The returning edition of Vartamaan will feature Hindustani vocalists Aniruddh Aithal, Tejaswini Vernekar and Siddhartha Belmannu in Mumbai on 3 September 2026.
As Pancham Nishad marks three decades of presenting Indian classical music and the performing arts, the organisation is bringing back Vartamaan, a concert series conceived to foreground musicians representing the present and future of Hindustani classical music.
Scheduled for 3 September 2026 at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, the concert will bring together three rising vocalists—Aniruddh Aithal, Tejaswini Digamber Vernekar and Siddhartha Belmannu. Each comes from a distinct musical journey shaped by sustained training, varied influences and engagement with the contemporary concert stage.
First launched in 2002 by Pancham Nishad founder Shashi Vyas, Vartamaan was envisioned as more than a platform for debutants. It sought to recognise musicians who had already demonstrated artistic promise and were ready to be heard by wider audiences. Its inaugural edition featured artists including Ustad Rashid Khan, Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande and santoor maestro Pandit Satish Vyas.
The 2026 edition turns its attention to a younger generation, placing three emerging voices at the centre of a prime-time concert rather than presenting them merely as opening performers.
“Vartamaan was never meant to be static. In 2002, we highlighted artists who defined that moment. Today, as Pancham Nishad completes three decades, our responsibility is to back the extraordinary young talent that will define the next thirty years,” says Shashi Vyas.
He describes the latest edition as an endorsement of musicians who have moved beyond the stage of debut and are prepared to establish themselves on major concert platforms.
Three Distinct Musical Journeys
Aniruddh Aithal was introduced to classical music at the age of ten and began training under Geetha Garud Prithviraj. He currently continues his musical development under Dr Ashok Huggannavar. A recipient of several scholarships, his singing seeks to balance technical discipline with expressive interpretation.
Tejaswini Digamber Vernekar is an ‘A’ graded artist of All India Radio and a gold medallist from Banaras Hindu University. Currently pursuing her PhD, she has received more than two decades of training under Vidushi Jayalakshmi Bhat, Vidushi Lakshmi B. Hegde and Pandit G. R. Bhat of Balegadde. Her musical journey brings together sustained taleem, academic engagement and experience as a performing artist.
Siddhartha Belmannu began his training in Carnatic classical music before studying under P. R. Manjunath. For the past 13 years, he has trained in the gurukul tradition under Pandit Vinayak Torvi, whose music reflects the Gwalior and Kirana gharanas. This grounding across Carnatic and Hindustani traditions has contributed to Siddhartha’s developing musical identity.
By bringing these three vocalists together, Vartamaan also raises a larger question for the classical music ecosystem: how can established cultural organisations help promising musicians make the difficult transition from recognition within specialist circles to sustained visibility on major stages?
Young-artist platforms have long played an important role in identifying talent. Equally important, however, are opportunities that present emerging performers with the seriousness, time and visibility generally reserved for established names. The revival of Vartamaan during Pancham Nishad’s anniversary year appears intended to address that need.
Founded by Shashi Vyas in 1996, Pancham Nishad has presented more than 1,500 cultural programmes featuring over 500 Indian and international artists. Its initiatives include festivals such as Bolava Vitthal and concert platforms including Aarohi and Vartamaan.
Event Details
- Event: Vartamaan – The Present
- Artists: Aniruddh Aithal, Tejaswini Digamber Vernekar and Siddhartha Belmannu
- Date: Thursday, 3 September 2026
- Time: 6:00 pm onwards
- Venue: Ravindra Natya Mandir, Main Auditorium, Prabhadevi, Mumbai
- Tickets: ₹150 onwards, available on BookMyShow
