First time in Pune | Anirudh Varma Collective comes to Kabir festival and brings bhajans for modern ears

4 minutes of readingPuneUpdated: February 6, 2026 21:11 IST

An evening at his paternal grandparents’ house in Allahabad, where they performed a classical music baithak, would leave its mark on the mind of New Delhi-based Indian classical pianist and composer Anirudh Varma. He noticed that many listeners, especially the younger generation, began to lose interest and didn’t feel involved. “This stuck with me and I started to feel that I wanted to make classical music more accessible to the general Indian music listener,” Varma tells The Indian Express.

This was the genesis of the Anirudh Varma Collective (AVC), which is made up of musicians and artists from India, the United States and Canada.

What drives Varma and the entire team is to create a blend of Western and Hindustani classical music. “Our goal has always been to ensure that the classical or raga composition is not compromised and that all our arrangements try to fit the composition and not the other way around,” says Varma.

After more than 500 performances, including the Jaipur Literature Festival, and the albums Perspectives in 2018, Homecoming in 2022 and Sabr in 2025, the award-winning AVC makes its debut in the city at the Pune Kabir Festival. The festival, organized by the Pune-based Baithak Foundation, is titled Jag Baurana, after the Kabir bhajan that begins, “Sadho dekho jag baurana”. It will be held at the Pune International Center on February 7 and 8.

AVC, Kabir Festival, Pune The award-winning AVC makes its debut in the city at the Pune Kabir Festival. (Source: Photo Express)

“We hope to perform a wide repertoire of Kabir bhajans at the Pune Kabir Festival. A recent composition is an adaptation of Moko Kaha Dhundere Bande. This particular version has been composed by Mandar Karanjkar (Pune-based vocalist, composer, writer and one of the founders of the Pune Kabir Festival) and he asked us to make it our own, while performing it at the festival. It is always a great feeling when the composer trusts you with his composition, and Mandar ji was very kind to share his composition with us. We will present other compositions like Ghat Ghat mai panchi Bolta hai and Nirbhay Nirgun by Pt Kumar Gandharva,” says Varma.

The Kabir Festival comes with the motto: “Finding sanity in this crazy world.” “The increasingly polarized worlds we live in, the difficulty we have in listening to each other, and often the outright contempt and denial of each other’s humanity, are the modern crisis. Pune’s Kabir Festival is an effort, anchored in the wisdom shared by Kabir and other saints. It is an attempt to bring the works of the saints to the center of our modern lives,” says an official note of the event.

satsang, kabir festival in pune The morning of February 8 will begin with a Satsang at the Ram-Mula junction on Baner-Aundh Road. (Source: Photo Express)

Dakshayani Athalye, co-founder and CEO of Baithak Foundation, says the event will begin with Prabhat Pheri on February 7 at 8 am, when participants will walk along FC College Road singing and dancing to the tunes of Kabir bhajans. Samaj Manch will be held at Empress Garden in the evening and will involve spoken word, dance, drama, songs and other performances to “reflect on what it means to see clearly, question bravely and reconnect with forgotten wisdom.” “Anyone can come and present their interpretation of this year’s theme by Jag Baurana,” says Athalye. The morning of February 8 will begin with a Satsang at the Ram-Mula junction on Baner-Aundh Road. “We will sing the works of Kabir as well as some of the rich legacy of poetry of the saints of Maharashtra,” says Athalye. The last event of the festival is curated and that is where the AVC takes center stage.

Story continues below this ad.

“I think our relationship with Kabir’s work has been specifically about speaking, expressing and doing it fearlessly. We love exploring the different ways in which we can present Kabir, again in a contemporary yet sometimes raw format, to bring out the essence of the composition,” says Varma.

Dipanita Nath is a senior assistant editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability and urban life. Professional experience: Before joining The Indian Express, he worked with other top news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. Primary specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theater and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her “Pune Inc” series). Narrative Approach: His work often uncovers “hidden stories” of Pune, focusing on historical institutes, local traditions and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Their recent reports highlight the cultural pulse of Pune and the environmental challenges the city faces during the winter season: 1. Climate and Environment “Pune shiveres on coldest morning of the season, minimum temperature falls to 6.9°C” (December 20, 2025): Report on record cold wave in Pune and IMD forecast for the week. “How a heritage tree mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights growing interest in Pune’s green heritage” (December 20, 2025): Covers a citizen-led initiative where Generation Z and millennials came together to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. “Right to Breathe: Landmark NGT orders direct PMC to set standards for pollution from construction sites” (December 8, 2025): Report on a major legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. “Hidden Stories” and Heritage “Library within Pune that has nurtured the minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years” (December 21, 2025) – A Venture Center library feature detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product lifecycle. “Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift” (December 18, 2025) – A tribute to legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. “The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once the chief guest” (December 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historic role in India’s freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theater and ‘Pune Inc’ ‘Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker’ (December 17, 2025) – An in-depth interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) that explores the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. “Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses” (December 16, 2025) – Part of her “Pune Inc” series, which profiles Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower women-led startups. “How Women Drone Pilots in Rural Maharashtra Are Cultivating a Green Habit” (December 12, 2025): Exploring how women in agriculture are using technology to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for her intellectual curiosity and narrative approach. Whether he’s writing about a 110-year-old restaurant or the complexities of the climate crisis, he focuses on the human element and historical context. His columns are often a mix of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the “soul” of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath …Read more

Click here join WhatsApp Express Pune Channel and get a curated list of our stories

Select a plan

Monthly plan

Yearly plan

All plans include

Search for an article