His family wanted him to become an engineer: Anand Mahindra is impressed with a VIT techie who refused to join corporate rat race to become a famous tabla player

An engineering degree from a reputed institute is often seen as a ticket to a corporate career. But Nikhil Paralikar, a graduate of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), had a different plan. Despite his family's wish for him to become an engineer, he decided to pursue music and see if he could make a living playing the tabla.

That decision has now caught the attention of industrialist Anand Mahindra, who featured the musician in his Monday motivation post. Mahindra highlighted how Paralikar asked his family to give him just one year to try and build a career in music. That one year eventually turned into a full-time profession.

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According to the video shared by Mahindra, Paralikar has performed more than 2,500 times, played before audiences of over 15,000 people and created a musical collective that blends Indian classical and folk traditions with electronic and contemporary music. For Mahindra, the story is about more than a musician's success. It is about the courage to step away from a conventional career path and give one's passion a chance.

Who is Nikhil Paralikar, the VIT techie who chose tabla over engineering?

Paralikar's interest in music began long before he entered college. As a child, he would drum on boxes at home while his father hummed tunes. The rhythm apparently went well with his father's singing, and his mother soon noticed that he had a natural knack for percussion.


He was around five when his mother offered him a choice of instruments, including drums, congas and Western percussion instruments. But it was the tabla that caught his attention. He began taking formal tabla lessons while continuing his regular schooling. The instrument remained part of his life through his teenage years and university education.

Eventually, he completed his B.Tech in engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology. But the prospect of entering the corporate world did not appeal to him.

Rather than immediately joining a company after graduation, Paralikar chose to give music a serious chance. His family's expectations and the uncertainty of making a living as a musician did not make the decision straightforward. Still, he was prepared to take the risk.

How Nikhil Paralikar combined tabla with techno and EDM

Paralikar's musical identity developed from two seemingly different interests. Alongside Hindustani classical music, he enjoyed listening to techno and electronic dance music (EDM). Instead of keeping the genres separate, he began experimenting with ways to combine them.

His early experiments included tabla-based versions of English commercial tracks, Bollywood songs and ambient techno. He posted some of these performances online, where they began attracting attention. What started as an experiment gradually developed into a career. His online performances introduced the tabla to listeners who might not ordinarily seek out Indian classical music, while giving him a platform to explore different musical styles.

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Paralikar performs under the name The Tabla Guy. His work draws on classical training but uses contemporary arrangements to reach audiences beyond traditional concert settings. For a musician trained in Hindustani classical music, this approach also means navigating the debate around fusion and preserving the integrity of classical traditions.

He has also drawn inspiration from musicians such as Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Alla Rakha Qureshi, who collaborated across musical traditions and helped introduce Indian classical instruments to wider audiences.

Anand Mahindra says creative careers could gain value in the age of AI

Mahindra's appreciation of Paralikar's journey also comes with a wider observation about the future of work. The industrialist recalled his own decision to study filmmaking as an undergraduate rather than follow the conventional expectation of pursuing engineering after high school. He said he wanted to give his creative interests an opportunity before eventually entering the business world.

That experience, Mahindra said, makes him particularly appreciative of people who are willing to step away from established career paths. He also believes Paralikar's story has relevance at a time when artificial intelligence is changing the employment landscape.

As AI becomes increasingly capable of performing tasks that were once considered exclusive to humans, Mahindra expects greater value to be placed on music, performance, creativity and experiences that make people feel something. He suggested that careers built around these qualities could prove more durable than many people currently imagine.

For students and families deciding between conventional professional courses and creative pursuits, the observation raises a question about how career choices may evolve. An engineering degree can open doors to a range of opportunities, but Paralikar's journey illustrates how a specialised artistic skill can also become the foundation of a profession.

As Mahindra put it, "So here's to Nikhil for asking for that one year. And here's to everyone with the courage to give the road less travelled a chance…"