Dr. L. Subramaniam, a globally renowned violinist, and Kavita Krishnamurti, a multi-platinum-selling singer, will headline “Bollywood & Beyond” at The Town Hall in New York City on Saturday, July 20, at 8:00 PM. This world music event is presented by Town Hall and the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC).
Kavita Krishnamurti, known for her powerful and expressive voice, has been a leading playback singer in the Indian film industry. Playback singing involves recording songs that actors lip-sync to in films. Kavita gained fame with her hit “Tumse Milkar Na Jaane Kyon” from the 1985 film “Pyaar Jhukta Nahin” and further established her career with popular songs from the 1986 movie “Mr. India.” Throughout the 1990s, she became a prominent figure in Bollywood music.
Beyond playback singing, Kavita has performed with orchestras, sung ghazals and devotional songs, and collaborated with jazz, pop, and classical Western artists. She has also explored global music fusion, particularly with her husband, Dr. L. Subramaniam.
Dr. L. Subramaniam, born into a musical family, was a child prodigy. His father, a distinguished Carnatic violinist, was his teacher and inspiration. Dr. Subramaniam performed his first concert at the age of six. He later completed his medical studies and earned a Master’s degree in Western Classical Music from CalArts and a Ph.D. in Raga Harmony from Jain University, Bangalore.
Dr. Subramaniam fulfilled his father’s dream of bringing the violin to world stages. He integrated Carnatic traditions with Western Classical music as a soloist and composer for orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the Houston Symphony, and the Berlin State Opera. He aimed to create a unique blend where both Western and Indian musicians could perform their styles harmoniously.
His compositions include music for films like “Salaam Bombay!,” “Mississippi Masala,” and “Little Buddha,” as well as ballets for the Kirov Ballet and the Alvin Ailey Company. He has collaborated with Western artists such as George Harrison, Herbie Hancock, and Stevie Wonder, and performed duets with North Indian musicians.
In “Bollywood & Beyond,” Kavita Krishnamurti and Dr. Subramaniam, supported by a seven-piece band featuring Indian and Western instruments and tabla player Tanmoy Bose, will present a program mixing various music genres. The performance will include Kavita’s Bollywood hits, Dr. Subramaniam’s compositions based on Indian ragas, and world fusion duets.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central