PULSE by Mukti Shri to Bring an Immersive Indian Classical Music and Dance Experience to Kolkata
Eight accomplished artists will unite Kathak, Hindustani vocals and instrumental music in a contemporary theatrical presentation on October 23.
KOLKATA, October 19, 2026: Kolkata’s vibrant cultural landscape is set to welcome PULSE by Mukti Shri, an innovative production celebrating the richness of Indian classical music and dance through an immersive theatrical experience. Organised by Art Hub, the programme will take place on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Satyajit Ray Auditorium, Rabindranath Tagore Centre, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Kolkata.
Marking Art Hub’s debut in Kolkata, the production brings together eight accomplished performers representing Kathak, tabla, pakhawaj, Hindustani classical vocals, sitar and flute. Having travelled to cultural destinations including Bangkok, Mumbai, Dublin, London, Cambridge, Indore and Bengaluru, PULSE arrives in the City of Joy with a distinctive approach to presenting India’s classical performing arts.
The production blends the discipline and authenticity of traditional Indian classical art forms with contemporary theatrical elements, incorporating immersive sound, dramatic lighting and carefully designed stagecraft. Its central concept is to create a unified performance in which rhythm, melody and movement interact to offer audiences a multidimensional cultural experience.
Mukti Shri, renowned Kathak dancer, curator of PULSE and Director of Art Hub, believes that Indian classical arts can connect with audiences across generations when presented through engaging contemporary formats. The production seeks to make the depth, emotional intensity and artistic sophistication of these traditions accessible to younger audiences without compromising their classical foundations.
Kolkata, with its longstanding association with music, dance, literature and the performing arts, provides a fitting setting for the production.
An Ensemble of Accomplished Classical Artists
The performance features Kathak exponents Mukti Shri and Anvi Shri, bringing together experience and youthful artistic expression through the language of classical dance.
The rhythmic foundation will be provided by tabla artist Aashay Kulkarni, who has trained for more than two decades in the Gurukul tradition under Taalyogi Padma Shri Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. Pakhawaj exponent Krushna Salunke, associated with the Pandit Nana Sahab Panse Gharana and a disciple of Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, will contribute the distinctive depth and power of traditional percussion.
Vocalist Suranjan Khandalkar, a Patiala Gharana exponent and graded All India Radio artist, will bring his versatility across Khayal, Thumri, Bhajan and Ghazal traditions.
The instrumental ensemble includes sitarist Ayan Sengupta, an ICCR-empanelled artist, All India Radio Grade A musician and Musician Tutor at Kolkata’s ITC Sangeet Research Academy. Flute artist Dhaval Joshi, a gold medallist at the Inter-University National Youth Festival 2023, completes the musical ensemble.
Together, the artists will explore the interplay of percussion, melody and movement, with the theatrical presentation enhancing the expressive possibilities of each classical discipline.
Tradition Meets Contemporary Presentation
At its core, PULSE seeks to demonstrate that Indian classical performing arts remain dynamic and relevant in a changing cultural environment. Rather than presenting music and dance as separate performances, the production brings them together in a carefully choreographed theatrical setting.
The combination of live musicianship, Kathak, lighting and sound design aims to creat
