Filmmaker Bharat Bala joins Cyrus to share jaw-dropping stories from his extraordinary career — from creating the iconic Vande Mataram with A.R. Rahman to walking 2 km through Gaza’s no-man’s land to meet Yasser Arafat. He recalls gifting Nelson Mandela two Kaju Katlis, discussing compassion with the Dalai Lama, and laughing with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Bala also opens up about the time he declared “Humanity is imprisoned in Tihar Jail” after screening Bicycle Thief for inmates, his father’s moving war photography, and how a self-funded passion led him to work with some of the world’s greatest leaders.

Plus, he talks about directing large-scale campaigns like Incredible India, capturing the Kumbh Mela, and flying helicopters over Ladakh’s mountains — all while keeping his love for big ideas alive.

It’s an epic journey through art, courage, and creativity.

Look for a bittersweet Indian Army Story in the Episode!

Filmmaker Bharat Bala joins Cyrus to share jaw-dropping stories from his extraordinary career &mdash; from creating the iconic Vande Mataram with A.R. Rahman to walking 2 km through Gaza&rsquo;s no-man&rsquo;s land to meet Yasser Arafat. He recalls gifting Nelson Mandela two Kaju Katlis, discussing compassion with the Dalai Lama, and laughing with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Bala also opens up about the time he declared &ldquo;Humanity is imprisoned in Tihar Jail&rdquo; after screening Bicycle Thief for inmates, his father&rsquo;s moving war photography, and how a self-funded passion led him to work with some of the world&rsquo;s greatest leaders.
Plus, he talks about directing large-scale campaigns like Incredible India, capturing the Kumbh Mela, and flying helicopters over Ladakh&rsquo;s mountains &mdash; all while keeping his love for big ideas alive.
It&rsquo;s an epic journey through art, courage, and creativity.
Look for a bittersweet Indian Army Story in the Episode!

Broadcasting through the week with a rotating panel of guests, Cyrus Says is the definitive show on life in urban India, politics, sports, civic sense, traffic, kids, food, and everything that matters. Mostly.

Broadcasting through the week with a rotating panel of guests, Cyrus Says is the definitive show on life in urban India, politics, sports, civic sense, traffic, kids, food, and everything that matters. Mostly.

Cyrus Says

From Vande Mataram, AR Rahman to Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama ft. Bharat Bala

Akanksha and Shantanu came to discuss sensible things. We put a stop to that immediately.

There’s FIFA possibly protecting Messi, Ram Kapoor versus Kushal Tandon, wedding gossip, weight loss, reality TV and enough incorrect information to comfortably run a news channel.

Nobody learns anything. Cyrus talks too much. Standard episode.

Akanksha and Shantanu came to discuss sensible things. We put a stop to that immediately. There&rsquo;s FIFA possibly protecting Messi, Ram Kapoor versus Kushal Tandon, wedding gossip, weight loss, reality TV and enough incorrect information to comfortably run a news channel. Nobody learns anything. Cyrus talks too much. Standard episode.

Messi, Reality TV and Absolute Nonsense ft. Akanksha & Shantanu | Cock and Bull | Cyrus Says

National Award-winning Indian classical vocalist Mahesh Kale joins Cyrus Broacha for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about music, career choices, spirituality and sport.

Mahesh shares how growing up around bhajans and classical music in Pune shaped his musical instincts, even as he followed the conventional path of studying engineering. He recalls the emotional encounter during his master’s programme in America that pushed him to reconsider a Silicon Valley career and give music his full attention.

He also talks about supporting himself through teaching, working in Marathi musical theatre, performing in Katyar Kaljat Ghusali and receiving national recognition for his singing.

The episode explores the philosophy behind Mahesh’s Abhangwari concerts and his efforts to connect Indian classical music with younger listeners. From writing bandishes about artificial intelligence and self-driving cars to experimenting with EDM, Mahesh explains why tradition must remain authentic while also finding new spaces in which to be discovered.

Cyrus and Mahesh also discuss football, cricket, Messi, Neymar and the psychology of high-level sport before ending with a classical music quiz and a spontaneous performance.

National Award-winning Indian classical vocalist Mahesh Kale joins Cyrus Broacha for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about music, career choices, spirituality and sport.
Mahesh shares how growing up around bhajans and classical music in Pune shaped his musical instincts, even as he followed the conventional path of studying engineering. He recalls the emotional encounter during his master&rsquo;s programme in America that pushed him to reconsider a Silicon Valley career and give music his full attention.
He also talks about supporting himself through teaching, working in Marathi musical theatre, performing in Katyar Kaljat Ghusali and receiving national recognition for his singing.
The episode explores the philosophy behind Mahesh&rsquo;s Abhangwari concerts and his efforts to connect Indian classical music with younger listeners. From writing bandishes about artificial intelligence and self-driving cars to experimenting with EDM, Mahesh explains why tradition must remain authentic while also finding new spaces in which to be discovered.
Cyrus and Mahesh also discuss football, cricket, Messi, Neymar and the psychology of high-level sport before ending with a classical music quiz and a spontaneous performance.

Music, Spirituality and Sports with Mahesh Kale | Cyrus Says

Welcome to Cyrus Says!

In this episode, Cyrus sits down with Girish Talwar and Debayan Deb, founder and co-founder of Rebellion Management, for a fascinating conversation about India’s independent music movement, artist management, live events, creator culture, and how entertainment businesses are actually built from the ground up. Girish reflects on his journey from law school and playing bass in Zero to helping shape the indie scene through Only Much Louder(OML), artist management, CDs, music videos, festivals, and eventually some of the biggest shifts in Indian live entertainment. Debayan adds the next-generation lens, sharing how fandom, the internet, and modern creator ecosystems changed the way talent is discovered, built, and monetized.

The conversation moves through the rise of OML, the early independent band circuit, NH7 Weekender, artist communities, Babblefish, branded content, streaming, music economics, Vir Das, creator management, sync licensing, and how Rebellion now works across music, creators, and brand partnerships. It is funny, nostalgic, sharply observant, and full of real industry insight on what it takes to build culture before the market is ready for it. 

This is a great episode for anyone interested in music, entrepreneurship, media, and the business of entertainment in India.

Welcome to Cyrus Says! In this episode, Cyrus sits down with Girish Talwar and Debayan Deb, founder and co-founder of Rebellion Management, for a fascinating conversation about India&rsquo;s independent music movement, artist management, live events, creator culture, and how entertainment businesses are actually built from the ground up. Girish reflects on his journey from law school and playing bass in Zero to helping shape the indie scene through Only Much Louder(OML), artist management, CDs, music videos, festivals, and eventually some of the biggest shifts in Indian live entertainment. Debayan adds the next-generation lens, sharing how fandom, the internet, and modern creator ecosystems changed the way talent is discovered, built, and monetized. The conversation moves through the rise of OML, the early independent band circuit, NH7 Weekender, artist communities, Babblefish, branded content, streaming, music economics, Vir Das, creator management, sync licensing, and how Rebellion now works across music, creators, and brand partnerships. It is funny, nostalgic, sharply observant, and full of real industry insight on what it takes to build culture before the market is ready for it.&nbsp; This is a great episode for anyone interested in music, entrepreneurship, media, and the business of entertainment in India.

From Vande Mataram, AR Rahman to Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama ft. Bharat Bala

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