Our Bureau
Sydney
The court hall in Sydney, Australia was filled with sweet sounds of veena and violin along with the lively rhythm of the tabla and mridangam. It transported the hundreds of Indians in the audience back home. Included in the group were Sajan Raj and Swathy Mohan, a pair from Kerala who have a strong passion for music. The event put together by Sydney Art Lovers was a truly enchanting experience for the pair, who have used music to stay connected to their homeland.
Coming back that evening, the couple, still lifted by the experience, quickly went to their safe space – a bedroom turned into a home studio – where they had recreated versions of popular Indian songs – to work on a new project. Sajan shared, “Like many Indians, I’m also a die-hard fan of Rahman. The music maestro has composed several beautiful melodies. I’m always amazed by his orchestral arrangements, with its Hans Zimmer-like touches.”
In the days that followed, Sajan went back to Rahman’s musical creations from the past years. One song that he couldn’t forget was ‘Veera Raja Veera’ from the film Ponniyan Selvan II. As news spread, a number of his friends also became part of the project – Anjali Vinod, a Bharatanatyam expert; creative collaborator Sreekanth Balan; storyteller Sujith Nadh Nair; production manager Arun Menon; former participants of Idea Star Singer, Nikhil Sivakumar and Ambika Gopalakrishnan, and more.
Approximately 40 individuals from different parts of Australia made up the last cast and crew. While upholding Rahman’s established musical tradition, Sajan and his team aimed to put their own unique touch on the re-creation by articulating a message through the song. The music video was filmed over a span of two days in the height of winter in Australia. The sites were strategically selected to highlight various symbols of India in Australia, like the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Helensburgh and Stanwell Park Beach.
The video depicts a group of kids attempting to construct a sandcastle at the beach but without success. Afterward, aided by the guidance and motivation from older dancers and musicians, the kids were able to complete the stunning piece of art. This new version of ‘Veera Raja Veera’ subtly implies that bridging the gap between different generations in a dual-cultural world may be achieved by acknowledging the transformative influence of art.
