The third day of the inaugural WAVES Summit 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai featured a vibrant session titled Spotify House: Evolution of Folk Music in India, held under the ‘WAVES Culturals and Concerts’ segment. The discussion, moderated by renowned storyteller Roshan Abbas, brought together luminaries including lyricist and CBFC Chairperson Prasoon Joshi, folk singer Malini Awasthi, music composer Nandesh Umap, singer-composer Papon, and performer Ila Arun to explore the enduring relevance of Indian folk music.
The panellists underscored folk music as a living tradition, deeply woven into the fabric of daily life and passed down through generations. Prasoon Joshi described folk as a “tactile feel of life,” capturing its role as a dynamic expression of shared human experiences. “When you seek yourself, you write poetry. When you subsume yourself, you write folk,” Joshi remarked, highlighting its collective essence.
The conversation celebrated efforts to mainstream folk music, with platforms like Spotify and initiatives like WAVES praised for integrating folk into broader cultural narratives. Nandesh Umap called folk “an open university,” emphasizing its inclusive and democratic nature, while Papon shared a poignant memory of Assamese folk songs earning a standing ovation in Serbia, illustrating their global resonance when presented authentically. Ila Arun and Malini Awasthi reinforced the importance of community and emotion as the roots of folk music.
The panel also addressed the need for innovation to ensure folk remains relevant to new generations. While stressing the preservation of its cultural essence, they advocated for creative reinterpretations that resonate with contemporary audiences. The discussion highlighted India’s vast folk diversity, with each state offering unique musical traditions, and called for systemic support to nurture this heritage. The leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was credited for enabling platforms like WAVES to elevate traditional art forms.
The session came alive with spontaneous musical moments, as panellists broke into impromptu singing, immersing the audience in the spirit of folk. The event concluded with a unified call to listeners, institutions, and creators to preserve, celebrate, and widely share India’s rich folk heritage, ensuring it continues to thrive as a vibrant cultural force.
