Home Baithaks Begin

Sukanya Banerjee and Tejas Jaishankar opened Upstairs With Us in 2018 for classical music lovers.

“People questioned why we were charging for something traditionally associated with a host’s generosity.”

Early Success

The initiative held 15 concerts before pausing in 2019, then resumed in early 2025 with sold-out events.

Growth Metrics

Upstairs now hosts 50 concerts, grew Instagram from 200 to 41,000 followers, and increased ticket prices from ₹500 to ₹3,000.

Urban Expansion

Once Upon India started in 2024 with home baithaks in Noida, now operates in nearly 20 cities.

Audience Experience

Guests return, recognize familiar faces, and engage in conversations beyond the performance.

Agra Jamming Club

Riya Agarwal founded Agra Jamming Club in 2024 with 15-20 people, now attracts 100-150 attendees.

Tiny Room Concerts

Gaurav Suvarna, Aditya Patil and Pratham Panchal started Tiny Room Concerts in December 2025 with 40-50 guests.

Bengaluru's Home At Last

Bengaluru’s Home At Last hosts Sunday morning concerts for 35 adults and a dozen children.

Home Concerts

Sangeeta Chopra hosts Naadyatra from her home in Gurgaon for over a year, attracting 30-40 listeners every six weeks.

Tehzeeb Ka Aangan

Prashant Mathur and Mona started Tehzeeb Ka Aangan in Gurgaon with monthly gatherings for 30-35 listeners.

Ticket Pricing

Ticket prices range from ₹299-500 for Agra Jamming Club to ₹1,500 for home concerts.

Audience Needs

Organizers say audiences seek intimate experiences where they can connect with others beyond music.

Future Plans

Upstairs explores workshops and curated playlists to expand access to music beyond weekends.

Community Impact

These intimate gatherings address a vacuum in socializing by providing spaces for connection and cultural experiences.