Canada, Ontario, Toronto: Indian Ensemble 'Jhalaa' Makes North American Debut, Wows Mentor Rahman

The 12-member raga-centric group fuses traditional Indian classical music with modern musical influences.

Bringing Indian neoclassical sounds to international audiences, the AR Rahman-guided band 'Jhalaa' performed for the first time in North America on October 10 in Toronto, Canada.

Appearing at the 'The Promise of Music' concert, the ensemble performed before their mentor, Rahman, during an event hosted by The Glenn Gould Foundation. The group served as the opening act for the concert, which featured a headline Sufi performance by Oscar-winning composer Rahman.

'Jhalaa' skillfully integrates Indian classical music traditions with contemporary styles. The group first appeared on the global stage at the 2025 WAVES Summit in Mumbai, bringing together 12 musicians united in promoting Indian music worldwide.

The ensemble comprises 12 highly talented artists—six female singer-dancers and six male singers who also play multiple instruments. Its members include Ambadi M. A., Mayuri Saha, Abby V, Antara Nandy, Sudeep Jaipurwale, Karamjeet Madonna, Jaydeep Vaidya, Sivasri Skandaprasad, Faiz Mustafa, Aishwarya Meenakshi, Steven Samuel Devassy, and Divya Nayar.

The band was created with the vision of delivering live performances using entirely natural instruments, avoiding any pre-recorded tracks or digital enhancements.

The name 'Jhalaa' comes from Hindustani classical music, representing the exhilarating, fast-paced climax of a raga where rhythm dominates melody, creating a thrilling auditory experience.

Formed under Rahman’s Bharat Maestro(a) Awards initiative, the band celebrates India’s musical heritage while nurturing emerging classical talent. Rahman personally selected the members following a global talent search, bringing together exceptional young artists trained in both Indian classical music and traditional dance.