“Delhi’s cultural scene has become much better than before,” – this was the first reaction after the recent concert of this classical musician duo. New Earth Performing Arts hosted a musical evening - Strings in Harmony (India Edition) by the Mohan Brothers who have been praised and promoted by the legendary musician Pandit Ravi Shankar himself previously. The Mohan Brothers – Lakshay Mohan (Sitar) and Aayush Mohan (Sarod) have performed for this concert in India this time. It has toured esteemed venues in the USA like Symphony Space, New York, Berklee College, Boston and was featured on a series of media platforms in USA.
Speaking about the overwhelming feeling of performing in front of the maestro, Ayush shares, “One of the turning points in our life was in 2012 when the great master Pt. Ravi Shankar heard us and that was his last year in India and the last year he lived. So, we were very fortunate that we got an opportunity to perform in front of him. We had never imagined in our dreams that after listening to the concert he would decide to launch us in the USA. We feel it is one of our greatest blessings that we came in touch with him.”
The event was graced by renowned names from the music fraternity such as Biswajit Roychowdhury, Ramkumar Mishra, DM Sharma, Anamika Chhabra, Shyam Mohan Gupta, Tabla player Arunagshu Chowdhury, Vinita Bakshi, Dr Gunita Singh and Dr. Tanvir Singh.
Audiences are the greatest gifts for artists. But at times, these artists are the most misunderstood people. For their near and dear ones, they become out of the league.
Agreeing on this Lakshay says, “An artiste lives a very different life that any other person. And sometimes it becomes difficult for the people around you to understand you. Or maybe why you are leading such an unusual life.”
Speaking about their newest composition, both chirped, “Indian classical music is a living tradition that has always been evolving over the years. Music is the language of the spirit. Through the Strings in Harmony concerts we wish to spread the message of togetherness and harmony in society. Music opens the secret of life, bringing peace and abolishing strife”.
“From the age of three or four, cassettes with classical music were always played at our house. At that age it was not possible for us to understand the gravity of that music. But, fascination for the kind began at that early age only,” Ayush concludes.
