Taraana & Carnatic 2.0 – A Double Bill featuring Mahesh Raghvan & Shravan Sridhar, Nandini & Ragini Shankar

If you want to know what the future of Indian classical music sounds like, then this show is for you! This double bill features young classical musicians who put their unique contemporary twists on established musical traditions. Sisters Ragini and Nandini Shankar make up the duo Taraana, violinists who imbue their music with modern sensibilities while the band Carnatic 2.0, comprising Mahesh Raghvan, Shravan Sridhar, Akshay Anantapadmanabhan and Sharanya Srinivas take on an innovative approach and style in music production and performance.

Taraana

Taraana is an ensemble of two young sisters from India who play the violin and celebrate life through music.

Comprising Ragini and Nandini Shankar, the duo strikes an elusive balance, fusing elements of timeless Indian classical music with contemporary cutting-edge 21st century production punctuated by their virtuosic violin interplay. They introduce this vision in all of its vitality and vibrancy on their 2023 full-length debut albumTaraana for Decca Records US. To bring this innovative vision to life, they have collaborated with the likes of GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer Nick Patrick and songwriter Amy Wadge. The two sisters travel through the world expressing their musical voyage through a blend of tradition and progression in their music.

Music has surrounded Ragini and Nandini since birth. They started their training on the violin at the age of three under their grandmother Padmabhushan Dr. N Rajam and their mother Dr. Sangeeta Shankar, both distinguished virtuoso violinists in the field of Indian classical music. They perform North Indian classical music with their mother and grandmother on stage, uniting three generations on the same instrument. They are the eighth generation of musicians in their illustrious family. The sisters are established Indian classical violinists, each with their own solo careers, and have performed in numerous prestigious music festivals all over India, Europe, North America and Southeast Asia.

Taraana presents an intimate look at Indian music spiked with a modern sensibility as the duo bend and break boundaries with elite instrumentation, eloquent songcraft, and epic scope. Indian at heart, global in spirit, Taraana inspires to make the present moment timeless and joyous.

Taraana Band

Ragini Shankar

Nandini Shankar

Keyboard - Anil Dhumal

Percussion - Kahaan Shah

Tabla - Tanay Rege

Guitar - Samriddha Mohanta

Bass - Nikhil Nair

Guest Artists

iPad - Mahesh Raghvan

Mridangam, Konnakkol - Akshay Anantapadmanabhan

Flute - Lalit Talluri

Carnatic 2.0 

Carnatic 2.0 is a cutting-edge band that brings together the best of Indian classical music and modern electronic sounds. Led by the innovative Mahesh Raghvan, known for his groundbreaking work as a music producer and iPad performer, the band also features the dynamic violin playing of Shravan Sridhar, the soulful vocals of Sharanya Srinivas, and the rhythmic mastery of mridangam player Akshay Anantapadmanabhan.

Together, the members of Carnatic 2.0 blend their classical training with a love of innovation and experimentation, creating a unique sound that captures the spirit of the present while paying homage to the rich traditions of Carnatic music. From popular tunes to new age versions of classic compositions, the band's performances are always fresh, exciting, and unforgettable. Experience the future of Indian music with Carnatic 2.0, featuring a repertoire that mixes traditional South Indian classical music (with a twist) as well as songs popular in Indian pop culture.

About Carnatic 2.0 Band 

Core band: 

• Mahesh Raghvan (iPad, Vocals, Keyboards, Electronics) 
• Shravan Sridhar (Electric Violin) 
• Sharanya Srinivas (Vocals) 
• Akshay Anantapadmanabhan (Mridangam and Percussion)