Malavika Sarukkai
Anubandh—Connectedness
Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 8pm
Performance Sponsor
Ektaa Center and the Arpana Alumni Dance Fund
This performance is presented without an intermission.
Aditya Hridayam
Valmiki Ramayanam | 7th - 4th Century BCE
The verses praise the magnificence of Surya, the Sun God, portraying him as the bestower of light and life, as he journeys across the skies in a golden chariot pulled by seven white horses.
Prithvi | Earth
Prithvi Gayatri Mantra
Poem in English | Sumantra Ghosal
Tamil Translation | Anuradha Anand
Music Composition: Lyric | Vignesh Ishwar
Music Composition: Swaram | Easwar Ramakrishnan
Ragam Saveri | Talam Adi
Apah | Water
Apaha Gayatri Mantra
Poem in English | Sumantra Ghosal
Tamil Translation | Anuradha Anand
Music Composition: Lyric | Murali Parthasarathy
Music Composition: Swaram | Easwar Ramakrishnan
Ragam Varamu | Talam Adi
Sukha | Pleasure
Vayu | Wind
Vayu Gayatri Mantra
Poem in English | Sumantra Ghosal
Lyrics: Rtu Samhara | Kalidasa | 4th - 5th Century CE
Music Composition: Lyric | N. Bhagyalakshmi
Music Composition: Swaram | Easwar Ramakrishnan
Ragam Behag | Talamalika
During the spring season, inspired by the flower arrows of Kamadev, the God of Love, nature awakens. The cuckoo bird, intoxicated by the nectar of the mango blossom, kisses its mate. Bees, inebriated by honey, hum to each other. Individuals unite in pairs, intoxicated by the gentle breeze of desire. The ambiance of love permeates everything.
Dukha | Sorrow
Agni | Fire
Agni Gayatri Mantra
Poem in English | Sumantra Ghosal
The Assassination
Creative Structure | Malavika Sarukkai
Sangam Purananuru: Lyrics | 2nd - 5th Century CE
Music Composition | Vasudha Ravi
Ragam | Subhapantuvarali & Mohanakalyani
The song of Pari's daughters. Tinai: potuviyal Turai: kaiyarunilai
On that day, under the white light of the moon,
we had our father and no enemies had taken the hill.
On this day, under the white light of this moon, the kings,
royal drums beating out victory,
have taken the hill. And we! we have no father.
Translation - George L. Hart & Hank Heifetz
Pari served as the chieftain of Parambu Nadu during the concluding phase of the Sangam era. He governed over 300 thriving villages surrounding his hillock, known as Parambu. As one of the seven esteemed contributors, referred to as the Kaidaiyezhu Vallalgal, Pari was distinguished not for conquests or imperial rule but for his altruistic deeds. Held in high esteem by the populace, his prosperous territory stirred envy among the rulers of the prominent Tamil dynasties—Chera, Chola, and Pandya. Tragically, he met a brutal demise at the hands of these rulers, who subsequently seized control of his lands.
Notes - Karuna V. Sagari
The Wall
Creative Structure | Malavika Sarukkai
Music Composition: Swarams | Easwar Ramakrishnan
Ragam Naganandini & Bahar | Talam Adi
Circle of Life
Creative Structure | Malavika Sarukkai
Akasha | Space
Akasha Gayatri Mantra
Poem in English | Sumantra Ghosal
Sant Kabir: Lyric | 15th Century CE
Dhrupad Music | Uday Bhawalkar
Raga | Hindol
In the words of the weaver Sant Kabir: "The Lord is in me, the Lord is in you, just as praana ("life breath") is in the seed."
Concept & Choreography: Malavika Sarukkai
Creative Collaborator: Sumantra Ghosal
Music Concept: Malavika Sarukkai
Introduction: Malavika Sarukkai
Poems in English: Sumantra Ghosal
Narration: Sumantra Ghosal & Malavika Sarukkai
Commissioned Music for Swarams: Easwar Ramakrishnan
Music Production & Sound Design: Sai Shravanam, Resound India
Light Design & Technical Director: Niranjan Gokhale
Musicians in Recording
M.S. Sukhi: Nattuvangam & Rhythmic syllabus recitation
Vasudha Ravi: Vocals
Murali Parthasarathy: Vocals
Vignesh Ishwar: Vocals
Keerthana Vaidyanathan: Vocals
Nellai A. Balaji: Mridangam
Sai Shravanam: Tabla, Frame Drum & Keyboard
Easwar Ramakrishnan: Violin
JB Sruthi Sagar: Flute
L. Kishore Kumar: Sitar
Malola Kannan: Aditya Hridayam Chanting
Uday Bhawalkar: Dhrupad
Eliaz Caden: Producer for Dhrupad music
Grateful thanks to Dr. B.N. Goswamy
Costume Design: Sandhya Raman
Photo Credit: Sudeep Bhattacharya
Translation of Earth & Water poems into Tamil: Anuradha Anand
Research Sangam Poem: Karuna V. Sagari
Graphic Design: Aurobind Patel
Stock images courtesy: POND5
Ghungroo: Gangadharan
Office Assistants: K.P. Sasikala & K.N. Savita
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