Chenda), Sadhanam Anup (Chenda), and Anadhapuram Sajeev (elathalamDeu Khan in Rajasthani section (Kartal), Khete Khan (Morchang , Bapang), Kailash Damami (Nagada), Lakat Khan (drum), and Mahendra Khan (buzzing,

hit the road Premiere October 5 (5 PM & 8 PM) at Chaudia Memorial Hall. Tickets on BookMyShow.