A New Era of Gurukul, with the Sishya at its Heart
Sishyakulam Academy
A New Era of Gurukul, with the Sishya at its Heart.
Sishyakulam Academy is a premier institution dedicated to the Indian Arts,
personalized how these timeless practices are taught and experienced.
10+
50+
100+
500+
Countries
Gurus
Arangetrams
Sishyas
1000+
5000+
10,000+
Workshops &
Masterclasses
Performances
by Sishyas
Live Classes
Delivered
In the traditional Gurukul system, the Guru stood at the center, with the Sishya (Student) following their methods.
However, in the modern era, we understand that each Sishya has distinct needs that deserve attention and care.
We place the Sishya at the heart of the learning journey, offering a truly personalized and meaningful experience.
Violin
Layam & Konnakol
Carnatic Vocal
Hindustani Vocal
Veena
Tabla
Mridangam
Keyboard
Sishya Centric
Every student is unique. We design personalised pathways that adapt to individual pace, goals, and learning styles, placing the Sishya squarely at the heart of the journey.
Traditionally Rooted
Grounded in the revered Gurukul lineage, we adopt modern tools and methodologies to keep the learning experience rigorous yet relevant for today’s world.
Holistic Learning
Beyond technical mastery, we nurture creativity, cultural insight, and performance confidence, empowering each Sishya to carry the Indian arts forward with purpose and joy.
Sishyakulam's EPIC Choirs
The EPIC Choir (Ensembles for the Propagation of Indian Culture) is Sishyakulam’s reimagining of the performance dimension of Indian music. Drawing inspiration from Western choral traditions, it thoughtfully integrates them with the grammar and aesthetics of Indian classical music. At Sishyakulam, we have had the privilege of adapting the idea of a choir into an Indian concert context, creating a format that is both structured and expansive, familiar yet entirely new.
For the first time, audiences encounter a choir experience that includes alapanais (melodic improvisations), swarams (rhythmic–melodic patterns), and even a thani āvartanam (a percussion solo), seamlessly woven into the collective sound, alongside carefully designed preludes and interludes.
Through this format, Sishyakulam has featured over 5,000 students in the EPIC Choir to date. Each participant becomes part of the global Sishyakulam family, connected by shared musical values, collective learning, and a common commitment to carrying Indian musical culture forward in a contemporary, accessible, and globally resonant form.
USA
2000 Sishyas over 10 editions
Dubai
1500 Sishyas over 08 editions
India
1000 Sishyas over 06 editions
Malaysia
500 Sishyas over 02 editions
Australia
350 Sishyas over 02 editions
United Kingdom
150 Sishyas over 01 edition
Event Archive
SAI SISHYA SAHASRA
23 November 2025 | Lady Andal Auditorium, Chennai
A once-in-a-lifetime Centenary Musical Tribute to Sri Sathya Sai Baba, uniting stalwart artistes from Carnatic, Hindustani, Bhajan, and film music with a 200 member Sishyakulam’s EPIC Choir spanning ages 6 to 60 from across South India, presided over by Former Vice President of India Padma Vibhushan Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu.
The Arangetram | அரங்கேற்றம் | रङ्गारोहणम्
An Arangetram is the debut stage performance of a student of Indian classical dance or music, marking the moment they step from dedicated learning into artistic readiness. Rooted in Sanskrit and Thamizh, the term combines Araṅga (stage) and Etram (ascent), literally meaning “ascending the stage.”
Yet, an Arangetram is far more than a first performance. At its heart lies the Guru–Śiṣya Paramparā, the timeless teacher–student tradition that sustains India’s classical heritage.
At Sishyakulam, we have had the privilege of mentoring over 100 Arangetrams worldwide.
Take the first step on your own Arangetram journey.
