Bengaluru: It was not a regular Sunday at MG Road. Bengaluru’s bustling boulevard traded the familiar sounds of traffic to hurried footsteps for melodies, rhythms and applause as the Rangoli Metro Art Centre came alive with a day-long celebration of World Music Day.From classical ragas and folk tunes to film songs, devotional music and contemporary performances, the cultural space adjacent to MG Road Metro Station transformed into a vibrant showcase of the city’s musical diversity. More than 110 artists took to the stage across five venues within the Rangoli Metro Art Centre.Curious passers-by slowed down to see what was unfolding, while metro commuters found themselves drawn towards the sounds drifting through the venue. Some stopped for a few moments before moving on; others lingered, discovering genres and performances they may not have otherwise encountered.The event’s open format created a rare blend of musical traditions. Theatre music, folk performances, kirtans, multilingual band sets and instrumental showcases unfolded side by side.The celebrations culminated in Bengaluru’s iconic Community Drum Jam, led by renowned musicians Vasundhara Das and Roberto Narain, bringing together people of all ages in a collective expression of rhythm and joy.“Usually, people travelling along MG Road may never come across theatre music or many other traditional art forms. When they stop and watch performances like these, they become aware of the culture we have in Karnataka and the music we are slowly losing,” said Dr T Lakshminarayana from Ranga Shravya.Karthik Kumar, Sangama, added: “We are not an experienced band and are still finding our feet. This was a great opportunity to showcase what our band can offer. We started with fewer than 10 people in the audience, but by the end of our performance, there were around 60 to 70 people listening to us.”“Platforms like this are important because many talented performers don’t always get a stage. Our students got an opportunity to perform before a public audience, and the response from parents, visitors and metro commuters was very encouraging,” Rohit V Singh from RS Academy Institute.Minu Nair, Prana Kirtania said, “We were looking for opportunities to connect with regular people through kirtan, and this platform worked out really well for us. It was wonderful to perform in a public space where people could stop, listen and experience a genre they may not come across every day.”
