Urban Baithak returns after two-year gap

Hyderabad: Urban Baithak, a concept to reclaim musical experiences at home or home-like places, returned to the city after two years, with the event held at Luna Book Store in Jubilee Hills on Saturday.

Deepa Rajan, founder of Urban Baithak, said the event was aimed at demystifying the idea of concerts being all about paying for the ticket, sitting in a corner, applauding and leaving. “Urban Baithak works towards helping bridge the gap between the performer and audience. Here, the audience participates just as much as the artiste,” Rajan said.

Rajan said that people didn't have to go looking around for art, “it was just there everywhere — from temples to homes.”

She said: “Come evening, we were singing, dancing around and celebrating culture. But today, there are not enough experiences that are nourishing people, and art is what does it. So, we wanted to disrupt the idea that the concert was a formal show.”

The artiste for the month, classical singer Harini Rao, a Hindustani vocalist, chose to do some light vocals with old and contemporary songs, each ending with cheers and applause from an audience that tapped its feet and sang along. The event ended with participants discussing art, poets, lyricists and the beauty of songwriting.

The non-profit show, with a goal to promote collaboration among multiple artistes, one a month, sold out within two days. “Many said they couldn't wait to host the next at their homes and verandahs, and that's already a win,” said Deepa.