Courtesy: Roshni Samlal
By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Flushing Town Hall will host “Indo-Constellations” on March 23, a one-night-only event that brings the dynamic sounds of Liberty Avenue to the stage. The show, curated by tabla artist and DJ Roshni Samlal, highlights Indo-Caribbean artists whose music reflects the rich cultural tapestry of Queens.
“Indo-Constellations” will feature performances by Ben Parag, Josanne Francis, Roshni Samlal, and Pallaví, also known as Fijiana, with music spanning Bollywood classics, jazz, chutney, hip-hop, and more. Samlal described the show as “very Queens” in the way it reflects the borough’s musical landscape, where Indo-Caribbean heritage and contemporary sounds naturally mix.
The festival, which runs from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will also include a DJ set for dancing and vendors serving West Indian street food. Samlal, who moved from Trinidad to Richmond Hill and grew up surrounded by the vibrant Indo-Caribbean culture of Liberty Avenue, said the event is intended to be more than a concert.
“We’re really going for the festival vibe, inviting people to come and hang. It’s not just one set and then a passive experience,” Samlal said.
Raised in a family of Guyanese musical talent, Ben Parag is a New York native and fluent Hindi speaker who trained in classical music under the guidance of gurus Kinnar and Payal Seen. His talent took him to India, where he performed on the television show Dil Hai Hindustani, earning praise from Bollywood director Karan Johar and other renowned judges. Parag’s style blends Bollywood classics with chutney and tassa influences, creating a unique sound that appeals to diverse audiences while keeping his Caribbean roots close.
Josanne Francis, born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago, is an internationally acclaimed steelpan performer and music educator known for her delicate yet powerful playing style. Her music draws from traditional Calypso, Jazz, Indian, Funk, Rock, and Classical influences—an unconventional mix for her instrument. She has performed at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Strathmore Music Center, and has been featured at festivals across the U.S. and internationally. Francis is also the Executive Director of the Cultural Academy for Excellence, Inc., and runs her own educational steelpan program, Steel on Wheels.
Pallaví, known by her stage name Fijiana, embodies the multicultural landscape of Fiji and the Bay Area. Her eclectic sound combines jazz-influenced rap, modern pop, and Indo-Afro beats, reflecting her dual cultural identity. Pallaví’s music tackles political issues, spiritual experiences, and personal stories, all rooted in real emotions. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone India, Vogue India, KQED, and Brown Girl Magazine, and her song “Identity” was an official selection at the South Asian Film Festival of America.
Samlal, a New York-based tabla player and DJ, has studied within the Farrukhabad, Benares, and Punjab gharanas of Indian classical percussion. She is a prolific teacher and performer, collaborating with traditional musicians like Pt. Krishna Bhatt, as well as contemporary ensembles such as In D Ensemble and Orakel. Samlal’s work also explores electronic production, using sound collages and poetry to address topics like post-colonial Caribbean identity and migration. As the curator and producer of the Ragini Festival, she spotlights innovative arts within the South Asian diaspora, focusing on Indo-Caribbean heritage.
The evening’s lineup will open with Ben Parag’s Bollywood-inspired set, followed by a special mash-up performance featuring steelpan, tassa, and tabla—highlighting the rich musical heritage of Trinidad. The event will culminate with Pallaví’s powerful blend of hip-hop, storytelling, and Indo-Fijian themes.
Flushing Town Hall’s collaboration with Samlal’s Ragini Festival marks the first time the event has been held at the venue, bringing together artists from the Indo-Caribbean diaspora in a celebration of identity and innovation.
“For South Asians in particular, a lot of them don’t realize that there’s a whole extension of South Asian culture that morphed and moved and preserved so much connection to the continent,” Samlal said. “What an act of resistance that is. And how we really progressed our identity too.”
Tickets for Indo-Constellations are available for $30 at flushingtownhall.org.
