India’s First Music Showcase Festival Now in Delhi – Soundscapes of India Season 2 Opens with deep insights on The Art on Songwriting, by Padma Bhushan Javed Aktar along with Mayur Puri
Soundscapes of India – Season 2, presented by The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) in collaboration with MusiConnect India and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, commenced today at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi.
The festival opened its three-day journey of music, collaboration, and cultural exchange with a series of insightful workshops, panel discussions, and live performances, uniting Indian creators with global festival curators and music professionals.Morning Sessions: Connecting Indian Artists with Global Pathways
The day began with a Welcome Note at 10:00 AM, followed by sessions that explored how Indian musicians can access global platforms and opportunities.
The first workshop, “Are You Export Ready?” (10:05–10:50 AM), featured Donny Heru (La La La Festival, Indonesia) and Sarun Pinyaret (Maho Rasop Festival, Thailand), offering practical insights for artists aiming to take their music to the international stage.This was followed by “Unveiling the World’s Iconic Stages” (10:55–11:40 AM), spotlighting festivals like Seoul Music Week, Ulsan Jazz Festival (South Korea), and Music Lane Festival (Japan), La La La Festival, (Indonesia), amongst others.At 11:45 AM, Gaurav Dagaonkar, Founder & CEO of Hoopr, led a session on “Monetize Your Music”, helping independent artists understand sync licensing and new revenue models.
The pre-lunch panel, “Borderless Beats – Building Global Pathways for Artists & Collaboration” (12:20–1:05 PM), brought together Koji Sato (Japan Foundation), Soumini Sridhara Paul (Gatsvy Media), moderated by Shilpi Gupta, highlighting the growing opportunities for Indian creators through cross-border collaboration.The post-lunch sessions commenced with the Soundscapes Living Legacy – A Live Exhibition of India’s Rare Instruments along and Noori ki Vadyagram.
The attendees stepped into a journey through India’s rich sonic heritage at The Living Legacy — a live exhibition celebrating rare and forgotten instruments that have shaped our musical identity. Witness captivating live demonstrations of traditional instruments such as the Pena, Rabab, Yazh, Kudamuzha, Urumi, Sangu, Kombu, Ektara, Dhol, Surna, Piwang, among others. Artists and cultural practitioners brought these timeless sounds to life, reviving the echoes of India’s diverse regions and traditions.
📅 Dates: 10th – 12th November
📍 Venue: Darshanam 2, IGNCA, New Delhi
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
by Padma Bhushan Javed Akhtar in conversation with Mayur Puri. The legendary lyricist and screenwriter delved into the creative process, emotion, and craft behind some of India’s most iconic songs, offering invaluable insights to aspiring songwriters.
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Evening: Grand Opening Ceremony & Live Music Showcase
The Opening Ceremony, held at 5:30 PM at Unmukt, IGNCA, was graced by:
• Padma Bhushan Javed Akhtar
• Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA
• Smt. Amita Prasad Sarabhai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture
The ceremony was followed by the Opening Night Music Showcase at 6:30 PM, featuring a power-packed lineup of performances by:
• Tal Fry (Delhi)
• Dashugs (Leh, Ladakh)
• Thayir Sadam Project (Chennai)
• Kuntaw Mindanao (Philippines)
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Setting the Tone for India’s Global Music Movement
With a focus on collaboration, creator empowerment, and international exposure, Day 1 of Soundscapes of India – Season 2 set the tone for the festival’s larger vision to position India as a vital voice in the global music ecosystem.
The festival continues 11th and 12th November with live showcases at IGNCA and The Piano Man, featuring performances by over 100 artists and 24 bands from across India and the world.
