Children with disabilities bring Ummeed, a musical event, to Bengaluru

Remember the performance Aamir Khan pulls off in Taare Zameen Par with a group of specially-abled children? It was beautiful and meaningful, right? In a similar fashion, Sutirth Mukherjee is hosting Ummeed, in Bengaluru on March 7.

Sutirth says Ummeed is a music festival which celebrates ability through music therapy and children with special needs will be performing at this event.

Sutirth, aka, M Tirtho, says, as a foundation, Ummeed is a carefully designed structural music therapy programme, which supports 30 adolescents in the age group of 10 to 25 years, who are talented in music and dance. The programme uses music to enhance emotional expression, build confidence, and encourage social participation through performance-based interventions. 

“Music is used as a therapeutic medium throughout the training process. This training culminates in a performance that helps participants overcome fear, improve public interaction, and experience the joy of creative self-expression before a live audience,” he says. 

Ummeed as a foundation is a carefully designed structural music therapy program, which supports 30 adolescents in the age group of 10-25 years, who are talented in music and dance. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement

We have seen how this therapy has helped children over the years. We have seen their behavioural aspects changing, and mapped how music impacts their brain development as well, he adds. 

For Tirtho, the terms inclusive and exclusive share a broad scope of meaning. He says as a society, we always include special children in whatever we do, but we never cater anything for them exclusively. This is what he wanted to correct through Ummeed. 

“All these children I work with are so talented and can hold the fort for a three-hour performance. I didn’t feel the need to include someone else to the performance. I wanted to celebrate them wholly.” 

After their debut in 2017, Tirtho did an event in 2024, and the upcoming edition will be their third. “We have 17 children that are on the spectrum and have visual disabilities. This year, we have collaborated with Shristi Special Academy to achieve the vision of inclusive empowerment and creative growth.”

Tirtho says Ummeed provides a platform for parents as well. The event will also have stalls selling various products created by the children. 

Tirtho harbours great love for music and children, which is why for him, Ummeed is not just a festival, but a movement for inclusion. “It is therapy through performance. It is hope expressed through music.”   

Ummeedwill be held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Race Course Road, Bengaluru, on March 7 from 5pm. Tickets are available at the venue.