Miti Adhikari, BBC Sound Engineer and Indian Indie Mentor, Dies at 69

Renowned BBC sound engineer Miti Adhikari, who worked with global rock legends and mentored Indian indie musicians, has died at 69. Known for his work with Nirvana and Foo Fighters, he later supported India’s underground music scene. Adhikari is survived by his wife and cousin, musician Neel Adhikari.

Miti Adhikari, a veteran sound engineer and music producer best known for his work with the BBC and global rock icons, passed away on Sunday at the age of 69. Adhikari, fondly nicknamed the “Silver Fox,” was celebrated for shaping the sound of legendary bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Arcade Fire, and the Foo Fighters during his three-decade tenure at the BBC.

Born and raised in Kolkata, Adhikari was deeply rooted in music from a young age, learning guitar under blues legend Gussy Rikh and performing with the local rock band Mahamaya. At 20, he moved to London and eventually joined the BBC as a trainee sound engineer in 1977. There, he became instrumental in engineering live recordings at the Maida Vale studios, where artists would record four tracks in a single 12-hour session for radio broadcast.

Adhikari’s reputation grew as bands not only trusted him with their live sessions but also invited him to work on full albums. His influence extended to major music festivals including Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds.

In the late 2000s, Adhikari turned his focus to the Indian independent music scene, working with his cousin Neel Adhikari and bands like The Supersonics, Agnee, Menwhopause, and Cassini’s Division. He co-founded MANA, a studio project aimed at elevating the technical quality of Indian rock. Despite distancing himself from Bollywood, Adhikari was passionate about helping Indian indie bands reach global standards.

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Filmmaker Quashik Mukherjee (Q) remembered him as a quiet powerhouse, who not only shaped music but also mentored creators with limited resources. Adhikari was living in Goa at the time of his passing and is survived by his wife Sam Adhikari and cousin Neel.