Singer-composer Job Kurian at his concert | Photo Credit: Robin Joseph Job Kurian is a few months away from completing 20 years as a professional musician. Job is among those few reality show stars whose careers did not fizzle out after their initial tryst with fame; he soldiered on in the independent music scene as…
The album’s cover showcases Menty Jamir’s photo of singer-songwriter Ditty in the forests of Aravallis | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Verse by verse, chorus by chorus, singer-songwriter Ditty unfolds the uncomfortable layers of society in a sonic space so melodically comforting that it lulls the listener of her new album, KĀLĪ, into a dream of an…
A scene from Jack and the Beans Talk | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement It is that time of year when the mango showers fall, bringing a welcome respite from the heat and a promise of fragrant, wholesome summer fruits. While one cannot predict the rain these days, the city’s music lovers can certainly enjoy the…
Mirra Kannan | Photo Credit: Special arrangement An old acoustic piano, according to Mirra Kannan, is a time capsule. Beneath its dusty lid and in between its keys, one can find “little treasures” that will offer insights into its past. “These may be old newspapers, a coin or signs of restoration of its previous technicians,”…
Hindustani vocalist Rujuta Lad accompanied on the harmonium by Vinay Mishra and on the tabla by Saptak Sharma performed for Raza Foundation’s ‘Aarambh’. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In recent times, there has been a surge in young talent, but not all of them are able to make it to the performance stage despite rigorous…
The late 18th and early 19th centuries mark a golden dateline in the history of Carnatic music. The period witnessed the presence and the precious contributions of the illustrious Trinity of Carnatic music — Tyagaraja, Syama Sastri and Muthuswami Dikshitar. Dikshitar, the youngest of the Trinity, was born in 1775. This year marks his 250th…
Ranjani Sivakumar during a concert | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Birdsong has a way of uplifting the spirit. For avid birder and classical musician Ranjani Sivakumar, it is also a source of inspiration for her concerts. This weekend, the Hyderabad-based musician presents the fifth edition of Birdsong by Birdsong, a two-hour concert celebrating birds as…
Chennai-based Sruti magazine recently organised an event to capture the spirit of Holi through art. Chaitrra Sairam, a disciple of Bombay Jayashri, put together a unique set of ragas to portray the festival of colours. Apart from working with children with autism, she teaches music in rural areas in Tamilnadu. Chaitrra chose appropriate ragas to…
Sir Mark Elder at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre in Mumbai German legend Ludwig van Beethoven’s Third Symphony, composed in 1803-04 and popularly known as Eroica, is considered a landmark in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras. When renowned British conductor Sir Mark Elder heard that the Mumbai-based NCPA’s (National Centre for the Performing Arts)…
Carnatic musician T M Krishna and comedian-performer Alexander Babu at The Hindu Fridays | Photo Credit: Shivaraj S Just as he ambled on stage at The Hindu’s art deco office building, Alexander Babu, performer and comedian extraordinaire, said that he came prepared with a line that would elicit initial giggles. It was part of his…
