Pocket Performance: Abbas Janmohamed and Samidha Joglekar

Get into a mid-week groove with this beautifully transfixing north Indian classical performance by Abbas Janmohamed (tabla) and Samidha Joglekar (vocals).

Samidha Joglekar is a Canadian born vocalist of South Asian (Maharashtrian) heritage. Her study of classical music began at the Royal Conservatory at age eight. Concurrently, at age ten, she met her Guru, Shree Narendra Datar, and has learned Hindustani Classical music under his tutelage for over 25 years.

The recipient of several grants, Samidha has been fortunate to study further with distinguished Gurus, including the late Veena Sahasrabhudde and Dr. Prabha Atre. Her training in different “Gharanas,” or styles and ideologies, of classical vocal music allow her to draw on different techniques and approaches in cross cultural musical exchange.

Abbas Janmohamed was born in Scarborough, Ont., and brought up in Calgary, Alta., where he began learning tabla at an early age. As a recipient of an Arts Fellowship award from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, Abbas spent time in India pursuing his study of classical tabla, and he is a student of Ustad Allarakha's senior disciple, Shri Prafulla Athalye.

Continuously learning and growing as both a student and performer of tabla, Abbas strives to preserve the integrity of the classical repertoire he has studied, while exploring methods of incorporating tabla in new and innovative contexts.

Production note: This video was filmed in Fall 2020 before the introduction of new provincial COVID-19 orders requiring museums in Toronto to close their doors temporarily. Enhanced health and safety measures were in place to protect the featured artists, the production crew, and other Museum visitors and staff.

Pocket Performances are presented by TD Bank Group.

Bringing online Museum experiences to you is part of our mission to connect cultures and promote understanding between peoples. To learn more about how you can support the Museum by making a donation or becoming a Friend or Patron, please visit: https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/support