Be the best student in the room, not the best performer, write your own story and keep: Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash

Preeminent sarod maestros Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash released their meticulously crafted Holi-themed album ‘Colors And Celebrations’ on March 10, 2025. This sophisticated musical offering represents a remarkable confluence of classical and folk traditions, featuring an extraordinary collaboration with Padma Shri recipient and renowned folk virtuoso Malini Awasthi, affectionately known as the folk queen of India. We had a brief interaction with them upon the album release, here is what they have to say:

“Colors and Celebrations”, what inspired creating this album, apart from Holi in itself?

Amaan: Holi celebration conveys a universal language of togetherness and peace. This album represents our artistic interpretation of Holi’s profound cultural significance, beyond the surface revelry to explore its deeper spiritual dimensions. Each composition deliberately weaves multiple thematic elements—from the triumph of good over evil to the celebration of divine love between Radha and Krishna, to the universal joy of renewal that comes with spring’s arrival.

Ayaan: Our approach was to create a complete sensory experience through sound. The interplay between sarod and voice mirrors the interaction between colour and canvas during Holi celebrations. We’ve used specific ragas that evoke particular emotional colours—from the serene tranquillity of morning ragas to the passionate intensity of evening melodies. Working with Malini Awasthi ji has been transformative, as her profound understanding of folk traditions brings authenticity and emotional depth that complements our classical framework.

Stream the album here:

⁠Classical music in the age of short video content, how do you see them coexisting in the times to come?

Amaan: There is a very deeper message when you are collaborating. Music has the power to convey the message of love and unity beyond borders beyond Race beyond communities. Classical music is at the peak of its powers. It organically adapts to every changing era every changing trend.

For an art form that was only meant for royalty, today selling out concert halls over 3000 seats is something to thank all the trend setting senior artists who turned this into a brand full of dignity Grace.

Ayaan: Therefore, when we collaborate the idea is to achieve a common DNA that represents both cultures. It’s very important where you’re coming from in order to know where you’re going. This is the seed that is constant that is not seasonal and that is not challenged by changing phenomena.

⁠How was your experience working with Padma Shri Malini Awasthi Ji?

Amaan: We had done a track together called Divine Krishna in our album, “We For Love”, in which we worked with a lot of musicians like Shubha Mudgal and Mahesh Kale. It was an album which we had done for Kailash Satyarthi’s Justice For Every Child foundation. So, we did just one track with Malini ji, and then Ayaan and I thought that we should take this forward because we’ve not really done any folk album, especially to do with Holi. And I thought, when you go for Holi parties, I hope I can be a part of the music one day. Working on the album was a perfect match because we all wanted to work with each other. With an aim to showcase the authentic songs of Holi, we worked on the EP together.

Ayaan: I’d also like to mention that this collaboration in many ways is taking forward a relationship of legacies. Malini Ji’s guru the great Girija Devi Ji used to tie Raakhee to my father, and they had also collaborated for an album together in the past, hence, this is a homage to that association and that relationship. Holi has always been a very close spinoff for classical music, and we wanted to celebrate that.

⁠What is your vision for Sarod and its relevance in the days to come?

Amaan: You’re a student to the last day you walk this planet. So, every concert every day tour is like the first of your life. My father always says that be the best student in the room, not the best performer.

Ayaan: You have to write your own story and keep walking with dignity and grace. Sarod today is far more relevant and mainstream than it was many years ago, however, there is a long way and many exciting avenues in which instrument will be heard!

Classical music is perceived as the one for the connoisseurs, how can it be made more mass appealing?

Amaan: It’s your journey. What life shows you, or whatever your story has been gets automatically incorporated into your life. Therefore, whatever your music is, it’s who you are at that point of time. The elements entirely depend on what the music is.

Since classical music does not have a written score, every moment inspires. When we are at beautiful locations, the music interprets the feeling that we go through at that point of time. Classical music is at the peak of its powers. It organically adapts to every changing era every changing trend.

This is the seed that is constant that is not seasonal and that is not challenged by changing phenomena.

Ayaan: The future is very bright! There is a lot of talent that are very fortunate to be absorbing the research of all the masters today over a click of a button. There is struggle in every field, so why single out classical music?

⁠What was your biggest challenge as well as the biggest take away while creating this album?

Amaan: ‘Colors And Celebrations’ presents five expansive, intricately composed pieces that capture the multifaceted spirit of Holi: ‘Holi Hues (Hori Re Rasiya)’, an exuberant celebration of spring’s arrival; ‘Divine Celebration (Hori Khele Raghuveera)’, a devotional piece honoring Lord Krishna’s legendary Holi festivities; ‘Spirited Splashes (Rang Darungi)’, a playful, rhythmically complex composition; ‘Crimson Flush (Sakhi Solah Hazaar)’, a contemplative exploration of color symbolism; and ‘Colours of Love (Rasiya Ko Naar)’, a romantic interpretation of Holi’s emotional resonance. Just like music Kullas look beyond borders, race communities and just celebrate us as human beings.

Ayaan: The production process incorporated both traditional analog recording methods and cutting-edge digital technologies, resulting in an immersive listening experience that places the audience at the center of the musical narrative. we have always tried to reinvent and renavigate the sound of instrument in newer aspects. we have always want to share a very acoustic and organic sound of the instrument. Therefore, we always walk an extra mile in the process of recording in Studios.

Well, Colors and Celebrations is an album that will stay and reverberate in the times to come. It has already garnered a lot interest and we look forward to see how this album shapes the fusion of cultures and sounds in the times to come.

Article by Vishwa Deepak DikshitPhoto Credit to Amaan Ali Bangash & Ayaan Ali Bangash and their team