At festivals like KGAF, where varied creative disciplines converge, initiatives such as the IPRS Stage play a crucial role in bridging generational, regional and stylistic divides
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The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) is set to return to the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) 2026 with the IPRS Stage, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing original, folk and regionally rooted music within one of India’s most respected multidisciplinary cultural festivals.
Positioned at the intersection of art, literature, design and performance, the IPRS Stage has emerged as more than just a performance platform. It is designed as a cultural intervention that brings music into a wider artistic dialogue, creating visibility for voices and traditions that often remain outside mainstream circuits. For audiences, the stage offers a gateway to discovering sounds, stories and identities drawn from India’s diverse cultural landscape; for artists, it provides credibility, reach and meaningful engagement.
At festivals like KGAF, where varied creative disciplines converge, initiatives such as the IPRS Stage play a crucial role in bridging generational, regional and stylistic divides. By presenting original and tradition-rooted music in a contemporary festival environment, IPRS ensures these forms are experienced by listeners who may be encountering them for the first time, encouraging curiosity, respect and long-term appreciation.
The IPRS Stage at KGAF 2026 will feature two performances that reflect this vision. On February 1, Goa-based band Black Sapphire will bring regional-language original music to a national cultural platform, underscoring how local voices can resonate widely when given the right space. On February 6, acclaimed musician Abhijit Pohankar will present his Global Varkari Project, which reimagines Maharashtra’s devotional Varkari tradition through a modern sonic lens, demonstrating how heritage can remain relevant without losing its essence.
Speaking about the significance of such platforms, Alison Gonsalves, lead singer and songwriter of Black Sapphire, said, “Original music is deeply personal, especially when it comes from a regional language and lived culture. Platforms like the IPRS Stage at Kala Ghoda validate our work and help audiences connect more deeply with the stories and identities behind the music.”
Abhijit Pohankar, classical pianist, fusion music producer and conceiver of the Global Varkari Project, highlighted the cultural importance of the initiative. “The Varkari music tradition belongs to an ancient Marathi devotional sect rooted in the Bhakti movement. It emphasises love for God over rituals and promotes social equality and righteousness through musical forms such as Abhang and Kirtan. Through the Global Varkari Project, we present this ancient music with a modern sound. Platforms like the IPRS Stage ensure that folk and traditional music continues to be seen, heard and experienced with dignity, relevance and respect,” he said.
In an increasingly AI-driven music ecosystem, where algorithms often influence listening habits, curated cultural platforms like the IPRS Stage are gaining renewed importance. By offering context, authenticity and direct human connection, the stage introduces audiences to genres and communities beyond digital patterns, encouraging dialogue, collaboration and cross-cultural exchange.
Rakesh Nigam, CEO of IPRS, said the initiative reflects the organisation’s larger vision. “Platforms like the IPRS Stage are essential to sustaining India’s musical diversity. By partnering with festivals such as the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, we are creating spaces where artists can be discovered and audiences can engage meaningfully with the cultural roots of our music,” he said.
Brinda Miller, Honorary Festival Director of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, noted that the collaboration aligns closely with the festival’s ethos. “KGAF has always been anchored in artistic integrity and the coming together of cultural diversity in the public sphere. The IPRS Stage furthers this vision by spotlighting original, regional and tradition-rooted music within a shared cultural setting, inviting audiences to engage with music as a reflection of identity, history and creative purpose,” she said.
As KGAF continues to serve as a meeting point for India’s creative communities, the IPRS Stage stands out as a model for how cultural institutions can support artists, educate audiences and ensure that the country’s rich musical legacy is not only preserved but carried forward into the future.