Event Dates – October 26-2025
Venue – Pear Theater, Mountain View, CA
Performed by – Sruti Sarathy, Roopa Mahadevan, Erika Oba, Vishaal Sapuram, Rohan Krishnamurthy
Devised and Directed by – Dr. Sukanya Chakrabarti
“Let’s sing a tillana, let’s sing this sweet raga
so that better times may flower from now,
so that we can welcome justness and friendship.”
Synopsis from Event website – Songs for Many Lives creates new Carnatic compositions inspired by stories of South Asian immigration to North America. These songs reflect not only the successes and struggles, but also the myriad ways – some more visible than others – by which South Asian immigrants have made a new home, re-invented traditions, and fought for better lives for their communities. Compositions are in the languages Tamil, Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu, English, Bengali, and presented with documentary video and devised stage movement.
Carnatic songs beautifully express deep personal devotion and speak of the inner spiritual journey. Can our rich music, so effective at invoking contemplative and emotional states of mind, also articulate values of friendship, resistance to oppression, justice, plurality, and more? Can the music speak to the themes of our diasporic lives and immigrant communities?
Creators & Supporters
Songs for Many Lives is led by violinist Sruti Sarathy and vocalist Roopa Mahadevan. The project began with a grant from the Creative Work Fund, through which they began working with Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA) to learn more about the organizing history of South Asians in the Bay Area, and the issues that drive their ongoing advocacy work.
Learn more about the ARTIST TEAM and featured COMMUNITY VOICES
