OSM interviews Anuradha Palakurthi

Symphony Masala celebrates Indian culture via a history-spanning symphonic performance of iconic Bollywood songs from the last 70 years of Indian films, reimagined in their first-ever arrangements for Western instruments. OSM's Roger Kalia discusses this work with his co-creator Anuradha Palakurthi.

Roger Kalia: Symphony Masala is such a unique fusion of Bollywood and Western orchestral music. What excites you most about hearing these iconic songs reimagined with a full symphony orchestra?  

Anuradha Palakurthi: Bollywood music resonates with over two billion people around the world, and many of these melodies are considered among the greatest ever written. By reimagining them with full symphonic orchestration, we’re able to present them on a truly global stage. What excites me most is sharing their universal emotional power; these melodies transcend language, culture, and geography, and now even more people can experience their beauty.

Roger: We created Symphony Masala together. Can you share how this collaboration began and what makes this project so personal and meaningful to you?

Anuradha: Symphony Masala was born from an extraordinary collaboration between musicians from India and the United States. We were part of a larger creative team that brought together leading Bollywood experts alongside accomplished Western classical artists, each with deep knowledge of their own tradition, but not necessarily of the other. Uniting these worlds required thoughtful coordination and a truly special collective effort that we helped lead. The project began in response to Symphony New Hampshire’s vision to celebrate their centennial with music that reflected a global spirit, and Symphony Masala became a beautiful realization of that idea.

Roger: For audiences who may be new to Bollywood music, what would you like them to know before experiencing Symphony Masala live with Orchestra Santa Monica?

Anuradha: Bollywood music is deeply rooted in classical Indian traditions, where subtle microtonal nuances are essential to its emotional expression. In Symphony Masala, the vocals preserve these delicate microtonal inflections, while the orchestral accompaniment follows the structure and discipline of Western classical music. Listeners will hear this beautiful interplay - an authentic vocal tradition seamlessly woven into a symphonic framework.

An Evening of Symphonic Bollywood

January 10, 2026 (SAT) @ 7:30pm

The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage

SMC Performing Arts Center*

1310 11th St., Santa Monica

Roger Kalia, conductor

Anuradha Palakurthi, vocalist

Charenjeet “CJ” Virdi, vocalist

Additional details on the program and our artists are available at

OSM's Symphonic Bollywood event page.

January 10th concert is fully booked!

If you no longer need any of your tickets, please release them through Eventbrite, or send a message to office@OrchestraSantaMonica.org.

OSM dedicates this season to the memory of our

Artistic Advisor, Jubilant Sykes.

Photo by Philip Holahan



All of us at Orchestra Santa Monica are deeply saddened by the passing of Jubilant Sykes. Jubilant, OSM’s Artistic Advisor, was involved in a number of our music projects, always bringing great passion, professionalism, and collaborative spirit. He was highlighted in our Santa Monica community history film We Gather and was a guest soloist in one of our 2023 concerts singing Copland’s Simple Gifts and a selection of traditional spirituals. Most recently, in Feb 2025, Jubilant was the singer/narrator in OSM’s commissioned work Potentia composed by Jason Anthony Gomez and based upon a poem by Santa Monica poet laureate Anne Carmack. Along with OSM Music Director, Roger Kalia, Jubilant was a key member of the Potentia creative team from the ground floor. At the world premiere of Potentia, Jubilant delivered an incredibly moving performance about life, with verse and soaring music depicting experiences from birth to death. All of us at OSM will miss Jubilant and will hold him dear in our hearts.

An interview and concert excerpts featuring Jubilant can be found at our Potentia page.

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