Music, Rain and a Decade of Heart: Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival 2026 Celebrates a Milestone

The two-day festival Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival (KRBF) delivered an unforgettable musical journey in the hills, kicking off with high-energy sets from Rear Admiral Nirmala Kannan, Prince and Mansa Jimmy, Sharmji & The Happy Factory, Shrey Tandan, True Blue, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya and Indian Ocean leaving the community with a lingering spirit of live music and mountain magic.

True Blue performing at Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival 2026

The 10th edition of the Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival (KRBF) held at Baikunth Resort in Kasauli on 3rd and 4th April concluded on a high note, bringing together music lovers, artists and supporters for two days of soulful performances and shared purpose in the scenic hills of Kasauli. Despite unexpected showers on Day 1, the spirit of the festival remained unwavering, with audiences and artists coming together with the same energy and enthusiasm, and carrying it seamlessly.

Nirmala Kannan at Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival 2026

Organised by Genesis Foundation, in association with 1842 Kasauli, this milestone edition celebrated a decade of the festival alongside 25 years of the Foundation’s mission to save little hearts. The festival witnessed an enthusiastic footfall of over 450+ attendees, with audiences coming together in support of a larger cause, reinforcing the festival’s purpose-led ethos.

Set against the serene backdrop of Baikunth Resort, the two-day festival featured a diverse mix of performances across genres including rock, indie, blues and contemporary Indian music.

Day 1 saw engaging performances by Rear Admiral Nirmala Kannan, Sharmji & The Happy Factory, Prince and Mansa Jimmy, setting the tone for an energetic opening day filled with music and community spirit.

Day 2 brought the festival to a powerful close with performances by Shrey Tandan, True Blue, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya and Indian Ocean, leaving audiences with a memorable live music experience in the hills.

Indian Ocean at Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival 2026

The intimate setting of KRBF once again enabled a deeper connection between artists and audiences, creating an atmosphere that was both immersive and engaging. Over the two days, attendees experienced not just live music, but a strong sense of community and shared purpose.

Sharmaji and The Happy Factory performing  at Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival 2026

More than a music festival, KRBF continues to stand for a greater cause. Proceeds from the festival will go towards supporting medical treatment for critically ill, underprivileged children suffering from Congenital Heart Defects (CHD), helping them access life-saving surgeries and critical care.

Sangeeta Bhattacharya performing  at Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival 2026

Over the past 25 years, Genesis Foundation has supported the treatment of over 5400 children across India, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that no child is denied access to essential medical care due to financial constraints.

Shrey Tandan at Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival 2026

Speaking about the successful conclusion of the festival, Jyoti Sagar, Founder Trustee of Genesis Foundation, said, "KRBF has always been more than just a music festival- it is a movement that brings people together for a shared purpose. As we mark the 10th edition, we are grateful for the continued support of our artists, partners and audiences who make this impact possible year after year."

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Sameer Mutreja, Founding Director, Scapes India, 1842 Kasauli, added, "It is inspiring to see how KRBF continues to bring together music, community and purpose in such a meaningful way. We are proud to be associated with a festival that celebrates art while contributing to a larger social impact and respecting the natural and cultural fabric of Kasauli."

With another successful edition, the Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival continues to strengthen its legacy as a platform that brings together music, community and purpose creating impact, one note at a time.

- By Paresh B. Mehta

Breathtakingly beautiful locales of Uttarakhand are apt for Hindi films

Uttarakhand registers strong presence at FICCI FRAMES 

Proactive measures need to be put in place to launch Uttarakhand formally on the Bollywood firmament and showcase its breathtakingly beautiful locales. In this regard Doon based Uttarakhand Film Producers ‘Enchanting Himalaya’, an initiative by Doonites to promote Uttarakhand amongst filmmakers, both national and international level, was formally launched in Mumbai on Wednesday the 12th of March.

This year Uttarakhand’s presence at FICCI FRAMES loomed large with the ‘Enchanting Himalaya’ stall acting as a touch point with some of Bollywood’s leading actors and directors. They were invited by the Enchanting Himalaya team to opt for Uttarakhand as a shooting destination.

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra of ‘Rang De Basanti’ and ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ expressed his keenness to consider some places in Uttarakhand for his future ventures.

The celebrated director of some wonderful movies ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’, ‘Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin’, Sudhir Mishra wanted to know what facilities were in place in the state he enquired about the weather conditions in May-June when he intends to shoot.

Veteran actress Himani Shivpuri applauded Enchanting Himalaya for its initiative of promoting Uttarakhand amongst filmmakers. She spent considerable time at the stall to the utter delight of her fans. She expressed her solidarity with the cause.

UTV honcho Siddharth Roy Kapur too promised to look at the possibility of choosing Uttarakhand for shooting purposes.

The producer Guneet Monga riding high on the success of films such as ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbai’, ‘Lunch Box’ visited the stall and was open to the idea of shooting in Uttarakhand.

Bhushan Sharma whose two films are slated for release this summer expressed that Uttarakhand was a good option which could be advantageous to filmmakers.

One major query of most filmmakers was weather a policy had put in place by the state government. Availability of shooting equipments and state of infrastructure were major issues for them.

The star attraction on the day was Kajol. Earlier, Sonam Kapoor was present at the inaugural session.

A commemorative booklet ‘Picture uttarakhand 2014′ was released on the occasion and distributed amongst the film fraternity, visitors and guests at The Renaissance Hotel, Powai, Mumbai which was the venue for the big event.

According to Satish Sharma, MD of Uttarakhand Film Producers ‘Enchanting Himalaya’, “Positive results accrue when they are part of a collective effort. I hope in the future diverse elements, including the government  can come together to provide professional help to the world of films, and help the world become a more entertaining place and also provide  impetus to the  economics of small wonderful places such as those found in abundance in our state”.

“Post Uttarakhand floods if filmmakers choose to come to the state, tourism is bound to get a major boost”, he added.

- See more at: http://www.filmytown.com/uttarakhand-registers-strong-presence-ficci-frames