Music In Soul — A Decade of Stories, Culture & Music

On 12 September 2026, at the Taj Mahal, Lucknow, FolkTales marked ten years of its creative journey and formally launched Folktales Music Studio — a new home dedicated to giving emerging musicians a stage, guidance and training.

"Music In Soul" brought together devotion, Sufi, ghazals, patriotic songs and the great melodies of Hindi cinema in one evening, led by father and son Manuj Sharma and Adhyatma Sharma with around twenty musicians, and anchored by Raj Smriti.

Why this studio

After ten years of working with art, culture and creative talent, FolkTales has created a platform devoted to music. Folktales Music Studio will do more than offer a stage: it will train, mentor and present emerging artists, and help their work reach wider audiences. The initiative was announced following a courtesy meeting with Shri Jayveer Singh, Minister of Tourism & Culture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, who appreciated its aim of strengthening Uttar Pradesh's cultural economy.

The music

From bhakti and Sufi to patriotic anthems and Hindi film classics. The setlist featured Brij Ras, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan, Sandese Aate Hain, Mere Dholna Sun, Chitthi Aayi Hai, Chhaap Tilak Sab Chheeni, Ud Ja Kaale Kaawa, and Tu Hai To Dil Dhadakta Hai.

The ensemble

Adhyatma Sharma (Vocalist) · Manuj Sharma (Vocalist) · Raj Smriti (Anchor & Storyteller) · accompanied by around 20 talented musicians.

How the evening unfolded

High tea & registration → lamp lighting → presenting the vision of Folktales Music Studio → live concert → felicitation ceremony → photography session.

In attendance

We were honoured to welcome Padma Shri Vidya Bindu, Padma Shri Anil Rastogi, HG Aparimay Shyam Das, Danish Azad Ansari (Minister, Govt of UP), Sanyukta Bhatia (former Mayor of Lucknow), Aparna Bisht Yadav, Pawan Singh Chauhan, Dr. Hari Om, Avnish Kumar Singh, Dr. Sanjeev Awasthi, Sudhir Halwasiya, Nishith Chandra, Manjula Goswami, Qazi Meraj Ahmed, and Anil Kumar.

Thank you

A heartfelt thank you to our guests, our incredible artists, our partners, and the wonderful team at the Taj Mahal, Lucknow.