Rishab Rikhiram Sharma to use next-gen LED-powered electric sitar during India tour? Here's what we know

Indian classical musician and sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma will perform with an LEDenhanced electric sitar during the India leg of his upcoming 10city Sitar for Mental Health Tour 2026The instrument which is said to be Indias first according to the press release is titled lsquoSITARA ndash The NextGeneration Electric Sitarrsquo It has been conceptualised and built by his father master luthier Sanjay Sharma marking a significant advancement in the evolution of the sitar and contemporary classical musicDesigned as a stateoftheart reinterpretation of the traditional instrument the newage sitar aims to build on a lineage of experimental sitars developed by Sanjay and Manjul Sharmarsquos Rikhi Ramrsquos Music including the RikESitar and the Studio SitarThe new model integrates modern sound design portability and lighting technology while retaining the tonal character of the classical sitar The instrument has been developed to expand the sitarrsquos role in contemporary performance contexts particularly across film music fusion and global live productionsExplaining the vision behind the instrument Sanjay Sharma says ldquoSITARA was created to give sitarists the ability to step into contemporary musical spaces where the electric guitar is often used The idea was to enable sitar players to perform modern arrangements especially in Bollywood fusion and world music without needing to learn another instrument While the acoustic sitar remains the soul of classical music this instrument opens exciting possibilities for crossover and global performancerdquoA defining aspect of SITARA is its compact ergonomic design developed with modern touring musicians in mind Unlike the traditional sitar the instrument is lightweight and allows performers to play while standing making it well suited for contemporary stage productionsldquoWe wanted to design something practical for todayrsquos performersrdquo Sharma explains ldquoThe instrument is compact and travelfriendly with a collapsible handrest frame and a custombuilt active pickup system with volume and tone controls that can run through amplifiers and processors At the same time when played clean through an amplifier it still retains the tonal character of a traditional sitarrdquoThe instrument also features an integrated LED interface with over allowing the sitar to visually complement live performances through synchronized lighting effectsldquoThe highdensity over 140 LEDs interface adds a visual dimension to the musicrdquo Sharma adds ldquoIt was developed after Rishabrsquos last India tour in 2024 as he wanted to enhance the visual experience for audiences during live shows The lighting can adapt to the mood and theme of each performance seamlessly blending sound and visual storytellingrdquoSITARA also introduces practical advantages for touring artists including a silentpractice capability that allows musicians to rehearse through amplification systems without the acoustic projection of a traditional sitarldquoOne of the intentions behind the design was to make the sitar easier to live and travel withrdquo Sharma says ldquoMusicians can practice without disturbing others and carry the instrument far more easily than a traditional sitarrdquoSITARA continues the centuryold legacy of Rikhi Ramrsquos Music the historic instrumentmaking house founded in 1920 known for iconic creations such as the Studio Sitar played by Pt Ravi Shankar Microphonic Sitar Erode electric Sarod microphonic Santoor and Tabla Swarmandir popularised by Daler Mehndi Suroleen MandolinSarod hybrid and the RikESitar among othersldquoNo other sitarist has performed publicly with this instrument yetrdquo Sharma notes ldquoIn the hands of a skilled musician it can move fluidly between Indian classical ragas and Western genres such as blues rock rsquonrsquo roll and heavier fusion styles The idea is not to replace tradition but to expand what the sitar can do and how new audiences can experience itrdquoFollowing performances across North America Europe the Middle East and the United Kingdom Rishab will bring the Sitar for Mental Health Tour 2026 to 10 cities across India between March and April including Bengaluru Mumbai Pune Hyderabad Chennai Jaipur Ahmedabad Chandigarh Kolkata and New DelhiThe tour is promoted and produced by Team Innovation and District by ZomatoTour datesBengaluru March 15Mumbai March 20Pune March 22Hyderabad March 27Jaipur March 29Chennai April 3Ahmedabad April 5Chandigarh April 10Kolkata April 12New Delhi April 19