Music changes clothes, but never grows old: Rahul Deshpande

Despite carrying the mantle of legendary vocalist Dr Vasantrao Deshpande, classical singer Rahul Deshpande views his musical journey not as an inherited birthright, but as a lifelong pursuit marked by constant rediscovery.

Whether performing Hindustani classical music, Natya Sangeet or abhangs, he continues to approach each stage appearance with the curiosity of a student rather than the certainty of a master.

Ahead of his Abhangwari concert in Hyderabad on Saturday, he speaks to us about the musician who drew him back to classical music, the enduring relevance of saint poetry, and why he believes music remains forever new.

‘Kumar Gandharva brought me back into classical music’Ironically, music was not always at the centre of Deshpande’s world. “Everyone at home wanted me to sing, but I was interested in various other extracurricular activities. I learned music for a few years and then stopped. The turning point came when I heard Kumar Gandharva. That absolutely brought me back into classical music. I wanted to sound like him, I wanted to sing like him.” What followed was years of training under Ushatai Chipalkatti and Pandit MukulShivputra, but Deshpande says the more deeply he immersed himself in music, the more it taught him humility.

“The first thing that comes to my mind is honesty. When you spend eight or ten hours with a single note, trying to understand it deeply, you realise how little you actually know. The deeper I go into music, the more insignificant I feel. There is always more to discover.”

‘Bhakti puts everyone on the same page’Over the years, Abhangwari has grown from a modest presentation into a multi-city touring production. Yet, for Deshpande, the scale of the event never overshadows its spiritual roots.

“It is an attempt to bring the philosophy, devotion, poetry and humility of the saints through music. Unlike classical music, where listeners may need some understanding of ragas, abhangs speak directly to people. The words are simple.

The message is universal. Bhakti puts everyone on the same page.” Deshpande says Hyderabad left a lasting impression on him during his previous visit.“Last year, nearly 40 to 50 per cent of the audience didn’t understand Marathi, yet they connected so deeply with the music.

That was very overwhelming for me. They told me I should come back next year, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

‘Music exists in the present moment’For Deshpande, the reason abhangs continue to resonate with younger audiences is simple. “Music never gets old. It simply changes clothes. Even if I sing the same composition tomorrow, it will be different. Music exists in the present moment. When I was young, I didn’t fully understand the words. As I have grown older, every year reveals a different layer. Something new touches me every time. It’s like exploring a raga — you always find something you hadn’t seen before.

” And despite decades on stage, he says the learning never stops. “Whenever I finish a concert, I close my eyes and remind myself that I still have so much left to learn.”— Sanjana Pulugurtha