Sunaad is an eclectic group of singers from Bangalore city — composed of the school-going and the retired, professional performers and hobbyists, homemakers and working professionals. What brings us together is a shared passion: a love for Hindustani classical music.
Indian classical music in India tends to stay confined to the rigorously purist domains of the formally trained. As a result, the divide between the brilliance of the performers and the lay listener is wide. Sunaad tries to bridge this divide.
By weaving in elements of theatre and storytelling into our performances, we have sought to demystify the complexity of classical music and make it more accessible. We also seek to communicate the spiritualism and stillness inherent in our classical music traditions.
Sunaad was founded in 2002 under the guidance of classical vocalists Tara Kini and Aditi Upadhya. Since then, Tara has led the group through over two decades of growth, learning and performance.
Over 20 years and 100 shows, Sunaad has performed across Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and beyond — bringing Dhrupad, Khayal, Tarana and the deep philosophy of the Upanishads to audiences of all ages.
At the heart of Sunaad's work is a conviction: that India's classical music is not merely an art form, but a path. Rooted in the Sama Veda and the Upanishadic tradition, it carries within it a living philosophy — of Nada Brahma, the idea that sound itself is the divine. Our productions attempt to make that philosophy tangible, accessible, and joyful.