The Schedule

Meet the Musicians

Vocal

Balakumar Vasudevan

A Seattle-based software engineer by day, Balakumar is an accomplished Carnatic vocalist trained under prominent masters, currently studying under Dr. Sreedev Rajagopal. 

An experienced performer across India and the US, he frequently collaborates with live dance orchestras—including composing tunes for Manaswini Sridhar’s critically acclaimed Kurunthogai production—and recently performed for Abinay Fine Arts’ Sangeetham 2026.

Violin

Nandini Viswanathan

Nandini began her vocal training under her grandmother, Rajam Venkataramanan, and Sri Balaji Shankar, before taking up the violin under Lalgudi Srimathi Brahmanandam. Currently training under the legendary Sangita Kalanidhi Kumari A. Kanyakumari, she is an accomplished artist who has performed at prestigious venues in Chennai and across the US, and is dedicated to teaching and preserving Carnatic music traditions.

Mridangam

Anuraag Prakash

Anuraag is a rising percussion artist from Seattle and a disciple of Sri Nirmal Narayan who regularly performs across the Pacific Northwest, California, Texas, and Chennai's prestigious Margazhi season. An award-winning high school senior who teaches Tamil on weekends and plans to study economics, he provides the vibrant, complex rhythmic pulse that drives the ensemble.

• The Subject: Lord Rama (The Ideal King and Embodiment of Virtue)

• The Story & Context: This piece is a celebration of Lord Rama, a legendary prince and central hero in Indian epic literature who is celebrated across generations for his absolute righteousness, courage, and compassion.

• The Essence: A vibrant, celebratory opening salutation that rejoices in Rama's victories and honors him as a protective, noble warrior king who brings light, joy, and justice to the world.

• The Subject: The Freedom of a Simple Life

• The Story & Context: This song is highly autobiographical. It captures the profound shift in the saint's own life, describing the absolute bliss and freedom he discovered after giving up his millions to live as a penniless, traveling minstrel.

• The Essence: The song proclaims that anyone who plays a simple stringed instrument and sings from the heart can easily sail across the stressful, stormy ocean of worldly anxieties, finding true wealth in inner peace.

• The Subject: Lord Ganesha (The Gentle Remover of Obstacles)

• The Story & Context: In Indian tradition, Ganesha—the gentle deity with the head of an elephant—is always honored first before starting any new venture, journey, or performance to ensure success. This historic melody is famous for being the very first song taught to every single beginner student of South Indian music.

• The Essence: A beautiful prayer of new beginnings that praises Ganesha as the compassionate guide who clears away hardships, bestows wisdom, and protects the helpless.

• The Subject: Lord Shiva (The Cosmic Meditator)

• The Story & Context: Following the opening prayers, this traditional piece steps into a different flavor of devotion, turning its focus to the serene, quiet spaces of the universe.

• The Essence: A deeply peaceful prayer that captures the meditative aspect of the divine. The lyrics describe Lord Shiva as being as white and pure as a jasmine flower, adorned with a delicate crescent moon, and resting in absolute tranquility alongside his gentle consort, Goddess Gauri.

• The Subject: Universal Unity and Harmony

• The Story & Context: Hundreds of years ago, different spiritual groups in India were deeply divided. Purandharadasa composed this masterpiece to bridge the gap and preach unity, beautifully blending the imagery of two major divine concepts: Shiva (the fierce cosmic ascetic) and Vishnu (the gentle protector of the universe).

• The Essence: The song paints a vivid picture of Shiva—with his wild, ash-covered form and the mighty River Ganga flowing from his hair—but beautifully reveals that his heart is filled with pure love and devotion for Vishnu, showing the audience that different spiritual paths ultimately lead to the same ocean of love.

• The Subject: Hanuman (The Mighty Monkey Warrior)

• The Story & Context: Hanuman is a celebrated hero loved for his incredible physical power, childlike humility, and fierce loyalty. A Suladi is a unique, advanced musical genre mastered by wandering saints to take listeners on an epic narrative journey.

• The Essence: This piece sings of Hanuman’s legendary exploits, capturing the emotional depth of his unwavering courage as he leaps across a vast ocean to deliver a message of hope and rescue to those in despair.

• The Subject: The Sacred Sanctuary of the Hills

• The Story & Context: Composed on the sacred, misty hills of Tirumala in Southern India, this soulful song captures the exact moment a weary traveler finally finishes a long pilgrimage and steps into a beautiful, sacred space.

• The Essence: It describes a radiant divine presence that radiates unconditional comfort, washing away the traveler's exhaustion and offering a quiet, blissful refuge from a chaotic world.

• The Subject: Goddess Lakshmi (The Bringer of Prosperity and Light)

• The Story & Context: This is one of the most famous and beloved songs in South India, traditionally sung in homes to welcome happiness, light, and auspicious energy during festivals and celebrations.

• The Essence: A festive, joyful invitation to Lakshmi, the Goddess of good fortune and abundance. The song metaphorically asks her to step into our lives with grace, sweeping away darkness and showering the world with goodwill, health, and prosperity.

• The Subject: The Ten Transformations & Final Blessing

• The Story & Context: A traditional concluding prayer of intense gratitude to the audience, the musicians, and the cosmos. Before the final farewell, the song takes the audience through a grand, sweeping narrative of the Ten Avatars.

• The Essence: It traces the ten times the divine spirit descended to earth in various forms—from a giant fish saving life from a primal flood, to a fierce lion-man fighting tyranny, to a righteous warrior prince—to restore balance and justice. The evening closes with a universal blessing sending thoughts of health, peace, and harmony out to all humanity.