NARENDRA MODINI | New Raga in Honour of the PM | For Rural Empowerment thru Music & Arts | Ravikiran
Channel: Ravikiran Creations and Collaborations
Date: 2023-03-24

This new Raga was created by Chitravina N Ravikiran and named NARENDRA MODINI as an artistic tribute to the esteemed Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on 11 March, 2023.   It is suited for both Carnatic and Hindustani music systems. This is also a tuneful appeal to the H’ble Prime Minister to make Classical music accessible to every child with innate aptitude from age 5, and initiate a special program for Rural Empowerment through Music & Arts (REMA), which Ravikiran has been advocating from 1992. Ravikiran himself headed India’s largest Music Camp for over 31,000 children from diverse backgrounds by Sarva Shiksha Abhyan in 2006. He specially composed songs, authored a book and brought out a 2-volume DVD for the Camp students in which several legends participated. 

Though the scale (SG3M2D2N3S - SN3D2PM2G3R1S) appears simple, one has to be diligent to ensure that its distinctive features and aesthetics are highlighted, given that it shares borders with very popular ragas like Poorvikalyani and Sunadavinodini (Hindol in Hindustani). 

Ravikiran's Sanskrit composition, "Surendra Muneendra Narendra Modini Sangeeta Vani" is in praise of the Goddess of Music but it has skilfully embedded the name of the PM in the opening line. It is pure coincidence that the final word of the song “namostute” suggests the PM’s shortened name (NAMO). This has been presented as a tranquil solo ideal for “anytime listening” by the talented vocalist Samanvi, a direct disciple of the composer. 
Both the Raga and the Composition owe their origins to Ravikiran's conversation with dance icon, Padma Vibhushan Awardee and MP Rajya Sabha, Dr Sonal Mansingh a few hours prior to their creation. 

LYRICS OF THE SONG

P:   surEndra muneendra narEndra mOdini sangeeta vANi

A:   swarEndra naTEndra kalEndra stutE 
      dharEndra ravi shashi harSha varadE

C:   sAma vEda janita saptaswara laya dEvatArAdhitE 
      shyAmaLA bhava vArijAsana kAmajanaka ramA mAnitE

MK: kAma jita vEgavara tanaya nandeesha nArada tumburu  
        kAmita gnyAna pradE su-padE padE padE namOstutE

Hailed as "Mozart of India" (Wisconsin State Journal & Belgium TV), Ravikiran had composed a Raga in honour of Mahatma Gandhi Ji (Mohini) a few years ago.  He is also the only musician to have created an Indian Raga as a tribute to the great Western Composer, Ludwig van Beethoven (Veetavanam).   

Known for his "Teasing precision & dazzling effects" (New York Times) and for "Taking Indian music to new audiences" (CNN), Ravikiran's first professional stage appearance was at age two, first vocal concert was at age 5 and first chitravina (21-string slide) concert was at age 12.  A globally celebrated performer, Ravikiran has composed over 1050 compositions in 5 languages which includes over 350 traditional and operatic dance creations and dozens of Western Orchestral and World Music Ensemble compositions and arrangements.  

Ravikiran is the only composer to have composed a song on each one of the 108 Divya Deshams (a feat which he accomplished in 45 days), the 35-Tala Set of compositions, 72-Mela Ragamalika Geetam, Pancha Gati Varnam as well as individual varnams in each of the 5 gatis, Multi-language compositions (Bhasha Malikas), Dasha-Ranjani Tillana, Schematic Swarakshara Krtis and several other unique works. He is also one of the few to have composed songs on each one of the 72 Melakartas (he did this in a matter of 36 days). Besides, he has composed eulogies on mythological as well as historical figures including Buddha, Vyasa, Adi Shankara, Shri Ramanuja, Carnatic Music Trinity, Ramana Maharshi, Kanchi Paramacharya, M S Subbulakshmi, Pt Ravishankar and his guru Chitravina Narasimhan and several socially inspirational pieces. 

He has also set music to over 1400 compositions of other creators including the entire 1330 Tirukkural Verses of Tiruvalluvar in a matter of 16 hours, verses of Bhagavad Geeta, Sangam Tamil poetry, Adi Shankara, Purandara Dasa and several contemporary lyricists.  He has been decorated with a number of awards across the world for his contributions, being the first and/or youngest to receive honours such as the President of India's Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (at age 39).