---
title: "Pure Indian Classical Sitar & Jugalbandi Performances"
description: "Experience authentic Indian classical music with Mehtab Ali Niazi. Book pure raga explorations and traditional jugalbandi performances for your next event."
canonical: https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts/the-classical-soul-pure-ragas-duets
last_updated: 2025-09-22
---

# Pure Indian Classical Sitar & Jugalbandi Performances

Tribe Verified · Classical performances across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata.

By [Mehtab Ali Niazi](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi) · Available for concerts across Mumbai, Delhi NCR, and pan-India · ₹1.8L Per Performance (60-90 Mins) (estimate)

Part of [World Music & Fusion Concerts](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts/gallery)

Experience the meditative depth of traditional ragas and the spontaneous magic of a live jugalbandi, crafted with centuries of musical lineage.

## Photos and videos

- [Video: A beautiful bandish in Raag Shudh Kalyan, performed at home with my brother Khurram Ali Niazi on tabla. This is a glimpse into our riyaaz (practice), a spontaneous musical conversation between us.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/bbb18e02-7cbb-46dd-9c2e-43cc77089375)
- ![Performing at the "Udaan" Youth Classical Music Festival in Kolkata. The city is known for its deep appreciation of classical music, and earning a standing ovation from this audience was a truly humbling experience.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/10e51ba6-a340-4827-9e9c-6fcacdd89d15)
- ![Lost in the melody during my performance in Kolkata. When I play a raga, I try to immerse myself completely in its emotion and essence.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/fe3b6418-7170-4896-beed-398bed1657b2)
- ![My first time performing with the esteemed Pt. Ramdas Palsule uncle at the "NaadMudra" concert in Pune. The musical chemistry we shared on stage was instant and memorable.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0e26eba6-1b0f-4457-bd51-66e1d760f328)
- ![On stage in Pune, accompanied by two tabla players. This setup allows for a rich and complex rhythmic dialogue, adding another layer to the classical performance.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/44afb97c-1736-4032-9a0e-0b09aa2e880b)
- ![Performing at the Virasat festival in Dehradun with Shubh Maharaj on tabla. It was a pleasure to share the stage with him after eight years and feel the same musical chemistry.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1a1fce80-6be4-4b88-b737-11ca53fa8c88)
- ![A smiling moment from my debut concert in Dehradun. The joy of sharing classical music with a new audience is always a special feeling.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0ab57f1c-85b5-4403-99f4-5099a748fc81)
- ![On stage at The Indian Music Conference in Vashi, accompanied by Swapnil Bhise. His dynamic accompaniment was spot on, and it's always fun to perform with him.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/20a0e6f6-54f1-4bc5-bcb1-98daa26d8460)
- [Video: A short clip from my performance at SHABD, a poetry festival. I began with a beautiful ghazal, followed by a traditional Jod and Jhala, presenting pure classical music to an audience of literature lovers.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/929bb58d-b2ca-4e7e-8b3e-aa8ad683f95b)
- ![Performing at the SHABD festival. The stage was beautifully decorated with lanterns, creating an intimate and warm atmosphere for my solo sitar recital.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c462e1ef-b713-422a-be19-2ed729215bba)
- ![The poster for the inauguration concert of the Bengal Biennale, where I performed with my band, Araj. Araj is a neo-classical instrumental group where we explore traditional ragas in a collaborative format.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/60df977f-6a13-45c3-b8c4-7cc032c78ea2)
- ![The announcement for our Araj concert at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. I'm featured here with my talented bandmates: Ishaan Ghosh, Pratik Singh, Vanraj Shastri, and S Akash.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/12aa4e66-002b-4d4e-8fb0-356af8b2c95e)
- ![The poster for my "Strings of Serenity" recital at The Cube, NMACC. For this concert, I was accompanied by the legendary Sridhar Parthasarathy on Mridangam and the sensational Ishaan Ghosh on Tabla.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/baae4bf5-0e2c-44ed-96ed-13e267ca49c5)
- [Video: The poster for the SHABD festival, a celebration of "Qisse, Kahaani, Shayari" (Anecdotes, Stories, Poetry). It was an honor to be the musical feature among so many fine storytellers and poets.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f694a004-f446-48aa-b029-a6a217b2beb1)
- ![A close-up from my performance at the Virasat festival in Dehradun. This shot captures the intricate hand movements and intense focus required for a classical sitar recital.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0c4dd115-4292-4ca6-ad2b-385b66809cd7)
- ![Another expressive moment from the Dehradun concert. Each raga has a different personality, and my expressions often reflect the mood of the music.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ee1b9a06-394f-42b5-be05-bfd4b0d9128e)
- ![Singing a phrase during my performance at the SHABD poetry festival. In classical music, the instrumentalist often sings the composition to internalize the melody before playing it.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d264da74-1756-4e16-b3fb-92e33d9d31b5)
- [Video: A clip of me interacting with the audience at the SHABD festival. I believe it's important to explain the context and emotion of a raga to help the audience connect more deeply with the music.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d04be63d-1a24-4a32-899d-5aac83518708)
- [Video: A wide shot of my solo performance at the SHABD festival. The single spotlight and dark stage create a dramatic effect, putting all the focus on the music.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/96b6bfbf-f0e0-44aa-8f5d-3e5abed7916c)
- ![A moment of intense concentration during my recital. Playing a raga is a meditative process that requires complete immersion in the sound.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3ba27f48-4744-4e00-949d-3b7a08b8377f)
- ![The intensity of a fast-paced passage during my Kolkata concert. This is where the technical skill and years of practice come to the forefront.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b1b3ba47-e41f-47e2-b0a0-697b9c15c806)
- ![A lighter moment during the same Kolkata performance. The interplay with the tabla player often brings moments of joy and spontaneity to the stage.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e83030c4-4743-4569-9cf9-ada9e026c1a9)
- ![Deep in concentration, exploring the nuances of a raga at the "Udaan" festival. These are the moments of pure musical exploration that I cherish.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/093ab0f5-b08f-4efa-a772-02bf0cee39e2)
- ![A close-up shot from the Kolkata concert, showing the detailed work on the sitar's frets. The beauty of classical music is often in the subtle details and ornaments.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a14a6509-372d-4219-9830-ae63377408e9)
- ![A happy and relaxed moment on stage in Pune. The warm response from the audience of music connoisseurs made it a memorable performance.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ceafcd51-8f31-4c4a-9a83-0f7c3456e6fa)
- ![Performing for Swaraninad in Pune with Rohit Mujumdar on tabla. It was our first time playing together, but it felt like we had been collaborating for years.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7f2f9e00-f3f6-42e2-b17f-a2d029ee9b8d)
- ![A black-and-white shot from the Pune concert, capturing a moment of joy. The connection with a great accompanist makes the performance feel like a delightful conversation.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3e4d58b7-3d9c-4d84-90b2-fe6a2783fd2a)
- ![Another smiling shot from the Swaraninad concert in Pune. Getting a standing ovation from a knowledgeable audience is always incredibly encouraging.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9597c2a9-3210-4610-8039-22f5d8f060ca)
- ![A black-and-white photo capturing a moment of deep musical immersion. This is the state of "sur" where the musician and the music become one.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b3e2ca85-9342-4687-9056-1a3a46be4240)
- ![The joy of performance is evident in this photo from my Pune recital. Sharing the stage with a wonderful musician and a receptive audience is a true blessing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/44988eec-ddf8-4647-bfe4-8eb78d8e2c2c)
- ![A focused shot from my performance at the Indian Music Conference. The embroidery on my kurta is from Aarong in Bangladesh, and the shawl is from Kashmir, reflecting my love for South Asian craftsmanship.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3d16dbb0-5506-4de4-af06-4275a41aa766)
- ![Looking towards my tabla accompanist during the performance. This non-verbal communication is key to a successful jugalbandi (duet).](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/38593901-75de-4307-99bb-90217893aeeb)

## About The Classical Soul: Pure Ragas & Duets

For my pure classical recitals, the stage setup is quite different from fusion shows. I insist on an intimate seating arrangement because a jugalbandi—a musical dialogue with the tabla player—requires us to be in close proximity to maintain the subtle rhythmic communication that defines the performance. This ensures the audience hears the intricate details of the raga rather than just the volume.

Indian classical music is not just about the notes, it is about the emotion and the raga's personality. When I perform in this format, I return to my roots. Whether it is an early morning Todi or an evening Yaman, my goal is to guide the audience through the slow exploration of the Alap, followed by the rhythmic complexity of the Jod and Jhala.

My classical sets are best suited for listening audiences, cultural festivals, or intimate baithaks where the focus is on the music. Unlike my fusion concerts which are high-energy and band-driven, these performances are stripped back. It is usually just me on the sitar and a skilled tabla player. We do not have a set list. Instead, we read the mood of the room and the energy of the audience to decide the raga and the tempo.

If you are planning an event, please note that these performances require a quiet environment to be truly effective. The beauty of the sitar lies in its microtonal nuances, and these can be lost in a noisy or banquet-hall setting. I generally recommend this format for audiences of up to 200 people who are there specifically to listen. I am happy to discuss the choice of raga in advance if you have a specific time of day or theme in mind for your gathering.

## About Mehtab Ali Niazi

Music is my prayer and my history, passed down through generations. When I step on stage with my sitar, I am just trying to find that one perfect melody that connects us all, whether it is a quiet morning raga or an intense evening jugalbandi.

[See all of Mehtab Ali Niazi's services](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi)

## More from World Music & Fusion Concerts by Mehtab Ali Niazi

- [Featured](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts/featured)
- [The Mehtab Ali Niazi Experience: Live Fusion Concerts](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts/the-mehtab-ali-niazi-experience-live-fusion-concerts)
- [Original Music & Albums](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts/original-music-albums)
- [Bollywood & Ghazal Reimagined](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts/bollywood-ghazal-reimagined)
- [Global Crossover: Western Hits on Sitar](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts/global-crossover-western-hits-on-sitar)
- [Sitar Across The World: International Tours](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts/sitar-across-the-world-international-tours)
- [Behind the Scenes & Press](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts/behind-the-scenes-press)
- [Legacy & Inspirations](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/world-music-fusion-concerts/legacy-inspirations)

## More services by Mehtab Ali Niazi

- [Indian Classical & Devotional Concerts](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/indian-classical-devotional-concerts)
- [Live Music for Private & Corporate Events](https://mytribe.in/mehtabaliniazi/live-music-for-private-corporate-events)

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