ORIGIN of DIWALI | From Ravikiran’s Dance Opera | LAKSHMI PRABHAVAM | Bharatanatyam & Gujarati Garba
Channel: Ravikiran Creations and Collaborations
Date: 2020-11-14

This is a unique presentation by Ravikiran  combining Carnatic and Hindustani music, Bharatanatyam and Gujarati Garba Dance to depict one of the powerful stories associated with Deepavali or Diwali festival in India.  

Diwali’s association with Goddess Lakshmi is said to have originated during the vanquishing of the evil demon Narakasura by Krishna and his wife, Satyabhama.  However in his dying moments, Naraka repents for his evil deeds and seeks redemption from the Lord.  He also seeks a boon that this day be celebrated by everyone, which is the genesis of Deepavali.  This festival is a luminous celebration of the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. 

Ravikiran captured both these in his very first operatic dance drama, Lakshmi Prabhavam, premiered in the Cleveland Festival in 1997 by a team of talented musicians and dancers.  The first part is in a viruttam (free verse) in Tamil in the Indian Raga Sahana and the next part in a colourful Hindi piece, "Deep jalao" in Yaman kalyani.

Choreography: R Rhadha

Hailed as "Mozart of India" (Wisconsin State Journal & Belgium TV) and known for his "Teasing precision & dazzling effects" (New York Times) and for "Taking Indian music to new audiences" (CNN), Ravikiran's maiden stage appearance was at age two. He presented vocal concerts from age 5 & chitravina concerts from 12.  He has composed over 1100 compositions in 5 languages, including dance, operatic & Western Orchestral pieces for Symphonies, String Quartets, Quintets, Wind Ensembles as well as Jazz and world music groups.  He is renowned for introducing the concept of Melharmony to World Music (www.melharmonymusic.com). 

Ravikiran is the only composer to have composed a song on each one of the 108 Divya Deshams (in only 45 days), 72 Mela Raga Mala Krtis (in only 36 days), 35-Tala Set (in 28 days) and Dashavatara Mala Krtis (in 4 days).  His unique one off creations include 72-Mela Ragamalika Geetam, Pancha Gati Varnam, Dasha-Ranjani Tillana, Pancha Raga Pancha Tala Pancha Jati Malika Tillana, several types of Swarakshara songs including Schematic Swarakshara Krtis, to name a few. He has composed songs or ragas in honour of Buddha, Vyasa, Adi Shankara, Shri Ramanuja, Carnatic Music Trinity, Ludwig van Beethoven (Raga: Veetavanam), Ramana Maharshi, Mahatma Gandhi, Kanchi Paramacharya, M S Subbulakshmi, Pt Ravishankar, guru Chitravina Narasimhan and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi (Raga: Narendra Modini).  He has also composed several socially inspirational pieces. 

Ravikiran is also perhaps the most prolific melodist in Indian Classical music.  He has set music to over 1400 compositions of other composers including the entire 1330 Tirukkural Verses of Tiruvalluvar (in merely 16 hours in Jan 2016), verses of Bhagavad Geeta, Sangam poetry, Adi Shankara, Purandara Dasa and a few contemporary lyricists.  He has been acclaimed by several leaders of Nations including Prime Ministers and Presidents and 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).

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