Isha Rumi – Beyond Form is a presentation of two ancient texts. The Ishavasya Upanishad and the Masnavi by the Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi. It highlights the resonance between the two texts through music, drama and dance. Eightheen Sanskrit slokas and ten Persian verses are sung by the members of Sunaad. Three actors make the texts accessible to an English speaking audience.
Contact 95910 03005 for event details.
Isha Rumi – Beyond Form is a presentation of two ancient texts. The Ishavasya Upanishad and the Masnavi by the Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi. It highlights the resonance between the two texts through music, drama and dance. Eightheen Sanskrit slokas and ten Persian verses are sung by the members of Sunaad. Three actors make the texts accessible to an English speaking audience.
The DVD release of the Sunaad production ‘Isha Rumi – Beyond Form’ is scheduled for April 4th, 2015. More details will be available soon! Until then, here is a promo of the theatrical. Enjoy!
During the weekend of July 19th, Sunaad had two performances of the Isha Rumi production at the School of Ancient Wisdom and Peepal Grove school in Sadum.
Some reactions from the audience.
” Rumi’s stories and insights of life brought down tears rolling down on my cheeks (especially the harper’s story). Each one of us are caught in something or the other like the harper with his harp.
I pray for others and myself that let us all be freed from such entanglements to meet or merge with the sacred.The chants were so beautifully synched and sung that the sounds created vibrations and ripples in my body. The sounds of the musical instruments used for the Persian verses and the sound of the Pakhawaj transported me into the mystical realms of my mind.”
Here are some pictures from these performances.
SKU in Chennai Again!!
Sunaad is working on a new project based on the Ishavasya Upanishad and the Persian poet Rumi’s work Masnavi. Here are a few glimpses from our practice sessions:
Sunaad will be presenting 3 shows of Swar Katha Upanishad in Delhi from March 22-25:
1. Fri, 22nd March – Miranda House Auditorium, Delhi University – 4-6 pm
2. Sat, 23rd March – Miranda House Auditorium, Delhi University – 3.30-5.30 pm
3. Mon, 25th March – India International Centre – 6-8 pm
A Platform for people to learn, teach music
Sunaad aims to bridge the gap between the formally trained and the untrained
A homemaker, an education consultant, a software engineer and an art gallery owner are linked together by a common passion — Hindustani classical music. This diverse group of singers — Sunaad — have come together to learn and teach classical music.
“It is a community of people who share a love for music. All it takes is a few trained singers who are willing to teach people interested in music,” says Tara Kini, co-founder of Sunaad. Sunaad aims to bridge the gap between the formally trained and the untrained. “We want to demystify Indian classical music by intertwining theatre and storytelling in our singing,” says Ms. Kini.
Inception
Started in 2002 by Tara Kini and Aditi Upadhya, ‘Sunaad’ has seen tremendous success in the last few years. “As a teacher in Mallya Aditi International School, I would organise musical programmes with my students. In 2002, I decided to do something different. We brought together a group of people, including students, alumni, parents and teachers for a programme, Bhavayatra , which was about the different facets of Krishna. The group, which was not disbanded after the programme, was christened Sunaad,” says Ms. Kini with a tinge of pride in her voice.
Ms. Kini has been leading the group, after Ms. Upadhya left the group in 2005 to pursue a professional singing career.
‘A magical journey’
Art gallery owner Indira Bharadwaj is among the parents associated with the group. “Music is something I always wanted to learn, but I never had the confidence to ask someone to teach me since I was well into middle age. Sunaad welcomed me with open arms and since then my musical journey has been nothing short of magical,” says Ms. Bharadwaj.
Memorable shows
One of the biggest successes Sunaad has had is the performance of Swar Katha Upanishad for which the music was composed by the renowned Gundecha Bandhu of Bhopal.
Last year, they staged at least 15 performances across the country. And the concert at Manjakkudi in Tamil Nadu is one that all the members cherish.
“The audience comprised a good number of farmers. The awe with which they listened to the performance was deeply touching. Also, the interaction with the children later was an inspiring experience,” says Ms. Kini with a wide smile.
Their upcoming projects include Rumi’s Maznivi in which they will combine Hindustani classical music with Sufi music for the first time.
