THE MAGICAL VOICE OF YESUDAS

It was a sedate function organised by Music Today. The event, the release of Yesudas' world-music fusion album 'Ahimsa', (non-violence) at the Music Academy. This album is Jesudas' corroborative effort with music composer Robert Barrentes of the USA to promote a dialogue between two diverse cultures - India and America. Even the recording was partly done in India and partly in California.

Wanting to create a vision of a new world order for music, Barrentes chose Yesudas, who is known to be a fearless experimentor. The three-city tour of Bombay, Delhi and Chennai culminated with the release of 'Ahimsa' at Chennai. A professionally managed show, the compere in his well-modulated voice conducted the evening's proceedings smoothly. The event was fairly full house.

The programme had Yesudas rendering some of the numbers from 'Ahimsa', interspersed with dance by Vidya Bhavani Suresh and her dance troupe. The troupe enacted some of the songs from the album. The show began with the number  'Hari', also known as Vishnu-The Protector, this song has a lilting rhythm with Yesudas's voice having a mesmerising effect on the listeners. The dancers enacted a few avataarams (incarnation) from the Dashaavtaaram (ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu). Which can, at best be described as amateurish and lacking  in practice.

The second song was sung by Yesudas himself. Titled, 'Gitanjali' - this song is about non-violence. The lyrics were evocative and rich. Taken from the poems of Rabindranath Tagore and the 14^th century German lyricist, Thomas Kempes. It was conceived as an imaginary dialogue between both of them. Gitangali is an ode to the various aspects of real love. The music was slow and soft. Yesudas' rich voice enhanced the meaningful lyrics.

The third number was called 'Alta Appu'. The story speaks of the Apus spirits that dwell high in the Andrew Mountains and of Atta, the Shaman wizard and a magical being. The song talks of the rivers, the oceans, deserts, stars, sky and the forests that weave us as one. It is dedicated to native communities that have vanished in the name of progression. The lyrics have been adapted from the traditional poetry of the Dineh people (of the Navajo tribe).

'Misare Karuna', the next song had a melodious tune and was performed by the dancers. A call to live in harmony in our planet, the dance had a mix of kathak, karate, folklore and bharatanatyam. It was badly choreographed and failed to make any impression. The last and final song 'Sari Sari' was brisk and lively. The foot tapping folk music was totally different from the other numbers, which were slow with a calming effect. The dance for this piece was good, the dancers wore colourful Gujarati costumes. They effectively conveyed the joyous mood prevalent in a rural mela (fair).

Yesudas has once again proven that music knows no barriers. His maiden attempt of singing in Latin, Sanskrit and English was indeed commendable. Ahimsa is a poignant reminder that our destinies as a species are intertwined whatever the caste, creed or colour.