About Chanakya
Chanakya is a solo instrumental composition by Indian classical musician Rishab Rikhiram Sharma. Released on 15 August 2021, the work appears as a standalone digital single under Sharma’s independent production. The track belongs to the Hindustani classical tradition, though specific raga or tala details remain undocumented in available sources.
Sharma performs the entire piece on the santoor, a trapezoidal hammered dulcimer central to Kashmiri and North Indian classical music. The recording spans a single continuous movement, titled Chanakya, with a total runtime of approximately 12 minutes and 30 seconds. The composition adopts an improvisational structure typical of the genre, featuring alaap, jor, and jhala sections, though no formal notation or lyrical accompaniment is included.
The release format is digital media, distributed via streaming platforms and online music stores. No physical editions or accompanying visual media were issued. The artwork for the single depicts a minimalist illustration of the ancient strategist Chanakya, aligning with the track’s titular theme, though Sharma has not publicly elaborated on the conceptual connection between the music and its namesake.
Critical reception and commercial performance data for Chanakya are not widely documented. Sharma’s prior work includes collaborations with artists in the fusion and world music spheres, but this release marks one of his few solo recordings in a purely classical framework. The track’s production credits list Sharma as the sole composer, performer, and producer, with mixing and mastering handled by an unnamed engineer.
As of the latest available information, no live performances or extended versions of Chanakya have been released. The single remains accessible on major platforms under Sharma’s artist profile, categorized under the Indian classical and instrumental genres.