Pianist Devanga Bidrum Kalita from Dibrugarh in Assam started studying piano at school II after watching his buddy play the instrument. An artist with a selected studying incapacity, his curiosity encountered a roadblock when he couldn’t discover a piano trainer within the metropolis. Each month, he and his mom went to Guwahati to study piano, which finally led him to AR Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory in Chenna and later to Middlesex College within the UK, the place he earned his bachelor’s diploma in music.

Devanga occurred to fulfill drummer Chayan Taneja, a graphic designer on the autism spectrum, and his mom Archana Taneja, who had been looking for to start out a neurodivergent music band, in Delhi NCR. They went on launch the band, Chayanit-The Chosen Ones, in Might this 12 months.

They fashioned the band with the assist of the Hyundai India Artwork for Hope Grant 2025. Chayanit has carried out throughout Delhi and is all set to enterprise exterior the Capital with Sammohan 2025, a national-level showcase for Folks with Disabilities on the Completely different Artwork Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, on September 27.

The ensemble has Kevin Aryan Mitchell on guitar and Eshaan Pratap Singh and Shreyam Shreevardhan on vocals. The band advantages from the mentorship of Sandeep Paul, Chayan’s childhood trainer, whereas Archana coordinates the group.

Origin tales

“After I was 4, I used to play toy drums and was fairly excited about it. I began taking lessons from Sandeep sir on the age of 10. In 2013, 5 months into studying drums, I had my first solo efficiency,” says Chayan, a fan of Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, over a Zoom name. “I may also play different devices such because the cajon, djembe, and tabla.” He’s a Grade 6 drummer from Trinity School London.

Kevin fell in love with the guitar as an adolescent listening to his father play the instrument and taught himself play ‘Nation Roads’ on the age of 14. The 19-year-old says he was impressed by a couple of German artists rising up; he’s on the autistic spectrum.

Eshaan, who can be on the autistic spectrum, says, “I began to apply singing through the lockdown with my mom. Later, it turned out to be my ardour.” Shreyam who lives with ADHD and a studying incapacity, credit his musical curiosity to Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and Hemant Kumar, whom he listened to as a three-year-old.

Hopes and challenges

It has not been straightforward for these musicians to develop up with neurodivergence, says Archana. “All of them have totally different personalities with difficulties of various levels. As an illustration, Chayan used to get drained inside 30 seconds of taking part in the drums, saying his palms had been aching. Giving him timers helped, and now he can play for 2 hours at a stretch. There was additionally problem in studying music notation. Sandeep used to mark the drums so he would keep in mind.”

Devanga, an Related Board of the Royal Faculties of Music Grade 8 licensed pianist, says, “After I was at school VI, it was troublesome for me to know what my music trainer taught. So the trainer would take classes for my father who was with me and he defined every part to me.”

Archana, who left her job as a designer to coordinate the band, says, “We’re targeted on talents fairly than disabilities. Kids have abilities ready to be found. That’s one thing I need to inform all dad and mom. Your little one speaks; you simply have to pay attention.”

Sandeep says, “I don’t see it as a troublesome job. I have to create masters of their fields. That’s it.”

Archana provides, “This band is a dream come true. However there are difficulties when it comes to logistics, planning, and coordination. All of the dad and mom are working laborious to make the ensemble doable. The happiness I see on our youngsters’s faces is our motivation.”

The band is gearing up for 2 live shows in October, together with a efficiency on the Worldwide Purple Fest in Goa.

“We’re popping out with an authentic track too,” says Chayan. “I dream of carving an area for myself as a musician, in order that my mom and mentor will be happy with me. I need to encourage those that are stopped from doing issues as a result of they’re disabled,” says Eshaan.

Chayan says, “I would like our band to play at Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal’s live shows. Folks ought to know we’re particular however not much less. We’re Chayanit-The Chosen Ones.”

Chayanit – The Chosen Ones, performs at Sammohan 2025 on September 27 , from 3pm onwards at Completely different Artwork Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. Entry free.

Revealed – September 24, 2025 05:05 pm IST