Jodhpur: On Friday, 8th August 2025, the Royal Opera House, Mumbai will host a special musical evening called ‘SAZ and Friends – When the Desert Plays’, presented by Jodhpur RIFF in association with Avid Learning. This event will take the audience on a unique journey through the living sounds of Rajasthan’s desert, blending tradition with creativity.

The highlight of the evening is SAZ, a talented trio of folk musicians from the Langa community of Western Rajasthan. These musicians have learned their art through generations. The group includes Sadiq Khan, a skilled dholak player; Asin Khan, a Sindhi sarangi expert and award-winning vocalist; and Zakir Khan, a master of the khartal and folk singing. SAZ has performed across the world, bringing back forgotten village songs and creating new music that stays true to their roots.

The evening starts with ‘Rang-e-Thar’, SAZ’s signature performance. It includes rare village songs, energetic rhythms, and original tunes, all shared with stories and personal experiences from the musicians’ lives.

Next, the audience will see ‘Inayat: A Duet for Four’, a special collaboration between SAZ and Tarini Tripathi, a classical Kathak dancer from a strong family tradition of dance. Together, they combine Rajasthani folk music and Sufi poetry with graceful Kathak movements, creating a powerful and beautiful performance.

After a short break, the final act of the evening is ‘The Cool Desert Project’, where SAZ teams up with Rhys Sebastian (Saxontoast), a saxophone player from Mumbai known for his work in films and ads. This act blends the soft, jazzy sound of the saxophone with the deep melodies of the desert, creating music that feels both traditional and new.

All these performances are specially created for Jodhpur RIFF and produced by its Festival Director Divya Bhatia. The aim is to keep Rajasthan’s folk traditions alive while also giving them a new voice through collaboration and innovation.

The Royal Opera House and Avid Learning support such events to celebrate India’s rich culture and connect traditional artists with new audiences. This event promises to be a magical evening where the desert’s music meets modern ideas, showing how folk traditions can continue to grow and inspire.

(Source: Agency)