5:30 AM to 7:30 AM
Jaswant Thada
Full Festival pass/ Day Pass/ J RIFF dawns pass Rs. 250/-

Jodhpur RIFF is pleased to present the mellifluous vocals, and delectable guitar sounds of Louis Mhlanga at what promises to be a stunning African sunrise. Influenced heavily by traditional finger-picking styles of African instruments such as the kora, Louis’ is a unique sound among jazz guitarists. He is celebrated as one of Southern Africa’s finest roots and jazz musicians. Self-taught from a young age, Mhlanga’s career began in the 1970s, where he led several Zimbabwean bands, blending American and local influences. He gained recognition working with iconic Zimbabwean acts like Shaka, Talking Drum, Ilanga, and Oliver Mtukudzi.
His move to South Africa opened doors to new opportunities, leading to collaborations with legends like Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri, and Busi Mhlongo. An award-winning guitarist and producer, Mhlanga’s contributions remain pivotal in African music history.

India Premiere at Jodhpur RIFF 2024

9.00 AM to 10.30 AM
Chokelao Mahal
Full Festival pass/ Day Pass

Kathak like never before with Tarini Tripathi
A former athlete, a functional trainer and an award-winning, young, third generation classical dancer, Tarini Tripathi grew up surrounded by Kathak. She returns with her unique legacy to Jodhpur RIFF, to facilitate an invigorating session of dance, introducing us to this beautiful form of movement. Kathak derives much of its beauty from subtle expressions, graceful hand movements and intricate foot movement enhanced by the resounding bells of the ghungroo worn around the dancer’s ankles.
Tarini has trained and performed alongside her mother Gauri Sharma Tripathi and grandmother Padma Sharma, both eminent names in Kathak. She has successfully incorporated dancing into her career in fitness training too, advocating the artform as a way of core building and balance training. This session gives us a taste of Tarini’s simple philosophy, that dance is a way of life in every sense.
Jodhpur RIFF presents rustic dance ‘bootcamps’, facilitated by noted practitioners and trainers. Short, intense, and rigorous, these camps will give participants an experiential insight into the movements and practice of traditional dance forms.

Please Note:
This is the one-and-only, stand-alone session of this form.
Please wear/ bring appropriate and comfortable clothing that allows free movement such as T-shirts, long/ loose shirts or blouses, tights, loose track or harem pants or long skirts.
Do carry your own rehydration and drying material. Be prepared to sweat! It is a boot camp!!

9:45 AM to 5:00 PM
Venues throughout the Mehrangarh Museum
Museum Entry Ticket/ Full Festival pass/ Day Pass

Discover the myriad hues of the traditional dance forms of Rajasthan, reflecting its distinctive root traditions, some popular and some rare, including: Chang Nritya– a charming, captivating dance, with men swaying and grooving while playing a round frame-drum called chang; Teraah Taali – known for agility and grace, where women move to and produce the reverberating sounds of teraah i.e. thirteen little cymbals or manjira that are fastened to their waist, wrists, elbows, and hands, simultaneously showcasing their skills of movement, balance and concentration; the Kalbeliya, a dance form that evolved when the traditional snake charmers of the state could no longer work with snakes… And many other forms!

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Chokelao Bagh
Full Festival pass/ Day Pass

Pavakathakali, the unusual glove puppetry of Kerala: Pavakathakali brings together the extravagance of two celebrated forms of theatre; the vibrance of the classical theatre of Kathakali and the playfulness of puppetry come together to dramatise and bring to life well known mythological stories. The puppeteers sit on the floor next to a nilavilakku (a lighted copper lamp) and perform for an audience seated around them. Accompanied by singers and musical instruments like chenda, chengila, ilathalam and shankhu, the glove puppets, adorned with golden ornaments, cowrie shells and gemstones require great dexterity to master. Jodhpur RIFF is honoured to present a facilitated, one-of-a-kind experience to engage with the artists and learn more about the craftsmanship and artistry behind this intricate artform, directly from its practitioners – the Natanakairali Pavakathakali Ensemble, led by Guru G Venu and produced by Alif Arts.

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Chokelao Mahal
Full Festival pass/ Day Pass

This year we present two unique films on Sufi poetry and music, directed by leading world music journalist, ex-editor of Songlines magazine and filmmaker Simon Broughton. Shot in early 2002, ‘Breaking the Silence: The Music of Afghanistan’ documents the remarkable moment when the country was reconnected
with its musical culture. ‘Sufi Soul: The mystic music of Islam’, written and hosted by historian and author William Dalrymple, brings to life a key message that music is a fundamental element of Sufism and a key to its practice.
Simon Broughton will be at Jodhpur RIFF and will present the films in person.

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Chokelao Bagh
Full Festival pass/ Day Pass

Shaiva Koothu: Kutiyattam by Kapila Venu:
Kutiyattam (meaning ‘acting together’), one of the oldest living theatre traditions of the world and acknowledged by UNESCO as ‘Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’. With its roots in Kerala, this performance is an intricate mix of ancient Sanskrit theatre and traditional koothu, an ancient artform from the Sangam era. Kapila Venu, trained by the legendary Gurus Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, G Venu and Usha Nangiar, has been involved in teaching and performing this dramatised worship form, as well as Nangiar Koothu and Mohiniyattam for several decades now. Kapila’s practice is an ever- evolving attempt at experimenting beyond the traditional possibilities of the ancient artform.

Inayat – a duet for four – Kathak-Rajasthani collaboration with Tarini Tripathi & SAZ:
After the successful debut at Jodhpur RIFF 2023, Mumbai-based exemplary Kathak dancer Tarini Tripathi and young masters of the Langa tradition – SAZ – return to present their unique collaboration, bringing two traditions together in a unique jugalbandi. Almost always performed to Hindustani/ classical instruments such as the tabla, here, Tarini performs her freshly choreographed pieces completely tuned to select, traditional percussion and songs of the Langa community and to Sufi kalaam, rendered by Sadiq Khan’s masterful dholak, Asin Khan’s powerful vocals and his Sindhi Sarangi (recipient of the Aga Khan Music Award 2020-22; Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2022), and Zakir Khan’s amazing khartal. SAZ, soon to release their first album, are a young trio committed to the continuity of their tradition, while writing new songs and developing new work in collaboration with artists from across the world. As a former athlete and fitness professional, Tarini sees a synergy between movement and energy. For her, dance is a dynamic extension of one’s being, where we express what we are afraid to do in routine life. Recently bestowed with the ‘Nritya Nipun’ from Nalanda Dance Research Centre, Tarini is recipient of the Best Dancer Award at PECDA 2022. She is also the Co-Director, Principal Dancer, and faculty at Amara Nritya Kala Hansa. Tarini has performed extensively in India and the UK, under the guidance of her mother, acclaimed dancer, and choreographer Gauri Sharma Tripathi, and her grandmother, the incredible Smt. Padma Sharma.

This untitled collaboration is a Jodhpur RIFF commission.

7:30 PM onwards
Zenana Courtyard
Full Festival pass/ Day Pass

Sumitra
A radiant, characteristically rough yet soothing voice, is Sumitra Das Goswami, coming from Jaitaran, a small town in the Pali district of Rajasthan. In the unique cultural landscape of Rajasthan, the voice plays a critically important role. And women are the custodians, teaching the songs to the children of the communities. Sumitra Das Goswami is one of the most respected folk singers of the region, and it is not for nothing that she is informally referred to as the “Cuckoo of Rajasthan”. Under the guidance of her father, she sang in neighbouring towns in her early youth at all night Jagaras: nocturnal vigils, replete with devotional and spiritual songs. Sumitra has also been active internationally. In 2009 she collaborated with Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling, in the intercultural music project “Dharohar Project” (commissioned for Jodhpur RIFF). In 2014 she toured Germany extensively, including a spectacular house-full performance at the prestigious Berlin Philharmonie. After a hiatus of a few years, Sumitra started performing again in 2021. Most recently, she performed at the Lincoln Centre in New York with SAZ and at the Kabir Yatra in Rajasthan. Sometimes Sumitra Das Goswami’s voice appears so magical, as if it is no longer her singing but the person praised in the song: be it the Indian mystic poet Meera Bai or the Hindu goddess Radha (goddess of devotion and illegitimate lover of Krishna).

Sona Mohapatra
Sona Mohapatra defies definition, and so does her music. Singer/ lyricist/ composer, equally at ease performing in classical or pop or folk, a pointed critic of misogyny and abuse, a much-loved social commentator (in her spoken word and in her songs), widely admired and loved as a playback singer, filmmaker, live performer and show woman, famous for her tracks such as Ambarsariya, Jiya lage na, and the recent Beda Paar, with cameos in the sensational talk show Satyamev Jayate and movies like Delhi Belly, Khoobsurat and Talaash – Sona is truly one of India’s leading and independent artists – a real gem of contemporary India.
Although primarily trained in Hindustani classical, she has always nurtured great love for folk music and keeps it alive in her practice with what she calls ‘Desi Soul’ music. Back on the Jodhpur RIFF stage after 14 years, Sona presents an especially curated set for Jodhpur RIFF 2024.

Gray by Silver: Shades of life
Gray by Silver are a four-piece combo of keys, vocals, percussion, strings, and junggeum bamboo flute. The band finds equal inspiration from contemporary western classical, indigenous folk song, modern jazz, and new age instrumental. Their 2021 album, The Song of Ethnic, features intricately rendered arrangements of traditional vernacular tunes, Asian nursery rhymes and original compositions by the group’s lead, pianist and composer HanBin Lee. Easily accessible and beautifully executed, Gray by Silver presents music that is unmistakable in its Korean identity but global in its aspirations. Gray by Silver attempts to draw what they themselves have faced in life, so their music seemingly belongs nowhere and ironically belongs everywhere. And yet, in many ways they are true representatives of today’s Korea as much of their music essentially draws from Korean traditional sounds, revealing Korean oriental beauty.

Puuluup
One of the most intriguing folk bands to emerge from Europe, Puuluup are revolutionary in their own way. Responsible for reviving an ancient instrument, the hiiu kannel (also known as the talharpa) Puuluup treats people around the world equally… in the sense that their lyrics are mostly abstract with a mixture of languages (and even a self-invented language). Even audiences in their own country, Estonia, often don’t understand their lyrics. Entirely groove-based in their compositions, their sound creates a landscape to set up unique textures. This unique feature allows Puuluup to give different explanations to the same songs, depending on their mood and that of the audience. The feeling arising out of a tune or song, helps free the imagination of the audience, a unique feature of their music.
Eurovision finalists and Estonian folk stars, their sound oscillates on the border of tradition and modern music styles, flirting with world music, underground and pop. Puuluup controls the vibrations of hiiu kannel’s strings through effect blocks and a looper (looping pedal) and uses alternative playing techniques and sound generation options. Electronically amplified echoes, knocks, squeaks and scrapes are added to the soft hiss of the hiiu kannel. The music is at times dance-pulsating and at times cinematic and dark, creeping in and carried over from the chambers of the ancient Vormsi talharpists… original creations impregnated with tradition, references to punk classics and romantic, neo-zombie, post-folk… with educational content! According to Puuluup “Our main message in the context of folk music is that, look, you can do all kinds of things with the hiiu kandel, learn the instrument and make your own music.”

Interlude: Khartal II
Jodhpur RIFF presents a performance featuring some of the best young folk khartal players from the Langa community led by Zakir Khan Langa, one of Rajasthan’s leading khartal instrumentalist, this display is an outcome of a series of masterclasses for young musicians, supported by the festival.

Sukanya Ramgopal, Giridhar Udupa, Shreeharsha: Guru-shishya ghatam gharana
Supremely proficient in konnakol (vocal percussion), Carnatic vocals, violin, mridangam and veena, Sukanya Ramgopal is actually better known as the first woman ghatam player in Carnatic music. She came up with the idea of ‘Ghata Tharang’- where 6-7 ghatams of different shrutis are played together, and ‘Sthree Thaal Tharang’, an all-women’s instrumental ensemble. Having trained under legends like T R Harihara Sharma and Shri Vikku Vinayakram, she also has several glorious years at All India Radio, Doordarshan, and the inception of Sri Vikku Vinayakram School of Ghatam to her credit. Trained in Carnatic percussion, Giridhar Udupa is a master of South-Indian percussion instruments like mridangam, kanjira and morsing. But the true magic starts when he lays his hands on the ghatam, one of the oldest surviving percussion instruments in the country. Part of a team of classical musicians called Layatharanga, his practice is largely focused on bringing various forms of classical, folk and world music together. Giridhar has accompanied artists across genres, ranging from Carnatic to Jazz, but his performance at Jodhpur RIFF will be even more special, as he plays alongside his guru Vidushi Sukanya Ramgopal and student Shreeharsha.

Midnight onwards
Old Zenana Courtyard
Full Festival pass/ Day Pass

RIFF Rustle is our largest, impromptu collaboration performance that concludes the festival’s night-time revelries. Every year, the festival appoints a musician as a ‘rustler’, who then rustles up other musicians from the festival to participate in this performance in pairs or quartets or all together.
Since we had so many great percussionists this year, we decided to have two young, collaborating rustlers – Giridhar Udupa, acclaimed ghatam player of international stature and Elli Miller-Maboungou, ace Congolese percussionist and composer. Both will work together to gather musicians at the festival to come and jam with each other while collaborating with other artists including the Dhol Drummers, khartal and dholak masters and other Rajasthani musicians.

Who’s to say what can happen when they all get together!