- HOMEGROWN WORLD
- #HGCREATORS
- #HGEXPLORE
- #HGVOICES
- #HGSHOP
- CAREERS
- ABOUT US
- CONTACT US
Miti Adhikari, the legendary BBC sound engineer whose career spanned over four decades and bridged the worlds of British rock and Indian indie music, passed away last week in Goa. An inimitable force behind some of the most iconic live sessions ever broadcast, Adhikari was renowned for his understated brilliance, technical mastery, and unwavering commitment to sonic authenticity. He was 69 at the time of his passing from complications after a surgery.
Born in Kolkata in the mid-1950s, Adhikari was introduced to music through the city’s thriving 1970s rock scene. As the bassist of the indie band Mahamaya, he cut his teeth by covering of The Beatles and Grateful Dead, cultivating a love for layered soundscapes and improvisational freedom. After migrating to the UK in his early twenties, he joined the BBC in the late 1970s, chosen from a pool of nearly 20,000 applicants. What followed was a storied career that made him one of the most respected music producers and sound engineers in British broadcasting.
Working at the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios — hallowed ground for musicians and music lovers alike — for the next three decades, Adhikari engineered live music sessions for John Peel’s popular BBC Radio 1 show Peel Sessions as well as live broadcasts for artists who would go on to define generations. Iconic rock music from Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, The White Stripes, Foo Fighters, Elastica, Coldplay, and Arcade Fire all passed through his boards. It was Adhikari’s ear for nuance, and his unshakeable calm in high-pressure recording environments, that made him a favourite among musicians and producers.
A musicians’ musician, Adhikari was known for his collaborative spirit. Foo Fighters famously gave him a shout-out onstage at Reading Festival in 2011 (at 1:34:54 in the video below), marking his final festival as a BBC engineer. 'Silver Fox', as he was affectionately known, wasn’t the kind to chase the spotlight. Instead, he helped others find their best selves behind the mic.
Despite his global career, Adhikari never lost the sense of joy and wonder that drew him to music as a young man in Kolkata. He believed in the power of collaboration, and in letting musicians lead with their hearts. After retiring from the BBC, Adhikari returned to India, where he found a new calling: nurturing the country’s burgeoning independent music scene. He produced The Supersonics’ debut album Maby Baking (2009), a landmark moment in Indian alternative rock, and went on to work with acts like The Ganesh Talkies, The Ska Vengers, Menwhopause, Nischay Parekh, and Ananda Sen. He brought with him a rare blend of empathy and instinct — treating each recording as a live moment, favouring full-band takes over overdubs, and insisting that good sound started with good listening.
Miti Adhikari leaves behind a legacy that is both immense and intimate: immortalized in the crackle of a live Nirvana session, the groove of a Kolkata indie band, and the grateful memories of every artist he helped sound like their most authentic self. He is survived by his family, countless collaborators, and a global community of musicians whose sound he helped shape.
