Inside new age baithaks: Enjoy soulful music with home-cooked meals

Small intimate music soirees or baithaks are once again becoming the go-to space for lovers of classical music, particularly in the national capital, which has had a long tradition of patronising the arts. These were held in drawing rooms, or private gardens, followed by a leisurely meal and interaction with the performer. The audience was an elite gathering of friends of the patron. Author and connoisseur Shiela Dhar in her anecdotal books on music has written about these gatherings.

Families such as Shrirams, Mathurs and Bahadurs used to regularly hold baithaks in their homes. In the 1960s, thumri exponent Naina Devi’s baithaks were attended by the cognoscenti. In recent times, it’s been Vinod Kapur and Anita Singh amongst others. The evenings were elite and exclusive.

Popularly known as VSK Baithaks, over the years, host Vinod Kapur has featured many renowned artistes at his well-attended baithaks. In the last one year, young music lovers-turned-curators have joined the baithak bandwagon, shattering all norms of a traditional baithak. Ticketed baithaks, open to all, targeted specifically to a young generation, who may not have had any exposure to classical music at all, are rapidly gaining popularity. The tickets priced Rs 1,500 and above don’t seem to deter young listeners curious to experience this intimate and informal concert setting. No longer called just baithaks, they go by trendy names in English.

VSK Baithaks in Delhi, which began in 1998 by Vinod Kapur.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Artistes too view this as a welcome space and are even willing to charge less to encourage such ventures. But the new-age baithaks pose a different kind of a challenge to them. These sessions now attract a mixed audience, including first-time listeners. So performers have to tailor their concerts to appeal to a diverse group.

‘Upstairswithus’ in Vasant Kunj has organised more than nine concerts in a span of six-months. Though the space is small and located on the top-floor of an apartment without a lift, the warmth of the hosts — Sukanya and Tejas — draws in the audience.

“Combining a home-cooked meal with the ticket is a must,” says Sukanya, who explains that for young listeners, “going back home to order a meal could be tedious”. This also gives listeners an opportunity to meet, eat together and discuss music. Upstairswithus also allow their dogs into the concert space, somewhat controversially marketing this as an additional treat. The U.K.-based sarodist-composer Soumik Datta, who performed here recently, bravely managed with the basic home amplification sound system available here. 

The success of their venture has encouraged Sukanya to hold training sessions on how to conduct a baithak and also weekend vocal training workshops. Going forward, the couple plans to introduce Upstairswithus merchandise.  The aim seems to be to keep adding new listeners.

Soumik Datta and Zuheb Ahmed at Upstarswithus in Delhi
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Operating out of Dwarka, a suburb in Delhi, Evenings Unplugged, is another venture by music lovers Varun and Soumya. As a child, Soumya was introduced to baithaks in Bhilai (Madhya Pradesh) as would regularly attend such gatherings at Acharya Bimalendu Mukherji’s house. Since she wanted her two-year-old son also to have the same exposure to classical music, Soumya decided to hold baithaks.

Evenings Unplugged also caters to listeners not much familiar with the art form. Recently, sitarist Soumitra Thakur played some excellent music along with explaining the nuances to the audience. The professional sound system enhanced the concert experience. Here too, the evening included a simple home-cooked meal and an interactive session between the performer and the listeners.

In the 1960s, thumri exponent hosted popular baithaks at her residence
| Photo Credit:
Photo courtesy: Naina Devi Foundation

According to Varun, since there are hardly any classical music concerts happening in Dwarka, “we thought of baithaks to reach out to music lovers in the locality.”

Speaking after the performance, Soumitra said, “Young artistes like me have to create opportunities for themselves. They have to devise ways to bring new listeners into the fold. Soumitra, who has founded ‘Siddhirasa’, hosts baithaks in Greater Kailash colony. “This tradition will help preserve the soul of classical music. I feel music finds its truest expression in such an ambience,” he added.

Other baithaks that have sprung up in Delhi include Naadyatra in Gurgaon; and the common thread amongst these appears to be the emphasis on ticketing the concerts. It also seems like the music lovers are growing weary of listening to the same set of artistes, in an impersonal auditorium space. They feel baithaks’ simpler set ups offer a more meaningful concert experience.

Published – August 19, 2025 02:08 pm IST