Ideas of India Summit 2025: Mahesh Raghavan, Nirali Karthik, and Mehtab Niazi Discuss Music's Future

At the Ideas of India Summit, three exceptional musicians—Mahesh Raghavan, Nirali Karthik, and Mehtab Niazi—discussed their journeys and the intersection of traditional and modern music. Mahesh, a music producer and audio engineer, spoke about how he combined his background in audio technology with his love for music. Using an iPad and an app called GeoShred, he pioneered a technique to play Indian classical music, blending technology with traditional art forms. Nirali Karthik, a classical vocalist from a non-musical family, shared her journey from a business-oriented household in Ahmedabad to becoming a classical music artist. She highlighted how her mother’s encouragement led her to pursue classical music despite the lack of resources in Gujarat at the time. Mehtab Niazi, a sitarist and vocalist from a six-generation classical music family, discussed how technology enhanced the classical music experience. He explained that modern recording techniques allowed for a more immersive sound, showcasing the evolving landscape of Indian classical music. Together, these musicians demonstrated how innovation and tradition can coexist, pushing boundaries and bringing music to a broader audience. Their performance, showcasing "healing through music," left the audience in awe, blending centuries-old traditions with cutting-edge technology.