PRESS RELEASE
Music is evocative; it affects our mind, body and feelings
and transforms lives. Transforming lives
is indeed the daily activity of the non-profit social service organization
Udavum Karangal. So to lend a helping
hand to Udavum Karangal‘s activities of providing a new lease on life to nearly
2500 people, from newborn babies, abandoned, sick, orphaned, to the old and
dying, a benefit event titled “Raga and
Rasa” is being planned for Sunday
May 18th 2014 at Diamond Middle School, in Lexington, MA .
The “Raga and Rasa”
event will start promptly at 3:30p.m and has two segments to it. There will be a music medley by students of
Sandhya Sridhar, a 6-person violin ensemble by Tara Anand’s students, followed
by songs on the keyboard. The stage will
then transition to the feature presentation of a Bharatanatyam rendition of the
Ramayana that will begin at 4:45p.m. Join
us, as we journey back in time watch Ramayana come ALIVE!
The Ramayana production is a creative yet traditional,
tastefully unique production that seamlessly integrates verses from the various
literary poetic compositions of Valmiki, Kamban, Tulsidas, Tyagraja, Arunachala
Kavi, Swathi Thirunal and Narsing Mehta with engaging English narration to
journey through the various khandas (chapters) and weave a concise storyboard
of the entire epic. The original
production is the brainchild of Ranjani Saigal with input from several scholars
including Dr. Balram Singh, Dr. Bijoy Misra,
Dr. Uma Nellaiappan, Chandu Shah and Dr. R.S Ayyar with music set by Smt.
Geeta Murali. The production was made
possible with a grant in 2008 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council
Traditional Arts Apprentice Award given to the talented Amudha Pazhanisamy,
grand-niece of the legendary dancer Balasaraswati, to continue studying with
her guru Ranjani Saigal. This time
around, the drama is being re-enacted as before with Amudha Pazhanisamy the
dancer, Ranjani Saigal doing the narration & nattuvangam but with a new
orchestra of talented young adults. Sisters Swathi and Bavna Sivasubramanian
will be doing the vocals, Ajay Ravichandran on the Mridangam, Ajay Karthik on
the violin, and Kavitha Pazhanisamy on the veena. This is a must see, engaging performance and
a true feast for the eyes.
We are counting on your presence and support to make this
event a success.
Tickets $25, 50 and 100; Snacks and dinner are included in
the ticket price. Children under 6 are
free.
Venue – Diamond Middle School, 60 Sedge Rd, Lexington, MA
Time: 3:30p.m. - Music Medley; 4:45p.m. - Ramayana –Poetry in Motion
