Hit hard by the pandemic, several musicians — especially budding talent — were forced to sing a different tune. Social distancing norms resulted in the loss of shows due to closure of public spaces and restaurants.

Perturbed by the scene, musician Vishal Dadlani envisioned a way of reaching out to the affected. “Established names of the music industry need to encourage new talent. Affected [artistes] are not only lacking opportunities, but are also forced to find work in unrelated spheres to support their families,” says the singer-composer, who is planning to create a scholarship programme that will offer help to at least 50 musicians, every year. “It will provide a sense of security, and enable them to get back on their feet. The aim is to make them self-sufficient, and then sustain themselves. I want to reach out to artistes belonging to different genres of music,” he says, without spelling out further details.