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A delegation of nine renowned Bhutanese artistes, cultural representatives and creative professionals is in Mumbai for a week-long exchange of music, ideas, traditions and artistic experiences. This initiative is being presented in association with the Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property (DOMCIIP), Bhutan, TOA Mediaworks and Blackout Events and experiences.
Artistes from India and Bhutan will co-create original fusion songs and perform them live in this festival. These curated songs will be aired on various audio streaming platforms globally. Well-known singers and artistes like Hamsika Iyer, Naveen Kumar and many more will be performing at this cultural music exchange event.
GHAMMAK is an independently-curated cultural music exchange initiative. This cultural music exchange event will showcase Bhutanese artistes performing their original music in the local language, playing their traditional instruments, dramyin and the lim. Indian artistes will perform original cultural music from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Assam, Kolkata, Goa, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Artistes from both countries will merge their songs and music and create fresh and unique fusion tracks that will be streamed worldwide through various audio and digital streaming platforms.
This India–Bhutan edition will feature collaborative songwriting sessions, recording projects, cross-border partnerships, industry engagements and interactions with leading figures from the Indian music, media and entertainment sectors. Guests of honor will include some very prominent veteran playback singers, film and ad composers, lyricists, Indie artistes, renowned musicians, artiste managers and film personalities.
GHAMMAK is an initiative by Thomson Andrews, an Indian contemporary singer and songwriter with nearly two decades of experience across music, media and entertainment. It is a pioneering artiste-led platform for cultural exchange, creative collaboration and international engagement in an increasingly interconnected world. It will connect singers, artistes and creative industries from countries around the world with their Indian counterparts. It is designed as a globally scalable platform with future editions and international collaborations currently being explored across multiple countries and regions.
The inaugural Indo-Bhutan edition will be about One Exchange. Endless Possibilities.
The various facets under it will be:
Mehfil: An intimate gathering where artistes, poets and musicians come together to share songs, stories and spirit behind their art.
Manch: A platform for thought leaders and artistes to explore the role of culture, creativity and music in shaping society via panel discussions.
Sangam: A vibrant showcase where diverse musical traditions, contemporary sounds and artistic voices unite on one stage.
Labs: A creative residency where artistes, songwriters and musicians come together to exchange ideas and create new work.
Sessions: An immersive recording experience where cross-cultural collaborations are transformed into original music.
Frequencies: A deep dive into the craft of sound, featuring leading engineers, producers and creators shaping modern music.
Amplify: Practical insights from music industry leaders on discovery, distribution, branding and the business of music.
Score—Music Beyond The Stage: exploring how music shapes films, advertising, OTT, gaming and the stories that define modern culture.
Honors: Acknowledging and recognition of the artistes through awards and appreciation
Immersion: A strategic platform connecting international artistes, cultural institutions and creative businesses with opportunities across India’s rapidly expanding entertainment ecosystem.
There will also be various interactive panel discussions and workshops that will be held, like Connecting Global Talent with India’s Creative Future; Ideas That Move Culture: A platform for thought leaders, artistes and changemakers to explore the role of culture, creativity and music in shaping society; Music as a Tool for Cultural Diplomacy: The role of artistes in society, the future of culture and cross-border collaboration audience interaction; Exploring how creativity shapes communities. and Nations: Where musical cultures meet, collaborate and celebrate.
There will be live performances and knowledge sessions by flute maestro Naveen Kumar and composer Sameeruddin and he will both perform and conduct masterclasses. Playback singer Hamsika Iyer will perform too, as will virtuoso pianist and music composer Merlin D’Souza. Also performing will be Chandana Bala Kalyan, Indian Carnatic vocalist and artiste, and Hindustani classical vocalist Shweta Pandit. In a musical storytelling by Indie artistes, I-pop star Rishabh Panchal, recording artiste Umesh Joshi, singers Anushka Mahanta and violinist Akshata will feature.
There will be ghazal performances by Yashraj Gandharv and Anita Bhatt, while Coke Studio Bharat musician Sabyasachi Deb will perform with his band as well.
The grand finale of the GHAMMAK India–Bhutan Cultural Music Exchange will showcase highlights from the week-long journey and culminate with GHAMMAK Honors, Certificates of Participation and Special Recognition Citations.
Speaking about the initiative, Thomson Andrews said: “GHAMMAK was born from a simple belief—that music remains one of humanity’s most powerful forces for connection. Through this platform, we hope to create meaningful opportunities for artistes, institutions and communities to learn from one another, celebrate cultural diversity and build relationships that endure far beyond the stage.”
