Shanmukha is the handsome god of war in the Hindu pantheon. Son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, he is also known as Kartikeya or Murugan. The word ‘priya’ means ‘favourite’ and evokes a fascinating narrative for the Carnatic raga Shanmukhapriya. Perhaps, it was regarded as Lord Shanmukha’s favourite r...

A devotional raga in spirit, Raga Nasikabhushani is a ‘vivadi’ or a dissonant melodic scale that has been scantily used in Carnatic compositions. Against the crash of waves and the sound of the tanpura on the expansive beach of Mahabalipuram in southern India, Shashank Subramanyam portrays this r...

In this scintillating performance of Raag Abheri, S. Hari Kumar Sivan plays his piece de resistance, luxuriantly expanding and elaborating the raga in his 7-stringed violin with traditional and contemporary nuances. His lively deliverance is supported whole-heartedly on the mridangam by Neyveli V...

Mysore A Chandan is the first Carnatic artist to be presented by Darbar. This concert took place in 2007, when Begum Parveen Sultana too was part of the line-up and was present in the audience. In this video, Chandan performs a thillana in Raag Vasanthi upon the request of Begum Sultana. Composed...

Kathanakuthuhalam radiates joy and exuberance. It is an unusual raga in the Carnatic system full of unexpected twists and turns in its gait, its tonal sentences almost conveying the groove and liveliness of a western major scale. Aruna Sairam performs ‘Kathanakuthuhala Raga Priye’ in this video –...

In 2007, Darbar curated UK-based artists alongside India-based musicians. Dr. Jyotsna Srikanth, who was based in the UK then, performs with master mridangam player Neyveli Venkatesh from India. ‘Manasa Sancharare’ is her third item where RN Prakash adds another dimension to with the ghatam and kh...

‘Gopalaka Pahimam’ is a composition of Maharaja Swati Tirunal (1813-1846) in Raag Revagupthi. Set to Misra Chapu tala, the composition is a beautiful narrative of all the ‘kalyana guna’ or the magnificent qualities of Lord Krishna, the flute-playing diety of the Hindus. Maharaja Tirunal was the k...

Doling out unpredictable and beautiful phrases in Raag Dhanashri, Dr. Jyotsna Srikanth gives a stunning rendition of this thillana. A composition of Swathi Tirunal (1813 – 1846), the king of the Travancore who was also a great connoisseur of music, there is an eclectic element to this thillana ow...

S. Hari Kumar Sivan’s spirited rendition of ‘Anuragamu Leni Manasuna’ is a traditional kriti of Saint Thyagaraja that is loaded with conventional as well as contemporary nuances, making for a delightful hear. Accompanying him on the mridangam is Neyveli Venkatesh and on the ghatam is RN Prakash.
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S. Hari Kumar Sivan gives a passionate rendition of this popular bhajan, ‘Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram’ with his 7-stringed electric violin. This soulful rendition sounds stunning not just for the uniqueness of the instrument but the manner in which, he puts its features to their optimal use.

Siva...

In this concert, Darbar’s attempt to position UK-based artists along with India-based musicians was a phenomenal attempt. It wasn’t a cross-over concert in terms of music, but the musicians ended up exploring entirely exciting new paths of creativity through each other’s music in this series of c...

Led with vivacity and emotional dynamism by none other than Aruna Sairam, this ensemble delivers the popular abhang, Teertha Vitthala Kshetra Vitthala at the Darbar Festival 2009. Abhang is a devotional song dedicated to Lord Vitthal, an incarnate of Vishnu or Lord Krishna. It is set to Raag Ahir...

Raag Mohana is the Carnatic correspondent of the Hindustani Raag Bhoop. Although similar in scale and movement, Mohana’s treatment is very different than Bhoop and is well demonstrated by Mysore A Chandan in this ragam tanam pallavi.

With a serene alapana, he lsecures the foundation of Mohana, ...

This piece, ‘Raghuvamsasudhambudhi’ in Raag Kathanakuthuhalam is a vibrant composition performed by Dr. Jyotsna Srikanth. She is accompanied by Neyveli Venkatesh on the mridangam and RN Prakash on the ghatam. A popular piece that has held audiences in sway for decades, this composition by Patnam ...

‘Kailasa Nathena’, is a Sanskrit devotional kriti (composition) in Raag Kambhoji composed by Muthuswamy Dikshitar (1775 – 1835). It is set to Raag Kambhoji which can portray rasas (emotions) like vira (valour) and sṛingara (romantic) very effectively.

With a sharp sense of coordination, the M...

This is the opening piece of Dr. Jyotsna Srikanth’s concert at the Darbar Festival 2007. This year saw a uniqueness in Darbar’s efforts in curation. Artists from the UK were combined and presented with artists from India. In this concert, Dr. Shrikanth, who was based in the UK then, led the ensem...

Raga Mohanam is the Carnatic equivalent of the Hindustani raga Bhoop or Bhopali. Its radiant disposition evokes joy and devotion that Aruna Sairam brings to life in her elegant presentation in this video. She is accompanied by Patri Satish Kumar on the mridangam and RN Prakash on the ghatam. Comm...

Set to Raag Gambheera Nattai in Adi talam, Kalinga Narthana is an attention-grabber of a composition by Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiyar’s (1700-1765). The esteemed Carnatic vocalist, Aruna Sairam adds powerful dimensions to it, making it the show-stopper of the evening. Giving apposite accompaniment ...

‘Varanarada Narayana’ is a composition of Saint Thyagaraja (1767-1847). Set to Raag Vijaysri in Adi talam, it is one of the fast instrumental kritis that has been composed by the doyen of Carnatic musical trinity. Laden with murkis (curly notes), gamaks and drawn-out, patient notes, Mysore A Chan...

S. Hari Kumar Sivan makes an impressive choice of this Patnam Subramania Iyer kriti, ‘Dhanyadevudo’ in Raag Malayamarutham and peppers it with the versatility of his 7-stringed violin. It is set to Adi talam and has a distinctive lilt to it. He gives a commendable performance of this masterpiece ...

The kriti ‘Mahaganapathim Manasa Smarami,’ is a composition of Muthuswamy Dikshitar (1775-1835). Inspired by the depictions of the elephant-headed Hindu deity on the walls of the Tiruvarur temple in Tamil Nadu, Dikshitar has written and given tune to at least 27 kritis defining and praising the v...

Jayanthi Kumaresh’s enthralling rendition of Raag Basanta is a carrier of joy, hope and positivity. This is the third presentation, a piece filled with youthful spirit from her concert at the Darbar festival 2013. She performs a Saint Thyagaraja composition set to Rupak talam. In the Carnatic dis...

‘Sarasuda Ninne’ is a composition by Kothavasal Venkatarama Iyer, a renowned composer, singer and also the guru of Patnam Subramania Iyer. This varnam is set to Raag Saveri in a rhythmic cycle of Adi talam. Mysore A Chandan opens his concert with this evocative piece, bringing out the flavours of...

This beautiful piece in Raag Amritavarshini is a composition by Mutthiah Bhagavatar, a renowned Carnatic classical composer from the 20th century. Bhagavatar is also credited with the creation of 20 ragas in the Carnatic system.

Before beginning her recital, Dr. Srikanth explains that Amritavars...