04/22/2026
On Thursday, April 16, students in Professor Ajay Sinha’s Bollywood Cinema class were presented with a lecture demonstration on “Film and Popular Music of India” by a music trio visiting from India. The musicians also provided a concert at the Abbey Chapel on Saturday, April 18. Some of Professor Sinha’s students, along with about 80 people, showed up to enjoy the evening of popular Indian music.
The three musicians are all internationally acclaimed:
Pandit Gautam Kishore Kale (vocal) has been performing professionally since childhood, having studied with Padmavibhushan Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj.
Pandit Ashis Sengupta (tabla) received his initial training from his father Shri Ranjit Kumar Sengupta and was later groomed by Pandit Nanku Maharaj, Pandit Mahapurush Mishra, and Pandit Krishna Kumar Ganguly, and is now a disciple of Pandit Swapan Choudhury.
Shri Sarang Sudhanshu Kulkarni (harmonium) is a highly accomplished and versatile musician. He is considered one of the leading figures among the new generation of classical musicians.
The musical events were made possible by:
(MHC) The McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives, Department of Art History and Architectural Studies, Amy M. Sacker Memorial Lecture Fund; (SC) Smith College Lecture Committee, Religion Department, South Asian Studies, Ada Howe Kent Fund; (AC) Center for Humanistic Inquiry, the Religion Department, and the Hamilton Fund.
