The broad idea was to envision a platform to celebrate Carnatic music while exploring new genres. Violinists K.J. Diliip and Ila Diliip were both trained in the traditional style but sought to expand their artistic horizons. They thus formed the group Lakkshya, which has released its EP Ecstasy.
The six-track EP features well-known bassist Mohini Dey as a guest on two tunes. The video of the 10-minute-plus The Way Home is out, and shows clips of the band playing live in a studio set-up. K.J. Diliip says he wanted to compose something vibrant and dynamic in the Carnatic raga Bahudari, but with a contemporary twist. He elaborates, “Bahudari, like many other ragas, offers endless possibilities for exploration, evoking diverse emotions and nuances. My goal was to retain the grammar and essence of the Carnatic tradition while presenting the raga in a fresh, modern context. I’ve always believed that these scales hold untapped potential beyond their traditional interpretations, and this composition was my attempt to showcase that.”
Diliip, who has composed five of the six songs, says Bengaluru-based Lakkshya reached out to Mohini Dey by sharing a clip from one of their concerts. “She graciously agreed to join us. After we recorded The Way Home, she added her magic to it and sent it back. It was that simple. Working with such extraordinary talent makes even complex projects seem effortless. As the song came together, it felt deeply personal, like a journey that led me to new experiences and memories, only to return to my roots. It was a feeling of coming home,” he says. Dey also played on the track Bhavani, written by Diliip’s grandfather KJ Krishna Bhat and set to tune by Ila Diliip.
Produced by Pramath Kiran, Ecstasy also has guest appearances by mridangam player B.C. Manjunath and Luxembourg-based bassist Achal Murthy. Says Diliip, “Manjunath is a longtime colleague with whom we’ve performed numerous Carnatic concerts. He plays on the title track, which we envisioned as a tribute to the legendary band Shakti. The piece is inspired by their song Joy. After discussing our ideas with him, Manjunath created incredible konnakkol sections and rhythmic patterns.”
Lakkshya’s other collaboration was with Achal Murthy, whom they met during their Europe tour in 2023. Says Diliip, “After performing with him in one of our shows, we invited him to play on the track Envy, which we had rehearsed and performed together during a residency in Luxembourg.”
Besides performing all over India, Lakkshya has been touring Europe for two consecutive years now, performing in countries like the Netherlands, France, Germany, Sweden and Luxembourg. They had earlier released the track Unwind. Apart from Shakti, their biggest influences are the American jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy and Greek new age musician Yanni.
Diliip began learning from his father and grandfather. He recalls, “To further my training, I moved to Chennai to study under the legendary M.S. Gopalakrishnan. Over the past two decades, I have performed extensively in Carnatic concerts while also contributing to numerous film scores and diverse musical projects. Beyond classical music, I have explored contemporary genres, broadening my artistic journey.”
For her part, Ila Diliip is a singer and violinist with over two decades of experience in Carnatic music. She has performed extensively in Carnatic concerts and collaborated with legendary dancers. Ila has also worked as a music composer for numerous dance drama productions and has contributed to a variety of contemporary dance and musical projects. Additionally, she has lent her voice and violin to movies and short films.
Kanjira player Sunaad Anoor is a fifth-generation musician whose speciality is to blend Carnatic traditions with influences from jazz, Latin and modern music. While the EP has Aman Mahajan on piano, the band now features jazz pianist and singer-songwriter Diptangshu Bhowmik, part of the live scene in both London and Kolkata.
The group is now looking forward to gauge the response to Ecstasy, released on November 22. According to Diliip, the EP aims to immerse the listener in a world of emotion, energy, and joy. Says the violinist, “We’ve kept a balance between intensely stirring moments and vibrant, uplifting rhythms. It’s a celebration of raw, powerful emotion, both profound and playful, and captures the essence of connection, freedom, and the exhilaration of pure musical expression.”
With the seamless amalgam of sounds, and the right mix of tradition and innovation, Lakkshya hopes to fulfil its aim.
