For me, music was never just a hobby. It was an environment I grew up in, a language I learned to understand, and eventually, a lifelong pursuit.

My journey began on Pune's MG Road, inside my father's iconic music store, Empire Music House — a place many old-timers still remember with affection. The store was among the pioneers introducing international audio brands to the city, at a time when gramophones, valve radios, reel-to-reel recorders, and vinyl records shaped the way people experienced music.

Surrounded by Indian classical music, film music, Western classical, jazz, and rock, I grew up immersed in a world where music and technology came together. With audio equipment constantly arriving for servicing and repair, I developed an appreciation not only for how music sounded, but also for the science and craftsmanship behind its reproduction.

As audio evolved from pure analogue to digital and, eventually, back to a renewed appreciation of analogue, my curiosity grew alongside it.

By my school years, I was already building loudspeakers and amplifiers. My pocket money went towards microphones, mixers, headphones, recorders, and vinyl records, often to support friends and amateur musicians. What began as a passion gradually evolved into professional work, including providing high-quality sound systems for private recordings of legendary artists, with the aim of capturing their performances as faithfully as possible.

The Beginning of Oceanic:

Following my father's passing in 1992, Oceanic was born as a continuation of his legacy and a personal mission of my own: to make great music and great sound more accessible, while keeping performance at a premium.

My association with the Osho Ashram opened another dimension of my musical journey. Through the ashram, I encountered artists and musicians from across the world, many of whom I had the privilege of meeting and listening to in person.

I firmly believe that one of the best ways to train the ear is to listen to live music. The immediacy, dynamics, tonality, and emotional depth of a live performance reveal qualities that are difficult to fully appreciate through any other medium. The ashram gave me countless opportunities to experience this firsthand, further shaping my understanding of what authentic sound should feel like.

It was here that I met my friend Shanti, and we soon realised that we could build something meaningful together. Shanti brought extensive technical expertise from his experience in the research and development department at Philips, while I brought my passion for music and sound reproduction.

Together, we set out to create electrostatic speakers and valve amplifiers that reflected our shared philosophy of musical fidelity. These products were launched in markets around the world under the brand name CADENCE — a proud expression of Indian engineering, craftsmanship, and our pursuit of exceptional sound.

Music, Artists and Collaborations:

The Osho commune also introduced me to artists with whom I would later collaborate through the Oceanic music label. These collaborations resulted in albums including Sufi Flame, Sufi Splendor, Rejoicing, Embrace, and Love Is Space.

Over the years, I have also had the privilege of recording artists such as Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Hemant Pendse, and Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh at private concerts. These experiences reinforced my belief that recording and reproducing music is about far more than capturing sound. It is about preserving the emotion, character, and integrity of a performance.

Every artist, every recording, and every listening experience has taught me something new. Together, they have shaped the way I approach music and the equipment through which it is experienced.

A Journey of Gratitude:

I remain eternally grateful to my father, my guru Bhagwan Rajneesh, my friend Shanti, and the many musicians, artists, and individuals I have had the privilege of knowing, learning from, and collaborating with. Their influence has made this a truly enriching journey.

Music is my life:

The experience I have gathered over the years is something I believe should be shared. Through Oceanic Sound & Vision, I continue to do so by introducing people to new musical genres, helping them discover the nuances of quality sound, and guiding them towards audio equipment that suits their listening preferences.

Because choosing the right audio system should never be just a purchase. It should be the beginning of a deeper relationship with music.