In 2023, Anubhav Musicals was born in Suva with a simple yet ambitious mission: to create a space where young musicians could learn, grow, and perform with discipline and purpose.
Today, the 11-member ensemble is known for delivering soulful, live Indian music that resonates deeply with audiences.
Director Ranil Kumar reflects on what makes the group special.
“The majority of our musicians are still school students,” he said.
“The group started with just four members and slowly grew over time. Most of us met through community programs and musical events.”
Family ties have also shaped the band’s journey.
“A big motivation behind starting Anubhav Musicals came from my fiancée Syndiya and my younger brother Rishal, who are both part of the group,” Mr Kumar explains.
“My fiancée is the lead female vocalist, my brother leads the rhythm section, and I handle the structure, management, logistics, and musical direction.”
Despite not coming from a musical family, Mr Kumar is self-taught.
“I learned harmonium mainly through YouTube and endless practise, driven purely by passion.
“Individually, our members have varying levels of experience, but together we focus on soulful, live music rooted in bhajans, devotional music, and familiar songs that connect emotionally with the audience rather than relying heavily on effects.”
The band’s name carries personal meaning. “Anubhav means ‘experience’, inspired by my grandmother.
“That is exactly what we aim to give our audience — an experience of joy and bliss, whether through bhajans or other songs.”
Anubhav Musicals’ core instruments include harmonium, tabla, keyboard, octapad, guitar, and manjira. But the band is not standing still.
“We are planning to invest in better sound equipment and new tones.
“We also want to explore fusion music, blending traditional Indian instruments with modern arrangements, while keeping devotional music as our foundation.
“My biggest inspiration is M. M. Keeravani, whose work as a music director is exceptional. I also follow Anup Jalota, our local artist Sumeet Tappoo, and take inspiration from Navneel Prasad of Bandish Band and Shalen Singh of Hi-Tech Sounds here in Fiji.”
For Mr Kumar, live music is still unmatched.
“Streaming helps music reach more people, but live performances create a deeper emotional connection that cannot be replaced.
“At the moment, we do not write our own songs, but songwriting is something we are actively learning and hope to explore in the future.”
Looking ahead, the band hopes to strengthen their performances and invest in high-quality sound.
“Our goal is to establish Anubhav Musicals as a respected group that nurtures young talent and represents quality Indian live music from Fiji.”
His advice for aspiring musicians is simple but profound: “Be patient, stay disciplined, and don’t be afraid to start small. You don’t need a musical background — passion, consistency, and willingness to learn can take you a long way.”
With energy, heart, and a commitment to soulful music, Anubhav Musicals is proof that experience — Anubhav — is more than a name; it’s the sound of young talent coming into its own.
