Carnatic music and jazz are very different styles of music but have many things in common

CHENNAI: One is a renowned Carnatic musician. The other is a big name in the world of jazz. When Sudha Ragunathan and Amit Heri come together on stage, they bring together two different styles of music and promise an evening to remember.

"We came up with the concept while working on the movie 'Morning Raga'," says Ragunathan, who will be performing with Heri for the Times Chennai Festival at Chinmaya Heritage Centre on August 22.

In 'Morning Raga', Shabana Azmi plays a Carnatic musician whose desire is to perform before a huge audience in the city. "Before she does so, she loses her son and her best friend in an accident and gives up singing," says Ragunathan. "Many years later, her son's friend brings her back to stage, bringing life back to her." In the movie, the Carnatic musician sings 'Thaye Yashoda' with jazz strains interspersed.

"We realised that the new sound we brought as an amalgam was very welcome among the non-Carnatic group and youngsters, so we thought we should do it as a live concert," says Ragunathan. The duo got together and have done concerts in Bangalore and one in Coimbatore.

"Carnatic music and jazz are very different styles of music but have many things in common, primarily improvisation," says Heri, who has done a lot of work with Carnatic music and musicians. He is looking forward to bringing 'Alchemy', as their concert is known, to Chennai as the city is considered the hub for Carnatic music. "We are hoping to play for a wide cross-section of people," he says. 

Sudha is equally enthusiastic. "I always do Carnatic concerts in Chennai, so I thought the Times Chennai Festival would be a good platform to present something new," she says. "The Chennai audience has a lot of curiosity and is open to innovative stuff."

The associate sponsor for the event is Reliance Digital, the co-sponsor is Navin Housing, and co-host is Sheraton Park Hotel and Towers. Complimentary invites are available at The Times of India office on Chamiers Road, Nandanam, on a first-come-first-served basis.

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