Kommune, India’s acclaimed cultural storytelling hub, concluded the two-day celebration of music, words, and everything love, Spoken Fest—Asia’s largest spoken word festival—in Mumbai on February 2nd, 2025. The evening brought together the brilliant singer-composer-producer Shankar Mahadevan and the founder of Kommune India, Roshan Abbas—for an unfiltered conversation that delved into the heart of music and creative synergy.

It was an eclectic mix of storytelling and music, where Shankar Mahadevan spoke about his life in music through memorable music performances and stimulating conversation. From the opening moments, Mahadevan transported the audience back to the genesis of his journey. He talked about how he was comfortable with this corporate job as well as doing music. The Grammy-winning singer took a call at the age of 26-27 to leave his job at a reputed software firm that provided a cushioned life in the USA with financial stability and pursue his passion for music full-time.