As the weather in Kolkata starts to turn chilly, Mohanish Lama’s Decibel Event Organisation ensures the city kicks off winter with a bang, with their homegrown Mandala Music Festival. They have hosted seven successful editions of the event so far with the latest edition held on November 10.
For a festival to remain a hit with each edition, it requires fresh, unique approaches while retaining its core appeal. Mandala Music Festival 2024, held at Café Ekante, Eco Park, brought together the latest music trends and some of the biggest names in the industry. The result? A vibrant, diverse experience that catered to all music lovers.
Here are some highlights from the festival that stood out…
Diverse line-up at Mantra
Nigerian rapper Yung Sammy performed his desi rap, while (right) Mihir Chandan delivered a percussive set with Bolly-tech music
Mandala Music Festival has built a reputation for its diverse line-ups that maintain a cohesive musical flow. This year, the Mantra stage — the main stage of the festival — showcased a wide range of genres, each distinct but perfectly complementing the others. Emerging artistes Dibesh Gupta, Nony, Man-You, and Kunal kicked off the evening with energetic performances that set the tone for the night. Hip-hop DJs Rishiboy and Xavier followed with a high-energy set featuring commercial hits from artistes like Pitbull, Chris Brown, and Ne-Yo. Their upbeat vibe transitioned smoothly into Gursimran’s Hindi EDM set, which kept the crowd moving.
Russian DJ Julia Bliss amped up the audience with commercial and hip-hop sets
The first main act of the night was New Delhi-based, Nigerian-origin rapper Yung Sammy, who wowed the crowd with his songs The Intro and 4x4, delivered flawlessly in Hindi. His performance was further elevated by Urban Poet, who joined him on stage. Following Sammy, Mihir Chandan captivated the audience with a percussive Bolly-techno set, seamlessly moving between his console, handpan, flute, and other instruments.
Mumbai-based DJ Afterall kept the energy high with commercial, big-room sets
Kolkata-based DJ Aaditya brought a vibrant dance music set to the stage, making way for DJ Afterall, who brought more energy with his commercial big-room EDM mixes. Afterall’s set was followed by Russian DJ Julia Bliss, whose performance combined commercial hip-hop with electronic beats. Tech Panda x Kenzani then delivered a dynamic mix of Hindi electronic music and originals, showcasing their signature sound. A psy-trance set by Outlaw, closed the Mantra stage on a high note.
Bonding over B2B
Some of the OGs of the underground music scene, (left) Devaa B2B Kunal G and Mashter B2B Vikrant, elevated the vibe with their electronic sounds
The Tantra stage, dedicated to electronic music, predominantly featured a back-to-back (B2B) format, creating an immersive experience for electronic music enthusiasts. The evening began with DJs Code S, C-Punk, and Qnal, who introduced the stage with their sets. Antidote and Adnan then started to build the atmosphere with indie, dark disco, and disco-infused sounds.
The energy heightened as the B2B format fully took over, beginning with a progressive set by Devaa and Kunal G. Following them, Mashter B2B Vikrant brought their unique synergy to the stage, blending electronic beats, and they were succeeded by Arpan B2B Dharmalogy, who kept the crowd grooving with a harder techno sound.
Paji drove in the audience with a solo set combining melodic techno and live violin
One of the headline acts, Berlin-based Paji, brought a remarkable solo performance to Tantra. His set blended melodic techno with live violin playing, a fusion that excited the already packed audience. His music drew festival-goers even closer to the stage, creating a magnetic and intimate atmosphere.
Ending with F2F
Ankytrixx and Ivan going F2F at the Tantra stage
The Tantra stage concluded with an electrifying finale, as Ankytrixx and Ivan introduced the festival’s first-ever face-to-face (F2F) concept. This innovative setup featured the two DJs performing simultaneously on separate consoles, positioned opposite each other, while the crowd surrounded the stage from all sides.
The duo delivered an unforgettable set, blending house and melodic techno tracks. The sync between the two DJs showcased their mastery, ensuring the night ended on an exceptional high note.
Lights, Sound, and Action
The Tantra and Mantra stages were lit up by VJ Akash Jaiswal and VJ Harish
One of Mandala Music Festival’s standout features is its integration of sound and visuals, creating a sensory experience. The Mantra stage boasted LED displays strategically placed across various parts of the structure, projecting live performances and dynamic visuals. Adding to the fun were bursts of fire and showers of confetti which always brought on some cheers.
The Tantra stage offered a more intimate atmosphere and the stage’s overall setup was dominated by reddish hues, enhancing its warm and intimate vibe. The sound engineering by Vinay Daswani and Arjun Chatterjee ensured that both stages delivered crystal-clear audio, complementing the stunning light shows perfectly.
Soulfully Local
The Sneha Collective during their performance at The Soul Local Stage
For the first time in Mandala history, a live music stage was set up by The Soul Local. On this stage, city-based indie live acts had performed covers of Bengali, Hindi and English songs, in an acoustic format. The acts that performed here were Aadhyan Srivastav, Aman Sinha Collective, Ankit Collective, Khaalpaar, Knine Collective and Sneha Collective. The stage, although a small one, represented the live scene in Kolkata with acoustic guitar performances and live beatboxing and rapping sessions.
Flea and food market
The flea and food stalls is what gave the attendees a break from the madness
To take a break from the dance, music, and wild lights, a flea market and food stalls were also set up to refuel. While attendees munched on Pyare Kebabs, Domino’s, Mandala The Oriental Kitchen’s dishes like kebabs, pizzas, biryani, momos and more, some of the flea market stalls included streetwear by Prong along with ittar and other accessories.
Get drawn, literally
Debayan Ghosh in the middle of a caricature
A fun addition to the festival was Carry the Caricature’s stall. The attendees never failed to be impressed by this work station’s art as it brought laughs and gave them a chance to carry home some memories. With a quirky, animated and humorous touch, Debayan Ghosh, the artiste, makes a hilarious memory for you within minutes, which you can carry back home to hang or gift to someone!
Decibel’s dedication
Mohanish Lama’s team has always received much gratitude for hosting this homegrown festival for seven consecutive years. The success has been so drastic for his team that this season, Decibel is also taking the festival to Siliguri on December 14 and Shillong on February 8, 2025.
Mohanish Lama, the founder of Decible
Speaking to My Kolkata, Lama, thanked Kolkata for “embracing Mandala Music Festival with such warmth and enthusiasm. Your unwavering support for the homegrown festival, and your yearly arrival to make it truly special, fills our hearts with gratitude. Together, we are creating memories that resonate far beyond the music. See you at MMF 2025.”