WAVES 2025: Spotify House Session Celebrates Living Legacy of Indian Folk Music

Mumbai: Day 3 of the inaugural WAVES Summit 2025 unfolded with a powerful celebration of India’s folk traditions through a vibrant session titled Spotify House: Evolution of Folk Music in India, held at the Jio World Convention Centre. Curated under the ‘WAVES Culturals and Concerts’ segment, the session brought together iconic voices from the world of music and culture to explore folk music’s enduring relevance and future.

Moderated by acclaimed storyteller Roshan Abbas, the panel featured CBFC Chairperson and lyricist Prasoon Joshi, folk singer Malini Awasthi, music composer Nandesh Umap, singer-composer Papon, and celebrated performer Ila Arun. Together, they engaged in a thought-provoking conversation that positioned folk music not as a relic of the past, but as a living, breathing tradition that continues to evolve with time and society.

“Folk is not a genre—it’s a tactile feel of life,” said Prasoon Joshi, emphasizing that folk music is deeply woven into daily experiences and passed down through collective memory. “When you seek yourself, you write poetry. When you subsume yourself, you write folk,” he added, defining the genre as an expression of shared identity.

The discussion explored how folk music has moved beyond its regional roots to reach national and global audiences. The panellists praised platforms like Spotify and initiatives like WAVES for recognizing the cultural value of folk and integrating it into broader artistic conversations. Nandesh Umap called folk “an open university,” celebrating its accessibility and inclusivity. He pointed out that folk music belongs to everyone and thrives through oral transmission and lived experience.

Papon shared a poignant anecdote from an international performance in Serbia, where Assamese folk songs received a standing ovation. “It was a reminder that authenticity resonates across borders,” he said, underlining the universal emotional appeal of folk when presented with sincerity.

Both Ila Arun and Malini Awasthi reflected on their own journeys and the emotional depth that folk music carries. “It is not just music—it is a way of life rooted in emotion, community, and tradition,” said Awasthi. Arun stressed the power of community memory embedded in folk songs, many of which have been preserved not in written form, but through performance.

The conversation also addressed the challenge of modernizing folk music without diluting its soul. The panellists emphasized the need to innovate while remaining grounded in tradition, encouraging reinterpretations that speak to newer generations. They called for education, institutional support, and creative collaborations that ensure folk continues to flourish.

Importantly, the panel credited government initiatives and leadership, particularly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for creating platforms like WAVES that bring traditional art forms into contemporary discourse.

The session was as musical as it was intellectual, with several panellists spontaneously breaking into folk renditions. The impromptu performances transformed the venue into a celebration of India’s rich folk heritage, leaving the audience with an intimate and immersive cultural experience.

The event concluded with a collective appeal to listeners, creators, and institutions to safeguard and celebrate India’s folk traditions. “Folk music must not just survive—it must be heard, felt, and passed on,” the panelists agreed, marking the session as one of the emotional and cultural highlights of WAVES 2025.