How ‘Upstairs’ is reviving Delhi’s ‘Baithak’ culture,bringing intimacy back to Indian classicalmusic

In Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, a powerful shift is taking place—away from glittering auditoriums and back into the soul of Indian classical music: the baithak. Upstairs, an intimate concert series hosted by Sukanya Banerjee and Tejas in their own home is redefining how we listen, engage, and value classical art. In a city obsessed with large venues and free concerts, Upstairs dares to do things differently. It challenges everything: the economics of Indian classical music, the gatekeeping in the arts, and the passive way we consume culture. This is about fair pay for musicians, breaking the elite bubble, and creating a new kind of audience: involved, invested, and deeply moved.