A Supreme Court Senior Advocate returning to the stage with a rock band was not something audiences expected — but Nalin Kohli’s musical comeback is proving that passion does not fade with age.
For decades, Nalin Kohli has been recognized as one of the familiar faces of India’s legal and political landscape. As a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and a national spokesperson for the BJP, his public identity has largely revolved around courtroom arguments, television debates, and political discourse. Yet behind the formal attire and sharp legal reasoning lived another side of him — one deeply connected to rhythm, melody, and rock music.
Recently, that hidden side stepped into public view when Kohli performed at a live music gig in Saket alongside his sister, author Vandana Kohli. The performance quickly captured attention online after author Gautam Chikermane shared clips from the evening on social media. For many viewers, it was difficult to reconcile the composed legal expert they knew from television with the energetic rock performer on stage.
Kohli himself admits that the response surprised him.
“Most people said, ‘We did not know this side of you,’” he recalled with amusement.
But music, for him, was never a sudden discovery. It was a passion rooted deeply in childhood.
A Musical Beginning Before the Courtroom
Long before legal practice and political responsibilities took over his life, Kohli grew up in an environment rich with artistic influences. Alongside his sister Vandana, he received formal training in semi-classical music and Rabindra Sangeet during his years in Kolkata. Music was not simply a hobby; it was an important part of everyday life.
As the cultural wave of Western rock music spread through Indian college campuses during the 1980s, the siblings embraced it wholeheartedly. Together, they performed in a college band called Rebels, immersing themselves in classic rock and live performances.
Like many youthful dreams, however, music slowly gave way to professional obligations. Law, public life, and the demands of a growing career gradually pushed performances and rehearsals into the background. The stage lights dimmed, but the desire to return never completely disappeared.
The Spark That Revived an Old Dream
The thought of returning to music resurfaced years later after Kohli watched the Bollywood film Rock On!!, a story centered around friendship, unfinished ambitions, and rediscovering music later in life. The film resonated deeply with him, reminding him of a dream that had quietly remained alive beneath decades of professional commitments.
Still, inspiration alone was not enough. Years passed before he finally decided to act on it.
The decisive moment came from an emotional conversation with his elderly parents. Realizing that time moves quickly and opportunities should not be endlessly postponed, his parents encouraged their children to return to what once brought them joy.
Their simple question became impossible to ignore:
“If not now, then when?”
That sentence transformed hesitation into action.
The Birth of Sourdough
Motivated by that encouragement, the siblings reunited musically and formed a band called Sourdough. The name itself carries symbolic meaning. Kohli describes sourdough as “mature bread” — something that grows richer with time, patience, and experience. In many ways, the metaphor mirrors the band’s own journey.
The ensemble features talented performers including Kabir Mahajan, Nalin Kohli, Vandana Kohli, Ravali Komanapally, Marc Aimond, and Shashwat Pandit. Together, they perform a mix of classic rock, indie influences, and mature reinterpretations of timeless music.
What makes Kohli’s musical return particularly remarkable is its timing. His major public performances with Sourdough came shortly after one of the most significant achievements of his legal career — being designated a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court of India in 2024.
For many, such a milestone would mark the peak of professional life. For Kohli, however, it also became the beginning of something deeply personal.
Balancing Two Worlds
Today, Kohli moves comfortably between two dramatically different worlds. One day may involve legal proceedings and political discussions; another may end with rehearsals, live audiences, and electric guitars.
After delivering several performances in Delhi, the band now hopes to perform at music festivals across India. Their growing popularity suggests that audiences are responding not only to the music itself, but also to the authenticity behind the journey.
In an age where professional identity often consumes personal passions, Kohli’s story offers a refreshing reminder that ambition and creativity do not have to compete with each other. Dreams paused by responsibility can still find their way back into life, even decades later.
More importantly, his journey challenges the idea that passion has an expiration date. Whether in law, politics, or music, reinvention remains possible as long as the desire to create continues to exist.
As Kohli himself beautifully puts it:
“Music is a language of the soul and knows no age or boundaries.”
For decades, Nalin Kohli has been recognized as one of the familiar faces of India’s legal and political landscape. As a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and a national spokesperson for the BJP, his public identity has largely revolved around courtroom arguments, television debates, and political discourse. Yet behind the formal attire and sharp legal reasoning lived another side of him — one deeply connected to rhythm, melody, and rock music.
Recently, that hidden side stepped into public view when Kohli performed at a live music gig in Saket alongside his sister, author Vandana Kohli. The performance quickly captured attention online after author Gautam Chikermane shared clips from the evening on social media. For many viewers, it was difficult to reconcile the composed legal expert they knew from television with the energetic rock performer on stage.
Kohli himself admits that the response surprised him.
“Most people said, ‘We did not know this side of you,’” he recalled with amusement.
But music, for him, was never a sudden discovery. It was a passion rooted deeply in childhood.
A Musical Beginning Before the Courtroom
Long before legal practice and political responsibilities took over his life, Kohli grew up in an environment rich with artistic influences. Alongside his sister Vandana, he received formal training in semi-classical music and Rabindra Sangeet during his years in Kolkata. Music was not simply a hobby; it was an important part of everyday life.
As the cultural wave of Western rock music spread through Indian college campuses during the 1980s, the siblings embraced it wholeheartedly. Together, they performed in a college band called Rebels, immersing themselves in classic rock and live performances.
Like many youthful dreams, however, music slowly gave way to professional obligations. Law, public life, and the demands of a growing career gradually pushed performances and rehearsals into the background. The stage lights dimmed, but the desire to return never completely disappeared.
The Spark That Revived an Old Dream
The thought of returning to music resurfaced years later after Kohli watched the Bollywood film Rock On!!, a story centered around friendship, unfinished ambitions, and rediscovering music later in life. The film resonated deeply with him, reminding him of a dream that had quietly remained alive beneath decades of professional commitments.
Still, inspiration alone was not enough. Years passed before he finally decided to act on it.
The decisive moment came from an emotional conversation with his elderly parents. Realizing that time moves quickly and opportunities should not be endlessly postponed, his parents encouraged their children to return to what once brought them joy.
Their simple question became impossible to ignore:
“If not now, then when?”
That sentence transformed hesitation into action.
The Birth of Sourdough
Motivated by that encouragement, the siblings reunited musically and formed a band called Sourdough. The name itself carries symbolic meaning. Kohli describes sourdough as “mature bread” — something that grows richer with time, patience, and experience. In many ways, the metaphor mirrors the band’s own journey.
The ensemble features talented performers including Kabir Mahajan, Nalin Kohli, Vandana Kohli, Ravali Komanapally, Marc Aimond, and Shashwat Pandit. Together, they perform a mix of classic rock, indie influences, and mature reinterpretations of timeless music.
What makes Kohli’s musical return particularly remarkable is its timing. His major public performances with Sourdough came shortly after one of the most significant achievements of his legal career — being designated a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court of India in 2024.
For many, such a milestone would mark the peak of professional life. For Kohli, however, it also became the beginning of something deeply personal.
Balancing Two Worlds
Today, Kohli moves comfortably between two dramatically different worlds. One day may involve legal proceedings and political discussions; another may end with rehearsals, live audiences, and electric guitars.
After delivering several performances in Delhi, the band now hopes to perform at music festivals across India. Their growing popularity suggests that audiences are responding not only to the music itself, but also to the authenticity behind the journey.
In an age where professional identity often consumes personal passions, Kohli’s story offers a refreshing reminder that ambition and creativity do not have to compete with each other. Dreams paused by responsibility can still find their way back into life, even decades later.
More importantly, his journey challenges the idea that passion has an expiration date. Whether in law, politics, or music, reinvention remains possible as long as the desire to create continues to exist.
As Kohli himself beautifully puts it:
“Music is a language of the soul and knows no age or boundaries.”
Leave a Comment