Usually, plans in Delhi revolve around the staircases of new cafes, the crowd of a concert hall, or spectating music from afar. What we ache for is an evening to reset, to keep our phones on silent, sit down with a like-minded stranger, and truly appreciate the beauty of a craft. Indian classical music is not dead; it is just misunderstood. It’s quite natural to feel like an imposter when you do not understand it yet. Afterall, it is the music of our heritage and culture. One of these evenings, head to a cosy living room in Vasant Kunj for a cosy home concert. Here, Upstairs With Us hosts an intimate baithak where you and a few other music lovers enjoy an evening of classical tunes. Sitting only a few feet away from the acoustics, you can feel the power of a raag, the sound of the soul, and the raw devotion that is classical music.
Upstairs With Us – A Delhi Community
In her simple and warm living room, Sukanya Banerjee greets the crowd with ease, hosting them gracefully and making them feel at home. Meanwhile, her husband, Tejas Jaishankar, brews tea for the evening. Together, they host Upstairs With Us, a Delhi-based initiative focused on their love for Indian classical music. Hosting small-format home concerts, their living room is designed to give you an immersive and surreal listening experience.
This home concert is called a baithak. It isn’t a new concept, but actually a forgotten one. Upstairs with Us strives to revive this old-school tradition of a personal sit-down concert where the distance between the performer and the listener simply merges. And, this changes everything. Music starts to feel like a bond shared between the guests and less of a commercial bigotry. Here, there is no pressure to perform, but acoustics that feel intentionally intimate.
Starting with a short and easy introduction with no jargon or gatekeeping, each baithak is specially curated. Additionally, the lineup usually includes both Hindustani and Carnatic classical music genres like khayal, dhrupad and occasionally, thumri. The routine is pretty straightforward. As you enter along with other guests, take your seat in the most comfortable corner. Soon, the riveting beats of tabla and sarangi ripple through the warmly lit room. One doesn’t need to be an artist, performer, or student. You just have to enjoy music and go in with an open mind to experience the cultural richness of Indian classical music.
You would find young first-timers, seasoned parents, and those with their grandparents, sitting together and connecting over their shared awe. After a couple of hours, the evening recedes into conversations and dinner hosted by Sukanya and Tejas. Soon, you would find conversations flowing most amicably with strangers from three different generations.
When do they host?
Every month, Upstairs With Us hosts two baithaks at home, one on a weekday and one over the weekend. Additionally, they also host a two-day immersive program with a baithak, workshops, and lectures somewhere away from the comfort of their living room. The ticket sales go live on specific days on their Instagram, so stay tuned!
Pro-tip:
If you’re a classical musician and have live performance experience, you can also reach out to Upstairs With Us with your work. If you are searching for an introduction to Indian classical music for beginners, then remember, this is a non-judgmental zone. Come, spectate, connect, and fall in love. Finally, to keep the space intimate and the event small, the venue address is often disclosed after booking the tickets.
You can also support them financially to pay their artists fairly and keep their initiative functioning.
Key Information
đź’¸Approx. â‚ą2,500/- per person (includes concert and dinner)
🎟️Announced and released via their Instagram. Book your ticket here.
đź“ŤVasant Kunj, New Delhi (Address shared upon booking)