Saketharaman’s concert, titled ‘007-ragas-bond with bhavam’, truly hit the mark

Thirty Minutes Before The Show, Narada Gana Saabha was abuzz with the sounds of jalrasExcted Chatter and last-minute rehearsals. Children in vibrant silk outfits ran across the stage, while proud parents and grandparents settled into their seats. This wasn’t yet another annual day celebration, it was a the themetic presentation titled ‘007 ragas – bond with bhavam ‘ by Kala shikshaAn Online Music School, LED by Carnatic Vocalist Saketharaman.

Known for Presenting Innovative Concepts Aligning with the term ‘carnatify’, transforming film music and themes into swara-laden, bhakti-rich computer Students performing with passion and poise.

Each Teacher, From Kala Shiksha, Picked a Theme, Curating One or Two Pieces Per Group, Well-Excted and Accompanied By Sarvesh Karthik on the Mridangam, CS Chinmayi on the VIOLIN, Sunil Kumar on the Kanjira, and Jeno Martin on the keeks.

The show opened with swaras of an instrumental piece in pantuvarali from the film RajaparvaiComplete with Tisra Gathi Korvais and Ending with ‘Om Shivoham’. Since the Event Took Place on Ashada Ekadasi, It Celebrated Vittala Through Bhajans, ‘Rangamma Majhi’, Nama Deva Kertana and a Solful rendering of Haridas Giri’s ‘Brindhavaname’. A Palpable Wave of Devotion Swept through the auditorium, as some audience members broke into spontaneous claps and even dancing. Two Little Children Holded on to the stage in an impromptu bliss to the delight of all.

Saketharaman’s Vision Came Alive With 200 Students Performing with Passion and Poise. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Adding a touch of whimsy, one segment transformed English Nursery Rhymes Into Bhakti-Infused Adaptations-‘Jack and Jill’ became ‘became’ Gajamukha bhol ‘, a bhajan, with’ there was a farmer ‘UNFOLDED With Swaras and a Shiva Namavali.

A particularly thoughtful moment came when the students CommeMorated The 250th Birth Anniversary of Muthuswami Dikshitar. A Teacher at Kala Shiksha, composed the tamil nottuswarams in dikshitar’s style, one in kiravani and another in Suddha Dhanyasi.

Next came the Most-Awaited Segment of the Evening, ‘Bond with Bhavam’. REPRESENTING 007 as Saptaswaras, The team Chose the first melakarta, kanakangi, a vivadi raga to render the iconic james bond theme in Swaras. From there, they proceeded to ‘Varaha Roopam’ From the Film, Kantara, Reworded Into A Shiva Stuti, and Followed it up with ‘Mogam Ennum Theeyil’ from the film Sindhu Bhairavi, Again Refashioned Into A. Devotional ode. The audience cheered and demanded an encore.

In a moment of reverent reconstrance, the title samuditha bhajana thilakam was conferred upon briga balu bhagavathar for his contribution to the traditionalition of namasankeerthanam.

Prior to the curtain call, the audience was treated to ‘Gopika mohanam’, a dikshitar kriti in mohanam. The Younger Students of Kala Shiksha then Burght the Evening to a Close with ‘Vara Lelagana Lola’ by Tyagaraja. Their enthusiasm drew affectionate smiles from the audience.