Interview with musician Madan Gopal Singh ahead of TCS Ruhaniyat 2025 in Bengaluru

Ahead of TCS Ruhaniyat’s 24th edition in Bengaluru, musician Madan Gopal Singh speaks about music and mysticism

The 24th edition of TCS Ruhaniyat will unfold on Friday evening, 24 January, at the Jayamahal Palace Hotel Lawns in Bengaluru. For more than two decades, this festival has been a pilgrimage for music and poetry enthusiasts.

Organised by the Mumbai-based Banyan Tree Events and presented in association with Tata Consultancy Services, Ruhaniyat has been a festival that attempts to connect centuries-old traditions with the questions and curiosities of the present day.

This year, the line-up features a spectrum of performances, from Avadhoot Gandhi’s soulful tribute to Maharashtra’s saints to Indo-Arabic collaborations and Qawwali. Another act that encapsulates the spirit of Ruhaniyat is Madan Gopal Singh & Chaar Yaar, a group whose work with mystical poetry and cross-cultural compositions has earned them a devoted following.

A journey of freedom

For Madan Gopal, Ruhaniyat is more than a performance space — it is a crucible for creativity. “We have been associated with Ruhaniyat for almost 15 years or so and have travelled extensively with them in India and abroad,” he says, “This platform has given us the freedom to work on new materials, face creative challenges, and collaborate on cross-cultural compositions. It has been a truly enriching journey.”

Ruhaniyat, unlike many festivals, encourages artists to step outside their comfort zones. He explains, “There are two kinds of platforms. One doesn’t require much experimentation — you perform and leave. The other allows for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Ruhaniyat belongs to the latter. It has enabled us to experiment with different languages and styles, including Punjabi, English, and Persian.”

For Madan Gopal and his ensemble, this freedom is a lifeline. He adds that their work is not just music — it’s a dialogue that spans centuries, cultures, and emotions.