One of the Smoothest Genre-Blending Performances We’ve Seen

“Shaitan Ka Ghar” from the ATKT Lab Sessions is one of those performances where, a few minutes in, the whole room feels like it’s locked into the same pulse.

The setup itself is interesting because this could’ve very easily become chaotic. There’s sitar, tabla, keys, beatboxing, indie influences, hip hop textures, multiple vocalists, a lot happening at once. But somehow the performance keeps flowing naturally from one section to the next, while staying true to its identity.

Parshva Jain’s sitar sits right at the centre of the sound. It carries the classical foundation of the piece, but the performance never stays in one lane for too long. Saket Mittal’s rhythm keeps everything moving underneath while Neerad Sumeet and Raunak Sharma slowly build more texture into the set without overcrowding it.

And then the vocal shifts completely change the atmosphere.

Devashri Manohar brings a kind of restraint to the performance that fits beautifully into the slower sections, while Sai Wategaonkar enters with an energy that immediately changes the colour of the piece without disrupting its flow.

Gaurav Gambhir’s beatboxing deserves a mention too because it elevates the rhythm structure of the performance, sitting surprisingly well beside the tabla and giving the entire set another layer of movement.

What really makes the session memorable is the way everything blends together so seamlessly. The transitions feel instinctive, like the musicians are listening and responding to each other in real time.

By the end, the performance feels less like a composition being played and more like something unfolding naturally in the room.