A magical pop-up book on Indian classical music

Hear, see touch and feel music, as you discover the 7 swars with a little crow called Kaga.

GET THE BOOK

Master of the 7 Swars

Kaga has a new home

Over the past year, Kaga has flown to over 500 homes, sparking love and fascination for Indian classical music. We’re thrilled to announce that Master of the 7 swars will now be published by Roli Books, helping Kaga reach more homes and hearts.

Master of the 7 Swars wins a baby blue elephant at Kyoorius Design Awards 2023!​

See the 7 swars come to life

Legend says that the 7 swars (musical notes) have come from the voices of 7 animals and each embodies a unique colour and emotion.1 Illuminate pop-ups in the book with a flashlight and watch in wonder as the swars leap off the page and reveal their ancient secrets.

Make music and embark on epic quests

Join Kaga’s musical adventure through interactive quests. With the swar-tarang app, create music and become a part of the story!

Swar stickers

Using stickers included with the book, weave a keyboard or string instrument into the story.

Do you have what it takes to master the 7 swars?

FEATURED IN
[Swarpeti] helps children experience Indian classical music in all its spectacular variety and textures.
Soumya Rajaram
Bangalore Mirror
Pratyush, take a bow. You are a master storyteller and a great visualiser. This book is a must read for music lovers.
Himanshu Joshi
Indian Ocean
In a growing toneless world... some notes of sheer joy. Innovation is alive and well and right here.
Jayant Kripalani
How wonderful is this!? A pop-up book telling a beautiful musical story!
Vishal Dadlani

About Swarpeti

Master of the 7 Swars

Children often find Indian classical music complex, boring and meant-for-grownups. Swarpeti breaks this notion and provides a gateway into the magical and colourful world of Hindustani music through a blend of storytelling, activities, sound and shadow theatre.

Master of the 7 Swars, the first book in the series, flies alongside a crow named Kaga, who wishes to sing like the legendary musician Tansen. The book bursts with colour, immersing readers in an interactive tale to help Kaga achieve her dream.

The book spans 44 pages with 11 enchanting pop-ups. Along with it, you’ll get the swar-tarang and a set of stickers to place on your musical instruments, bringing them into the story with you.

Pratyush Gupta

An interdisciplinary designer and Hindustani vocalist, Pratyush Gupta began his musical journey as a child, repeating his teachers’ tunes without truly understanding their meaning or relevance. Children’s books on Indian music were harder to find than an elephant singing in the jungle! To bridge this gap, he launched Swarpeti in 2012 during his graduation at Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

After 11 years of research and experimentation. Master of the 7 swars was published in 2023 through crowfunding; thanks to hundreds of supporters. In 2024, the book found a new home at Roli Books.

Pratyush’s work has featured in publications and festivals across the globe, including The Times of India, Bangalore Mirror, Courrier international, Creative Gaga and India Art Fair.

Swarpeti experiences

Swarpeti has evolved beyond its literary origins, offering a range of experiences—including workshops, exhibitions and theatrical performances—expanding the reach of Indian music and art to a diverse audience.

There’s a lot more magic brewing!