I have to say I had my reservations. Then again long-standing critics are allowed those reservations. We won't be critics otherwise.
The premise was simple. Celebrating India through its folk music.
Our globally popular desi boy Bollywood singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan had promised us all "Beyond Bollywood," but could he really break free from his chart-busting foot-tappers right from many of my favourites? Bumbro think ( Mission Kashmir ), Sajdaa ( My Name Is Khan ) or Mitwa ( Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna ).
How could he resist not falling under his own musical spell when he presented Kaleidoscope: Musical Heritage Of India?
This was the highly anticipated sell-out curtain-raiser kicking off the Indian Heritage Centre’s inaugural CultureFest.
After all, in Singapore we have seen his Bollywood side for years and loved him to bits for that.
Kaleidoscope: Musical Heritage Of India has been specially created and premiered for the prestigious Indian Heritage Centre and jointly presented by IHC and Arte Compass.
The idea was to showcase the musical heritage from various parts of India with special focus on semi- classical and folk music in a way also representing the Singapore Indian heritage.
Among those who attended were Guest of Honour S. Iswaran (Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade and Industry), members of IHC Steering Committee, Gopinath Pillai and R. Jayachandran.
The sheer effort that has gone into its making was apparent from the word go.
Prof. Ganesh S. Chandanshive, who has a doctorate in Marathi Folk Theatre arrived dramatically on stage in a stunning flowing white outfit perked up with red. Drifting to the beat of his own soul music, it was immediately apparent to even the most hardened critics — including yours truly — that the inherent simplicity of this concert was going to touch the soul.
In a marathon show without an intermission, Mahadevan who has long entertained audiences globally with his extensive film music repertoire, proved that the music he composes and presents is so much more.
That even some of his chart-topping numbers such as Baawre from the 2009 Hindi film Luck By Chance are a nod to the country’s rich folk traditions.
The inherent beauty of Indian folk music of course, lies in its ability to transcend all barriers of language. It is soul-stirring when delivered right, as it was in the international debut of Kaleidoscope: Musical Heritage Of India.
Not a note was out of sync, pointing to months of pain-staking rehersals in studios.
Expectedly Mahadevan anchored the show brilliantly and demonstrated his own impressive range as a singer, composer and musician.
What stood out though how easily he shared the stage with musicians and singers, some of whom were making their international debuts.
“India is a blessed country,” Mahadevan told the audience and he showcased that part of Indian with such grace, elegance and respect to our music traditions.
The show-stealer for me was legendary South Indian playback singer and actor Manikka Vinayakam. While he is no stranger to audiences in South India given his rich musical ancestry in Singapore, he bowled over even the non-Tamil speaking audience with his rendition of the emotional tribute to mothers Ammadi Amma and the more upbeat Ayyannaru.
Of course, it helped that he completely killed it with his traditional veshti appearance and made it to the pages of The Straits Times , Singapore's leading English newspaper, getting nods for both his amazing vocals and his celebration of all things Indian — something that was reflected in his choice of his outfit.
Journeying through Bengal and Punjab and Kashmir and Rajasthan, Kaleidoscope left me wanting for more.
When Rajasthan's famous singer Mame Khan sang Padharo Mare Desh (Welcome To My Country), I felt all kinds of breathlessness. I felt longing. I felt homesick and I felt love.
As the music ebbed and soared, the sounds transported me to another world.
It was a truly a celebration of the past, of our rich traditions, which, in my view, have such a fantastic future in the present.
Kaleidoscope's music rooted in the very heart of India resulted in an experience that was truly magical and mystical.
An experience that can only be experienced live.
It was truly music for the soul.
Artee Thyp is a Singapore-based writer and critic.
