Reimagining the soul of Ghazals and Thumri

The Dhanan Project grew from a lineage where music was deeply practiced as a craft, refined through discipline, riyaaz, and devotion, yet much of it remained unheard by the world. It lived within homes, gatherings, and memory, shaped with care but never formally released.

Its roots lie in the legacy of Late Shri Sajeewan Lal Bhatt, a revered violinist and senior musician at All India Radio. A composer of profound musical insight, his life changed after a tragic incident that damaged his vocal cords. Though his singing voice was silenced, his compositions continued to evolve quietly, preserved with dignity rather than shared publicly.

Alongside him were Late Smt. Mona Bhatt, a gifted vocalist and Thumri exponent. In the Bhatt household, music was rigorously practiced, debated, refined, and lived every day. The guru shishya tradition unfolded organically, shaping Dhananjay Bhatt through constant exposure, listening, and imitation, long before any thought of performance or release.

Many of the Ghazals associated with The Dhanan Project draw from poetry by Habib Jalib, Late Mohd Shah Zafar, Prashant Musafir, Tabaan Jhansvi, and Shri Sajeewan Lal Bhatt himself. Compositions dating back to the 1960s, along with original works from the 1990s, remained carefully guarded, never altered, never rushed into the public domain.

In 2024, in Mumbai, Dhananjay Bhatt met Samik, a musician, arranger, and producer grounded equally in Indian and Western musical traditions. What began as a simple harmonium and vocal session evolved into a shared resolve to finally let this music be heard.

The Dhanan Project brings together original and traditional Ghazal and Thumri with Blues, Jazz, Rock, and Groove-driven arrangements, designed for live performance. The intent is not revival or reinvention, but revelation, allowing music that was practiced for decades in silence to step onto the stage with honesty and depth.

The Dhanan Project stands as an offering from son to father, student to guru, and musician to music. A reminder that some art does not seek attention. It waits until the time is right.