Saketharaman's concert, titled ‘007-Ragas-Bond with Bhavam', truly hit the mark

The Hindu

11-07-2025

Thirty minutes before the show, Narada Gana Sabha was abuzz with the sounds of jalras, excited chatter and last-minute rehearsals. Children in vibrant silk outfits ran across the stage, while proud parents and grandparents settled into their seats. This wasn't yet another annual day celebration, it was a thematic presentation titled '007 Ragas – Bond with Bhavam' by Kala Shiksha, an online music school, led by Carnatic vocalist Saketharaman.
Known for presenting innovative concepts aligning with the term 'Carnatify', transforming film music and themes into swara-laden, bhakti-rich compositions, Saketharaman's vision came alive with 200 students performing with passion and poise.
Each teacher, from Kala Shiksha, picked a theme, curating one or two pieces per group, well-executed and accompanied by Sarvesh Karthik on the mridangam, C.S. Chinmayi on the violin, Sunil Kumar on the kanjira, and Jeno Martin on the keys.
The show opened with swaras of an instrumental piece in Pantuvarali from the film Rajaparvai, complete with tisra gathi korvais and ending with 'Om shivoham'. Since the event took place on Ashada Ekadasi, it celebrated Vittala through bhajans, 'Rangamma Majhi', Nama Deva keertana and a soulful rendering of Haridas Giri's 'Brindhavaname'. A palpable wave of devotion swept through the auditorium, as some audience members broke into spontaneous claps and even danced. Two little children hopped on to the stage in an impromptu bliss to the delight of all.
Adding a touch of whimsy, one segment transformed English nursery rhymes into bhakti-infused adaptations — 'Jack and Jill' became 'Gajamukha bhol', a bhajan, while 'There Was a Farmer' unfolded with swaras and a Shiva namavali.
A particularly thoughtful moment came when the students commemorated the 250th birth anniversary of Muthuswami Dikshitar. a teacher at Kala Shiksha, composed the Tamil nottuswarams in Dikshitar's style, one in Kiravani and another in Suddha Dhanyasi.
Next came the most-awaited segment of the evening, 'Bond with Bhavam'. Representing 007 as Saptaswaras, the team chose the first Melakarta, Kanakangi, a vivadi raga to render the iconic James Bond theme in swaras. From there, they proceeded to 'Varaha Roopam' from the film, Kantara, reworded into a Shiva stuti, and followed it up with 'Mogam ennum theeyil' from the film Sindhu Bhairavi, again refashioned into a devotional ode. The audience cheered and demanded an encore.
In a moment of reverent recognition, the title Samuditha Bhajana Thilakam was conferred upon Briga Balu Bhagavathar for his contribution to the tradition of namasankeerthanam.
Prior to the curtain call, the audience was treated to 'Gopika mohanam', a Dikshitar kriti in Mohanam. The younger students of Kala Shiksha then brought the evening to a close with 'Vara leelagana lola' by Tyagaraja. Their enthusiasm drew affectionate smiles from the audience.