AGE IS NO BAR TO CREATIVITY: Dr. Farokh Udwadia and Dr. Ashit Sheth Inspire Audiences Through a Celebration of Medicine, Music and Lifelong Learning

 Mumbai, June 9, 2026

At an age when most people are expected to slow down, two of India’s most respected medical minds demonstrated that curiosity, creativity and service have no expiry date.

Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Farokh E. Udwadia (93) and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Ashit Sheth (81) came together at Nehru Centre Auditorium, Mumbai, for the premiere of Brain Makes Music, a short documentary created by Dr. Sheth with contributions from musician Atul Merchant.

More than a documentary launch, the evening became a celebration of lifelong learning, intellectual curiosity, and the enduring power of the human spirit.

Together, the two distinguished physicians represent more than 170 years of experience in medicine, education, scholarship, and public service. Yet both continue to remain professionally active, mentoring younger generations and contributing to society.

Introducing the documentary, Dr. Sheth reflected on his own unconventional journey. Despite graduating at the top of his MBBS and MD classes, he chose psychiatry at a time when the specialty was often dismissed within the medical profession.

Recalling those early days with humor, he described how friends and relatives warned him that he would become a “mad doctor.” Rather than following convention, he chose conviction.

More than five decades later, Dr. Sheth remains an active clinician, teacher, author and public educator. In his address, he spoke passionately about the evolution of psychiatry—from what he described as “mindful but brainless psychiatry” of the past to today’s integration of neuroscience, psychology and psychotherapy. He highlighted the continuing stigma surrounding mental illness and emphasized the importance of compassion, understanding and evidence-based treatment.

Dr. Sheth also shared his lifelong fascination with music and its mysterious ability to influence human emotions. This curiosity ultimately inspired Brain Makes Music, which explores the remarkable relationship between music, the brain and human evolution.

The evening’s keynote address by Dr. Farokh Udwadia provided a masterful exploration of music’s role in human civilization.

Drawing from history, philosophy, neuroscience and medicine, Dr. Udwadia described music as one of humanity’s most fundamental experiences. He traced its origins from prehistoric societies and ancient civilizations to contemporary neuroscience, explaining how music influences emotion, cognition, movement, memory and healing.

“Music is deeply rooted in human nature,” he observed, describing it as a force that connects individuals, strengthens communities and enriches human life.

Dr. Udwadia highlighted fascinating scientific observations demonstrating music’s influence on the brain, including its effects on cognition, emotional regulation, stress reduction and physical rehabilitation. He emphasized that while science has uncovered much about the brain, the transformation of sound into music remains one of its most enduring mysteries.

The audience was particularly moved by the convergence of medicine and the arts represented by both speakers. Beyond his distinguished medical career, Dr. Udwadia is also a violinist, author, playwright and student of music. Likewise, Dr. Sheth’s interests extend beyond psychiatry into writing, photography, education and documentary filmmaking.

The event served as a powerful reminder that creativity and contribution do not diminish with age.

If anything, they deepen.

As attendees reflected on the evening, one message stood out clearly:

The best years are not necessarily behind us.

They are what we continue to create.

Padma Bhushan Dr. Farokh E. Udwadia (93) and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Ashit Sheth (81) at the premiere of Brain Makes Music in Mumbai. The event celebrated medicine, music, creativity and the enduring power of lifelong learning.

Youtube link of the Documentary: https://youtu.be/1XL61yqmRB0