Pianist Devanga Bidrum Kalita from Dibrugarh in Assam began learning piano in class II after watching his friend play the instrument. An artist with a specific learning disability, his interest encountered a roadblock when he could not find a piano teacher in the city. Every month, he and his mother went to Guwahati to learn piano, which eventually led him to AR Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory in Chenna and later to Middlesex University in the UK, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in music.
Devanga Bidrum Kalita, co-founder and pianist of Chayanit – The Chosen Ones band
| Photo Credit:
Shridhar Sudhir
Devanga happened to meet drummer Chayan Taneja, a graphic designer on the autism spectrum, and his mother Archana Taneja, who were seeking to start a neurodivergent music band, in Delhi NCR. They went on launch the band, Chayanit-The Chosen Ones, in May this year.
They formed the band with the support of the Hyundai India Art for Hope Grant 2025. Chayanit has performed across Delhi and is all set to venture outside the Capital with Sammohan 2025, a national-level showcase for People with Disabilities at the Different Art Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, on September 27.
Chayan Taneja, drummer and co-founder of Chayanit – The Chosen Ones
| Photo Credit:
Shridhar Sudhir
The ensemble has Kevin Aryan Mitchell on guitar and Eshaan Pratap Singh and Shreyam Shreevardhan on vocals. The band benefits from the mentorship of Sandeep Paul, Chayan’s childhood teacher, while Archana coordinates the group.
Origin stories
“When I was four, I used to play toy drums and was quite interested in it. I started taking classes from Sandeep sir at the age of 10. In 2013, five months into learning drums, I had my first solo performance,” says Chayan, a fan of Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, over a Zoom call. “I can also play other instruments such as the cajon, djembe, and tabla.” He is a Grade 6 drummer from Trinity College London.
Kevin Aryan Mitchell, guitarist of Chayanit – The Chosen Ones
| Photo Credit:
Shridhar Sudhir
Kevin fell in love with the guitar as a teenager listening to his father play the instrument and taught himself how to play ‘Country Roads’ at the age of 14. The 19-year-old says he was inspired by a few German artists growing up; he is on the autistic spectrum.
Eshaan Pratap Singh, vocalist of Chayanit – The Chosen Ones band
| Photo Credit:
Shridhar Sudhir
Eshaan, who is also on the autistic spectrum, says, “I started to practice singing during the lockdown with my mother. Later, it turned out to be my passion.” Shreyam who lives with ADHD and a learning disability, credits his musical interest to Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and Hemant Kumar, whom he listened to as a three-year-old.
Shreyam Shreevardhan, vocalist of Chayanit – The Chosen Ones
| Photo Credit:
Shridhar Sudhir
Hopes and challenges
It has not been easy for these musicians to grow up with neurodivergence, says Archana. “All of them have different personalities with difficulties of varying degrees. For instance, Chayan used to get tired within 30 seconds of playing the drums, saying his hands were aching. Giving him timers helped, and now he can play for two hours at a stretch. There was also difficulty in learning music notation. Sandeep used to mark the drums so he would remember.”
Devanga, an Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Grade 8 certified pianist, says, “When I was in class VI, it was difficult for me to understand what my music teacher taught. So the teacher would take lessons for my father who was with me and he explained everything to me.”
Chayanit – The Chosen Ones band
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Archana, who left her job as a fashion stylist to coordinate the band, says, “We are focused on abilities rather than disabilities. Children have skills waiting to be discovered. That is something I want to tell all parents. Your child speaks; you just need to listen.”
Sandeep says, “I do not see it as a difficult job. I need to create masters in their fields. That’s it.”
Archana adds, “This band is a dream come true. But there are difficulties in terms of logistics, planning, and coordination. All the parents are working hard to make the ensemble possible. The happiness I see on our children’s faces is our motivation.”
The band is gearing up for two concerts in October, including a performance at the International Purple Fest in Goa.
“We are coming out with an original song too,” says Chayan. “I dream of carving a space for myself as a musician, so that my mother and mentor can be proud of me. I want to inspire those who are stopped from doing things because they are disabled,” says Eshaan.
Chayan says, “I want our band to play at Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal’s concerts. People should know we are special but not less. We are Chayanit-The Chosen Ones.”
Chayanit – The Chosen Ones, performs at Sammohan 2025 on September 27 , from 3pm onwards at Different Art Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. Entry free.
Published – September 24, 2025 05:05 pm IST
