Raga Wellbeing with Jason Kalidas

Recorded at the Darbar Festival 2024, at the Barbican Centre, London. Musicians: Aruna Sairam (Carnatic vocals) Jyotsna Srikanth (Carnatic violin) Sai Giridhar (mridangam) Giridhar Udupa (ghatam) Priya Sharma (tanpura) Yarlinie Thanabalasingham (tanpura) Compositions performed: - Mamavatu Shri Saraswati, Raga Hindolam, composer Mysore Vasudevachar - Sarva Mangala Mangalye and verse from Sri Devi Mahatmyam, Sanskrit shlokas - Endaro Mahanubhavulu, Raga Sri Ragam, composer Tyagaraja Ragam Tanam Pallavi, Raga Keeravani, with sargam in Ragamalika (Behag & Ranjani) - Maadu Meikkum Kanne, Tamil folk devotional, dialogue between Yashoda and Krishna - Kalinga Nartana Tillana, Raga Gambhiranattai, composer Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaiyer, Dance of Krishna - Shabda Brahma Mayi, Sanskrit shloka on Devi Meenakshi by Adi Shankaracharya - Italian sacred song, Medieval liturgical chant, An Ode to Divine Mother Mary Prepare to be transported by one of the most powerful voices in Carnatic music today. Aruna Sairam returns to the Darbar stage with an unmissable performance that showcases her boundless creativity, charisma, and deep-rooted devotion. From the haunting strains of Hindolam to the rhythmic brilliance of Keeravani and the ecstatic energy of Kalinga Nartana Tillana — every moment is masterfully crafted. Sairam opens with Mamavatu Shri Saraswati in Hindolam, gracefully preceded by the shloka Sarva Mangala Mangalye and a stirring verse from the Sri Devi Mahatmyam. The piece blossoms into joyful sargam improvisations, setting the tone for an evening of spiritual and sonic beauty. Next comes the soul-stirring Endaro Mahanubhavulu in Sri Ragam — one of Thyagaraja’s revered pancharatna kritis — rendered with grace, depth, and reverence. The centrepiece of the concert is a riveting Ragam Tanam Pallavi in Raga Keeravani — a fully improvised journey that unfolds over a breathtaking 40-matra cycle in Adi Tala. Aruna’s voice dances across ragas including Behag and Ranjani before circling back to Keeravani in a triumphant close, followed by a thrilling tani avartanam from Sai Giridhar and Giridhar Udupa. From there, she shifts mood and register with Maadu Meikum Kanne, a delightful Tamil folk song capturing a playful exchange between Yashoda and young Krishna. And then, the finale — the exuberant Kalinga Nartana Tillana, a 16th-century composition by Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaiyer, celebrating the cosmic dance of Krishna. Every note radiates joy, closing the concert with an electric charge. Just when you think it’s over, Sairam offers a spine-tingling encore — a Sanskrit shloka Shabda Brahma Mayi on Devi Meenakshi by Adi Shankaracharya, seamlessly woven with a Medieval Italian sacred song, an ode to Divine Mother Mary, sung in the style of Gregorian chant. A moment of pure transcendence that leaves the audience in awe. Sairam’s artistry is met with impeccable accompaniment from Jyotsna Srikanth’s melodic finesse, Giridhar Udupa’s ghatam wizardry, and the ever-precise rhythmic play of Sai Giridhar. If you’ve been yearning for the energy of a live concert, this performance, shot in 4K visuals and hi-fi sound, will make your living room feel like a concert hall. It is a performance to revisit, reflect upon, and be uplifted by.