Samvāda

Varun Pattabhiraman

Varun Pattabhiraman is a San Francisco–based student of Carnatic percussion specializing in the mridangam. He began his training in Chennai under Nagai Sri Narayanan and later studied with Sri Guruvayur Dorai. After a break of over a decade, he resumed formal study in 2020 and currently trains with Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy. Varun performs regularly in Carnatic vocal and Bharatanatyam concerts in the Bay Area. In addition to the mridangam, he studies khanjira, ghatam, and konakkol. He is participating in the ACTA Apprenticeship to deepen his understanding of Carnatic percussion and its performance practice.

Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy

Indian-American percussionist, composer, and educator Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy is one of the leading voices of Indian classical and cross-genre music in the South Asian diaspora. Acclaimed a “musical ambassador” by The Times of India, he received mridangam training from the legendary maestro, Sri. Guruvayur Dorai, tabla from maestro Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, and drum set from Alan Hall at the California Jazz Conservatory. Distinguished as a soloist, composer, and collaborator, Rohan performed with legendary Indian classical musicians and Grammy Award-winning global artists including M. Balamuralikrishna, T.N. Krishnan, L. Shankar, Anoushka Shankar, Trevor Hall, Glen Velez, and Ganesh Rajagopalan. Rohan leads The Alaya Project, an Indo-jazz-funk collective, which has performed at prestigious jazz and global music venues across the country including SFJazz, Joe's Pub NYC, and The Strathmore DC. Their debut album has been praised by Jazziz Magazine, NPR, San Francisco Chronicle, and more. In 2026, Rohan served as co-orchestrator and Indian percussionist for the world premiere of The Lunchbox, a record-breaking musical at Berkeley Repertory Theater based on the hit Bollywood film.

Rohan holds a Ph.D. in musicology from the Eastman School of Music and directs the RohanRhythm Percussion Studio with students from across the globe. Rohan is the recipient of international awards and grants including commissions from the San Francisco Arts Commission, Zellerbach Foundation, and Goethe Institute (Germany). He has taught at renowned institutions and his patented RohanRhythm drum tuning system is available worldwide.

Nitya Narasimhan

Nitya Narasimhan is the founder and artistic director of Prayukti Arts based in Sunnyvale, California. Nitya’s journey in dance began under Smt. Suma Mani and Smt. Rukmini Vijayakumar. Today, it continues to be shaped under the guidance of Smt. Shweta Prachande. Nitya's expansive training also includes Karanas under Smt. Vithya Arasu, a Nattuvangam diploma under Vidwan Guru Bharadwaj, a post-diploma in Movement and Media from the Attakkalari Centre, and an Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training certificate from the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco.

An acclaimed soloist and ensemble artist, Nitya has graced esteemed stages throughout India and the United States. Her unwavering commitment to her craft and the community has earned her prestigious honors, including the Natya Ratna award, the ACTA Apprenticeship Mentor Artist title, and the Sunnyvale Mayor’s Award for Contribution to the Arts. Through Prayukti Arts, Nitya creates a space for and through the arts curating programs for learners, performers, creators and audience looking to engage with the arts.

Nitya approaches Bharatanatyam as a vibrant, living legacy, deeply anchored in tradition and what she has been fortunate to learn from her teachers, yet continuously blooming through mindful exploration. Nitya continues to engage with Bharatanatyam as a student, performer, teacher, and curator.

Sindhu Natarajan

Sindhu Natarajan is a vocalist and composer, who hails from a distinguished musical lineage. She began her formal training in Carnatic music under the tutelage of her aunts, Vasanthi Kannan and Raji Gopalakrishnan, and her grandfather, P.V. Natarajan. Over the past fifteen years, Sindhu has enthralled Bay Area audiences with her captivating vocal performances. Beyond her solo endeavors, she has collaborated with prominent South Asian dance companies and choreographers nationwide. Sindhu is also a prolific independent composer, passionately creating music that seamlessly blends the intricate nuances of Carnatic music with contemporary genres. She currently lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two daughters.

Krishna Parthasarathy

Krishna Parthasarathy is a Carnatic vocalist, violinist, and teacher based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He trained under Sri Neyveli R. Santhanagopalan and Smt. Padma Narayanaswami, and continues his vocal training with Padma Bhushan K. J. Yesudas and violin training with Padma Bhushan Smt. N. Rajam. Through his performances, teaching, and collaborations, Krishna brings the depth and richness of Carnatic music to diverse audiences.