I have always loved taking the santoor into new territory: Rahul Sharma

For santoor player Rahul Sharma, music has always been about pushing boundaries. Over the years, he has taken the centuries-old instrument beyond its classical roots, exploring jazz, symphonic music and contemporary collaborations.

With his latest instrumental single, RimJhim – Rainchanted HuRuRu, Rahul once again blends tradition with modernity, this time drawing inspiration from India’s folk heritage and the romance of the monsoon.“I have always loved taking the santoor into new territory, be it jazz, contemporary, symphony or ambient electronica. While we often look towards the West, we must also immerse ourselves in the amazing and rich folk traditions that our own country offers,” Rahul tells Mumbai Mirror.The instrumental track is Rahul’s tribute to the beauty, serenity and nostalgia of the monsoon. He believes the santoor, with its cascading notes, naturally evokes images of waterfalls, lakes and the sounds of nature. “The santoor is reminiscent of waterfalls, lakes and nature, and hence the idea to come up with this song,” he says.At the heart of RimJhim... is HuRuRu, a beloved Manganiyar folk tune from Rajasthan, originally sung by the late Ustad Rana Khan.

Rahul has reimagined the melody with contemporary arrangements, creating what he describes as an “ethnic world music collaboration”. “The composition is based on a popular Manganiyar folk tune sung by Late Ustad Rana Khan. The santoor melody is composed in a contemporary style with modern chords played by Avinash Chandrachud.

The entire amalgamation brings the rustic feel of folk and new-age music together,” he explains.For Rahul, the composition is more than a musical experiment; it is an ode to the simple joy of the season’s first showers. “Music should bring peace of mind and joy, and this is a true celebration of experiencing the precious moments of the first rains and being blissful,” he signs off.