“We call ourselves The Thayir Saadam Project,” says Mahesh Raghvan as siblings Ambi and Bindu Subramaniam laugh. The quirky name of the collaboration is not only a testament to the artistes’ roots, but also to the vibe they share as they join hands to hopefully “do some good in the world.”
The collaboration took off like many others: completely impromptu. A chance visit left Mahesh intrigued, when he heard Bindu speak about an interesting ‘ten thousand deeds’ concept.
The initiative, which works to promote the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs ), involves the students of Ambi and Bindu’s decade-old Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts (SaPa) curriculum. The system, implemented in some schools in India in 2014, has created what the siblings call a “next generation of musicians,” providing access to high quality music education to students aged three to 17.
“The children learn both Indian and global music, but the Indian music education gives them a lens through which they can view world music in a holistic and broadened manner,” Ambi explains.
Art with a message
With over 250 educators from a variety of backgrounds, the Bengaluru-based SaPa has created a family that includes over 12,000 children, who receive a performing arts education that has a deeper message.
“Ambi and I have always used music as a platform to get our students to be better human beings. ” Bindu adds.
The constant push to better themselves as well as the SaPa community led Ambi and Bindu to UN’s SDGs, enabling them to partner with ‘UNICEF’ to create a ‘10,000 deeds campaign.’
The undertaking has each SaPa student committing to one positive, concrete action that improves the world around them, from conserving water, paper, and energy to reducing food waste and serving those less-fortunate.
Of course, the educators, along with Ambi and Bindu, chose to integrate the arts as well, collaborating with Mahesh to teach and record students performing an English song titled ‘A Million Dreams.’ For Mahesh, the collaboration couldn’t have been more apt. “We were looking for a way to launch The Thayir Saadam Project. What better way than this?” smiles Mahesh.
Working with the SaPa students and with about 5,000 underprivileged children in government schools, Ambi, Bindu and Mahesh brought the students together to record a version that they say has just the right amount of “Indian flair.”
While the track is used as a part of the UN’s SDG-focussed campaign, the trio plans to release the track digitally as well. They hope the online interface helps create an awareness about sustainability and the environment, both amongst the students and the public at large.
“We would love it if this goes viral simply because of the message that it’s spreading,” Bindu explains. For Mahesh, whose previous tracks got millions of views on the social media, this aspect is nothing new. “But I’ve never wanted anything to trend as much as this!” Mahesh exclaims, adding that the cause is one that every global citizen should concern himself with.
Of course, the track is simply a springboard for the trio, who have big ideas for the future. “The Thayir Saadam Project is all about pushing our limits, feeding off of each other to create original content and explore a new space,” says Mahesh.
“It’s a confluence of influences and learning,” adds Ambi.
The trio is optimistic of what lies ahead, with Ambi saying, “It’s important to have an integrated outlook because then, we create a sound that’s completely ours. Regardless of what the Project goes on to do, we still have our sound.”
