Sanjay Subrahmanyan
Musician and Vocalist

Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sanjay Subrahmanyan stands tall as a renowned Carnatic musician and vocalist from Chennai, India. He founded the Youth Association of Carnatic Music (YACM) to promote Carnatic music amongst the youth. Open to experimenting with music, in 2023, he made his debut as a playback singer in Tamil film, Lucky Man. His latest independent music album Anbenum Peruveli (Tamil) and featured in the Season 1 & 2 of Coke Studio Tamil.

Speaking about his art, he says, “When you go onstage and people clap for your performance, it gets addictive. This addiction only makes you look forward to singing again and you work really hard. During my initial days, music could not be taken as a full-time profession as the income was low. However, my growth in music was rapid as my office was quite supportive. I believe we should stand strong in what we do and there would be a payback. I was crazy about music.

“My first concert was in 1986 and my debut in Music Academy was in 1988 at the ‘Spirit of Youth’ festival. Sangeeta Kalanidhi was the ultimate goal and I was awarded the Madras Music Academy’s Sangeetha Kalanidhi (2015). Usually, this honour comes when you are older but in our generation, there was a change and many people below 30 became successful; 7 or 8 of us brought attention to this art form. Winning it made me lose the pressure of aspiring for it but carried the responsibility of doing even better.

“After Covid, I changed my dimension. I wanted to redefine myself not because of dissatisfaction but curiosity. So, I met Sean Roldan and he encouraged me and I experimented with Coke Studio and more. I have always had a good response to my Tamil songs and I have capitalised on this too.”

Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai
Padma Shri Awardee

Shobana’s eyes speak volumes and what strikes you when you first meet her are those expressions that draw you in. The accomplished dancer was trained by legendary Bharatanatyam dancers Chitra Visweswaran and Padma Subrahmanyam. She turned performer and choreographer in her twenties and runs the dance school, Kalarpana in Chennai. A highly talented actress, she has acted in many South Indian and English films and won two National Film Awards. She received the prestigious Padma Shri in 2006. Shobana is now all set to play a crucial role in Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana.

She inspires us with her words, “You are what you do. You take something that reflects your personality, for me art and dance were two different aspects of art, I took. I was very interested in the history of the dance and its change and evolution. That got me to understand where I am placed exactly in the scheme of everything. When you are a student of history, you understand that nothing is permanent. In that aspect, dance has given me a lot of humility, then comes working with different people from different strata of society and also teaching children.

“When I do films, it’s a very different scenario where everything is done for you and they take care of you really well, you are supported just to create. However, in dance, you are the creator, you are the one who is doing everything, so this really makes you very responsible for tradition and everything else.

“Dance has not changed me, it’s just a part of me. I don’t remember when I began learning dance, dance is so much a part of me. When I was very young, just 14, I was interested in the Swathi Thirunal Pada Varnam. I am from Kerala and was intrigued by the fact that though Bharatanatyam was from Tamil Nadu, I was curious as to why they wrote lines in Manipravalam. More than the physicality, I am in awe of the entire history of the dance and how lot of people have embraced it and changed it but make a successful concert without taking out the spirit of the art form.

“Dance or acting is an illusionary world and I make it a point not to sit in it too long. You have only 24 hours in a day and you are dreaming 12 to 13 hours a day and sleep for 6 hours therefore there is the danger of losing sight with reality. So, I take it as important to see what I am as a human being, what I can do for people.

“The evolution of my dance journey is like that of any artist, there was always a means for me to evolve in poetry, music in all aspects that are conducive to making of a wholesome dance art. Everybody evolves and grows with age.

“There are so many unforgettable incidents on stage, when I first performed with my first teacher, we were just so young and I recall the discipline that she had instilled in me. That has shaped how I shape my students, so it’s not just passing the tradition and style but also the way of work. Other unforgettable performances were with my teacher in Mumbai, I was greatly inspired by my Manasika Guru Dr. Padma and when I first performed alongside her it was a fantastic moment for me. There are so many performances, mostly when I get together with other artists that are unforgettable, the Provoke Art Festival has given an opportunity for me and Abhishek Raghuram to get together, each time I work with him I get to do whatever I want, he is able to sync with my thought.”

Renjith and Vijna
Founders of Sāraswatham Foundation

Renjith and Vijna, one of India’s most admired Bharatanatyam duos, have spent over two decades performing, choreographing, and teaching. Trained by distinguished teachers in the Kalakshetra style, they have captivated audiences globally through their artistry and have been honoured with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. Their work extends internationally, where they’ve been part of significant collaborations, bringing Indian classical dance to the global stage.

Reflecting on his journey, Renjith shares, “I never imagined dance would become my profession. My teacher, Smt. Prasanna Prakash, was instrumental in this decision, and though it was challenging at first, I immersed myself completely.”

After graduating from Kalakshetra in 2000, he continued under the mentorship of the late Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar, shaping his path. In 2011, he and Vijna married, marking the beginning of their collaborative journey.

Vijna adds, “We didn’t start with the intention of dancing together, but once we tried, we discovered a synergy. Though we have our own artistic preferences, we’ve found the synergy between each other for a unique creative partnership.” She admires Renjith’s approach, which is free from traditional gender roles in choreography: “For him, dance transcends gender”

Guided by a blend of tradition and innovation, Renjith and Vijna’s philosophy resonates the words of the late Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna: “Today’s tradition is tomorrow’s innovation.” Their work is a reflection of deep immersion in a classical art form to build a foundation for creativity.

Abhishek Raghuram
Carnatic Vocalist

“I had exposure to Carnatic music from a very young age. I have been in the industry for 30 years and a lot has changed but one thing that has remained unchanged is the search, the thirst for knowledge. The discovery of the art is what makes great artistes. As you take training and keep listening to the music you get deeper insights.

“A lot of Carnatic music is now being used in the content and music of films, so people have started listening to a lot more of this. I have worked for film music too but that’s in the Carnatic genre too. For us as musicians, it’s just music and there’s no differentiation as Carnatic music or film music.

“Over the years, India I have been singing at an increasing number of places and this is an important transformation over the years. I also perform a lot at US, Australia, Canada and more.

“More than genre, it’s the intent of the music which is important, and it may change. As you keep singing, one can get deeper into music. The musician’s greatness comes with his contribution to the art. Over the years, I have tried experimenting with a lot of albums too.”