Through its theme of the Tree of Life, Kalaa Utsavam brought audiences comfort in the form of a series of live carnatic music and classical dance performances by Singapore's Indian arts community.
As they say, music can heal the wounds that medicine cannot and the sublime art form of carnatic music is therapeutic yet ignites every emotion. In this spirit, the teachers of the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society presented three compositions as salves to the soul as part of Kalaa Utsavam 2020.
Deva deva kalayamite in the raga Mayamalavagoula, set to Roopaka tala and composed by Swati Tirunal. Mayamalavagoula is said to neutralise toxins in the body.
Catur-Ranjanimala, a ragamalika composed by Tanjore Shankar Iyer set to adi tala. It is in four ragas – Ranjani, Sriranjani, Megharanjani and Janaranjani. Each of these elevates the listener to a transcendental mood.
Mairtim Bhajata is a benediction composed in Sanskrit by Jagadguru Chandrashekharendra Saraswati Paramacharya of Kanchi. Music is by Sri Vasant Desai in the raga Yamunkalyani and Kaapi. This is a prayer for universal peace.
The performance featured the vocals of Janaki Sadagopan, NNR Ganesh Kumar on the violin, Manjula Surendra on the veena and Tripunithura Sreekanth on the mridangam.
You can watch this performance on Facebook and on Esplanade Offstage till December 20, 2020.