“For the 2020 Margazhi season, rasikas supported online events big time. But now, with too many events happening online, many are facing virtual fatigue. The euphoria for online watching has subdued this year in India. But those NRIs who come down to Chennai to watch kutcheris are still preferring online events.” When asked if online shows will change the way we perceive music concerts, Mahesh says, “If you are producing virtual concerts, make sure that the viewers are getting a different experience. That’s the reason why MadRasana always does outdoor recordings. Those are productions specifically meant for virtual. We are the only organisation that has recorded all the concerts outside a studio or a stage setting. I think that’s how virtual concerts should be. Otherwise, you are not pushing the envelope to do something specifically for virtual. This year, we decided to do virtual concerts because there are enough opportunities to showcase this art form in a very different format than how others are approaching it. Many are just shooting the stage concerts and sharing them online. But we cannot call it digital. While looking from the production and creativity side, virtual has got its charm and advantage that you have to exploit. It is not just the setup alone, it is also about the format and content. We have innovated on those aspects in our MadRasana Virtual Festival 2021,” he adds.