Breaking the religious barriers of Carnatic Music

The names of Rama, Krishna and Lakshmi are commonly heard when you listen to Carnatic music kritis. What if these keerthanas are punctuated with terms like Allah, Rabb and Quran, blending them well with the traditional ragas? The spectators of the Muslim Association Hall in Thiruvananthapuram got a taste of it a few days ago, when classical vocalist Vazhamuttam B Chandrababu staged a concert featuring 13 of his Carnatic compositions, all based on Islam.Staying true to the usual style, the concert began with aadijyoti kaarana, a varnam in aadi taalam in chakravaakom raga. It was followed by keerthanas in ragas such as kalyani, sindhu bhairavi and ananda bhairavi, with the main performance in hindolam raga.The singer, who is probably the first non-Muslim in the country to attempt such a performance, tells us, “I consider it a blessing that the show garnered positive reviews. Using music for communal integration comes naturally to me.”Chandrababu, who has around 8 varnams and 125 keerthanas to his credit, explains the reason. “I grew up in Kovalam with friends from across communities. We used to celebrate all festivals regardless of our religions. Being musically inclined, singing the favourite songs that represent each of the friends’ communities was one of my usual pastimes with buddies,” he recalls. This continued even when he joined St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Palayam, as a music teacher.He used to also compose Christian keerthanas after understanding people’s love for the community’s songs through classical music. “When I had about 10 of them, my colleagues at school urged me to stage a concert with them. I performed at St Nicholas Church, Poovar, nine years ago. It was a two-hour performance in true Carnatic style and the only difference was the lyrics were based on Bible. From then on, I have been performing there every year,” he says.About seven years ago, the Muslim students in the school asked him, ‘Sir, why don’t you try keerthanas based on our religion too?’ and that’s how he decided to give it a go. “I first composed a keerthana that goes Rabbe, Allahuve karunya parane in sreeragam raga. When it got a good reception from the children, I felt I should use this medium more, for religious integration,” he says.Swaranjali Sreekumaran Thampi, a cultural figure in Thiruvananthapuram, encouraged him to perform concerts to promote the same, and that’s how, six years ago, he got an opportunity to stage these keerthanas as part of the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at Gandhi Park. “The warm reception there made me feel that I should also stage a concert comprising completely Islamic keerthanas.”The musician started composing Islamic keerthanas with the help of a Muslim teacher in Vizhinjam. “I don’t know much of Arabic, so the lyrics I write are in manipravaalam style, meaning they are in Malayalam mixed with a handful of Arabic words. I also read a Malayalam Quran, which made me understand how well-connected all the religious texts are,” he explains.Chandrababu, who started off learning music at the age of 13, has composed varnams like Amme Anandapuravaasini in mohanam raga about Attukal Devi, and Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu about Sree Narayana Guru. Paachalloor Appukuttan sir was his first guru.“After pre-degree, I joined Swathy Thirunal Music College for Gaanabhooshanam course. For 10 years, I was also the disciple of Neyyattinkara Vasudevan sir and it’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I got to study under him and also perform with him across the country. He treated me like a son,” says Chandrababu, who is also a B high grade artist and music composer in All India Radio.He is debuting as a composer and singer in movies too. In Shaji N Karun’s movie Ool, Chandrababu will sing a folk song with Sreeranjini Kodampally, composed by Sreevalsan J Menon. “I am also composing for the upcoming movie named Sathaar, directed by Anoop Purushothaman. There are four songs sung by those like Jayachandran, Madhu Balakrishnan and Nayana. Madhu and me will also be singing and acting together for the video of Rabbe Allahuve, for this movie,” he concludes.