A fusion of traditional Balkan music with Indian classical, Sufi and folk, interpreted through the language of dance. Each set-piece will be a sensorially profound journey unfolding in the form of sacred invocations, high-octane instrumentals, soulful songs of love and longing, and the poetry of mystical Sufi saints – brought to life by dance skills that are rooted in technique but driven by the emotional ethos of each musical rendition. The performance will feature two Slovenian and five Indian artistes, creating an immersive experience across various realms of our consciousness.

Zariya is an initiative to provide a platform for artistes from the field of music and dance who thrive on innovative collaborations and the creation of exciting new content. It is jointly run by Indian vocalist Sabiha Khan and Kathak dancer Indrayanee Mukherjee, who have more than thirty years of experience in their respective fields of art.

Zariya made its debut in 2017 on World International Dance Day to packed audiences in Mumbai. The goal of Zariya is not just to act as a medium between the artiste and the audience, but also to explore the infinite possibilities of each collaborative effort, whether it is to be showcased on a big stage, in the intimate setting of a house-concert or a music video published online.

ARTISTES -

Indrayanee Mukherjee (Dance)

An Arts graduate from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, Indrayanee Mukherjee is a student of Indian Classical dance (Kathak). She is the first Ganda-bandh shahgird of her Guruma, Smt. Uma Dogra. Having pursued the art form as a deep quest, she has been training and performing alongside her mentor and giving solo performances all over India and abroad for over twenty years. In all her performances, Indrayanee has enthralled the audiences with

her graceful gestures, beautiful bodyline work and rich technique.

An artistic personality, she expresses her creativity also through poetry and films which are her personal homage to the rich cultural heritage of Indian Classical art forms. Indrayanee aspires through her independent films, not only to archive the great traditions that have deeply nurtured her, but also to pay a tribute to both the art and the

artiste. Through Zariya she continues to pursue this most cherished commitment of hers.

Sabiha Khan (Indian & Balkan Vocals)

A strong foundation in semi-classical Indian music gives Sabiha the wings to explore the

mystical possibilities of Sufi renditions and infuse her own special touch to songs of love,

devotion, joy and melancholy. Right from playback singing to performing on stage and taking workshops, she adapts effortlessly to every platform and revels in the opportunity it gives her to connect with the audience.

Sabiha is the lead vocalist of Aritmija, a Slovenia-based fusion band that skilfully combines traditional Slovene music with Indian classical, Sufi, folk, rock, jazz and flamenco. Back home in India, she has lent her voice to several radio and TV commercials and documentaries. She is the founder and joint-partner of Zariya.

Vinayak Netke (Tabla)

A trained tabla player with an in-depth knowledge of Indian Classical music and a flair for writing and composing, Vinayak wears many hats at the same time, be it that of a composer, percussionist, arranger, lyricist or fusion artiste. He has produced music for several radio and TV commercials and TV shows in India, and also composed songs and background scores for feature films.

He performs across the globe with many acclaimed musicians, generously bringing to the table, his sharp understanding of musical grammar, which helps him contribute richly to every ensemble band he collaborates with. He is a key member of Aritmija, bringing to the band an energy that rises in sync with its two extraordinary guitarists, elevating the overall impact of each piece they create.

Tilen Stepišnik (Guitar)

He is the co-founder of Aritmija, not only invested in the band as an instrumentalist, composer and arranger, but also spearheading its participation in concerts, state-supported cultural projects and album creations. A keen interest in harmonic minor scales, their variations, odd rhythms and ethno music, drives Tilen’s compositions as a guitarist. He also plays the baglama, tres, double bass and electric bass. As a cultural worker and teacher,

Tilen is committed to various institutes in Slovenia and also plays for various bands. Representing Aritmija with Dino, he has created music for a few note-worthy documentaries, films and animation projects as well.

Šemsudin Džopa (Guitar)

Fondly known as Dino, he is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, philosopher and guitar teacher from Slovenia. He plays the acoustic, classical and electric guitar, mandolin and saz.

Dino is the co-founder of Aritmija. Along with fellow-guitarist Tilen Stepišnik, he forms the backbone of the band. Together they have created most of the band's compositions, taking it from strength to strength since the time it was first formed in 2002. He has been involved in various music projects, not just with musicians but also with poets and filmmakers, and has performed in mre than 600 concerts across Europe, Argentina and India. Another key project of his is Sedef, a band that arranges and plays traditional Bosnian sevdalinka songs.

Manoj Desai (Indian Vocals)

A disciple of Pt. Dinkar Panshikar of the Jaipur Gharana, he has accompanied renowned artistes like Padma Vibhushan Birju Maharaj, Padmashri Padmaja Phenany Joglekar and Sujata Mohapatra to name a few. A vocalist and music composer at heart, he has been the key vocal support for exponents of traditional Indian dance styles viz. Kathak, Odissi and Bharatnatyam for dance performers across the country.

As a solo artiste, he has been at the forefront with performances across music genres like Geet, Ghazals, Bhaavgeet, devotional music and so on. His music has been influenced by artistes like Hariharan, Jagjit Singh and Suresh Wadkar.

Pratik Shreevastava (Sarod)

Pratik was initiated into the art of playing the Sarod by his maternal grandfather, Pandit Rabi Chakraborty. Later he learnt from his uncle, Dr. Rajeeb Chakraborty, an internationally acclaimed musician and mentor. Pratik’s first performance on stage was at the prestigious Salt Lake Music Conference when he was twelve, followed by many other reputed Indian classical music festivals. At the age of thirteen, he participated in the World Children’s Music

Festival in Jordan and at Ploermal Children’s Music Festival in France. After getting his Bachelor’s degree, Pratik became a full-time performing artiste. He has performed at several major music festivals and events in India and abroad, such as Ethno Australia, Woodford Folk Festival and Milap Festival, UK. He has collaborated with internationally renowned musicians like Anoushka Shankar and A.R. Rahman.