The screen came alive with digital paintings.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A unique event took place at Nack Theater, Dallas, USA,on August 16, where the Tamil version of the epic Ramayanam (Kamba Ramayanam) by Kambar, the 13th-century Tamil poet, resonated throughout the auditorium to the accompaniment of piano, violin, mridangam and kanjira.
.
Enthusiasts of music and literature were treated to a distinctive experience, when the verses were brought alive at a full-fledged classical music concert. Said to be a first-of-its-kind, it was organised by theVishnupuram Literary Circle, USA. A few verses from the Kamba Ramayanam have been set to music earlier, but they were typically part of a larger repertoire. Never has an entire concert been dedicated to the epic with a full-scale band of a paino, violin, mridangam and kanjira.
Raleigh Rajan.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Raleigh Rajan, who has carved a niche for himself in this genre, where poetry blends with classical music, is the man behind the music. He has earlier set to music some works from the Sangam poetry, collaborating with Durham Symphony, one of which was adopted as the anthem of the World Tamil Conference in 2019. His blended knowledge of Indian and Western classical music inspired him to dream of using chords to enhance the melody of Carnatic music.
Raju Balan on the mridangam, Sai Shankar Ganesh on the piano, Skanda Narayanan on the kanjira, Priya Krish and Uma Mahesh on the violin.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
The 13 verses, chosen from the entire collection of Kamba Ramayanam wereessentially a walk-through of some of the significant moments in the epic. Carnatic musician and playback singer Priya Krish has,delivered the verses with grace and finesse. She has infused the right bhava into each composition, making her way through complex pathways, engaging the audience, leaving many overwhelmed.
Priya was ably supported by Raju Balan on the mridangam, Uma Mahesh on the violin, Sai Shankar Ganesh on the piano and Skanda Narayanan on the kanjira. The entire band functioned with admirable rapport as they deftly wove their way through string and percussion magic, during the kalpanaswaras, korvais and Thaniyavarthanams.
Another aspect that set this concert apart was the fact that it was an immersive experience. While the music and the words blended seamlessly, the backdrop of the stage came alive with tastefully created digital paintings from the epic. Krishna Kumar was responsible for setting this ambience, which carried the spectators back in time to bear witness and be a part of some momentous moments. The acoustics and lighting further elevated the concert.
Singer Priya Krish.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Most times, the poetic brilliance of Carnatic compositions goes unnoticed, either due to a language barrier or lack of knowledge about the art itself. Pazhani Jyothi, the narrator, brought in the much-needed element of poetry appreciation with an infectious enthusiasm. He led the audience through the magical words of the literary titan, calling out the nuances, highlighting the literary devices and offering a commentary on the chosen lines. His passion for the epic and understanding of it, enhanced the experience. This was a brilliant addition to the concert, helping the audience to comprehend and become more involved in the poetry.
One of the ways the concert can be termed a success was how quickly it absorbed the youngsters in the audience — typical American-born children of NRI parents, perhaps, converted into avowed fans of Kambar. That was the power of the music that evening. It had enough complexity to please a connoisseur, casual music enthusiast or the uninitiated. People were rewarded with a one-of-a-kind musical-literary experience.
Published – August 30, 2025 05:32 pm IST
