An evening at his paternal grandparents’ home in Allahabad, where they were hosting a classical music baithak, would leave a dent in the mind of New Delhi-based Indian classical pianist and composer, Anirudh Varma. He noticed that a lot of listeners, especially the younger generation, began to lose interest and didn’t feel involved. “This stayed with me and I began to feel like I want to make classical music more accessible to the general mainstream listener of Indian music,” says Varma to The Indian Express.
This was the genesis of the Anirudh Varma Collective (AVC), which is made up of musicians and artists from India, the US and Canada.
What drives Varma and the entire team is creating a blend of Western and Hindustani classical music. “Our aim has always been to make sure that the classical composition or raga is not getting compromised and that all our arrangements are trying to adapt around 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 is making its debut in the city at the Pune Kabir Festival. The festival, organised by Pune-based Baithak Foundation, is titled Jag Baurana, after the Kabir bhajan that begins, “Sadho dekho jag baurana”. It is taking place at the Pune International Centre on February 7 and 8.
The award-winning AVC is making its debut in the city at the Pune Kabir Festival. (Source: Express Photo)
“We are looking forward to performing a vast repertoire of Kabir bhajans at the Pune Kabir Festival. One 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 presenting it at the festival. It’s always a great feeling when the composer trusts you with their composition – and Mandar ji was very gracious while sharing his composition with us. We will be presenting other compositions such as Ghat Ghat mai panchi bolta hai, and Nirbhay Nirgun by Pt. Kumar Gandharva,” says Varma.
The Kabir Festival comes with the tagline – “Finding your sanity in this mad world”. “The increasingly polarised worlds we live in, the difficulty we have in listening to each other, and many times the downright dismissal and denial of each other’s humanity, are the modern crisis. The Pune Kabir Festival is an endeavour anchored in the wisdom shared by Kabir and other saints. It is an attempt to bring the works of saints to the centre of our modern lives,” says an official note of the event.
The morning of February 8 will begin with a Satsang at the Ram-Mula Confluence on the Baner-Aundh Road. (Source: Express Photo)
Dakshayani Athalye, co-founder and CEO of the Baithak Foundation, says that the event will begin with Prabhat Pheri on February 7, 8 am, when participants walk through FC College Road singing and dancing to the rhythms of Kabir bhajans. Samaj Manch will be held at Empress Garden in the evening, comprising spoken word, dance, drama, song and other performances to “reflect on what it means to see clearly, question boldly and reconnect with forgotten wisdom”. “Anyone can come and present their interpretation of this year’s theme of Jag Baurana,” says Athalye. The morning of February 8 will begin with a Satsang at the Ram-Mula Confluence on the Baner-Aundh Road. “We will be singing the works of the Kabir as well as some of Maharashtra’s rich legacy of poetry of saints,” says Athalye. The last event of the festival is curated, and that is where the AVC takes centrestage.
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“I think our relationship with the work of Kabir has specially been about speaking and expressing freely and doing so without being fearless. We love to explore the different ways in which we can present Kabir – once 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 Background
Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint.
Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series).
Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season:
1. Climate & Environment
"Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week.
"How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
"Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner.
2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage
"Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle.
"Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport.
"The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle.
3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc"
"Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema.
"Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups.
"How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor.
Signature Style
Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune.
X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More
The award-winning AVC is making its debut in the city at the Pune Kabir Festival. (Source: Express Photo)
The morning of February 8 will begin with a Satsang at the Ram-Mula Confluence on the Baner-Aundh Road. (Source: Express Photo)