Art of Livings historic musical symphony in Pune

2750 classical vocalists enthrall a live audience of over 2 lakhs.

Bangalore. January 13, 2010: Art of Living hosted a historic symphony - Antarnaad - in Pune today, bringing over 2750 Indian classical vocalists together on one platform, to write a new chapter in the history of music.

Conceived by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual and humanitarian leader and Founder, Art of Living, the aim of Antarnaad was to showcase the vast repertoire of Hindustani classical music as well as to provide a platform for the exponents of this ancient Indian art.

Stating that classical music and spirituality are among the most definitive and unique offerings India can make to the world, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “Spirituality and music together can uplift people, get them out of depression and help them start a new life with enthusiasm. For a stress-free life, you have to embrace both these facets (spirituality and music).”


Musicians from across the country, celebrity singers like Shankar Mahadevan and renowned names like Pt Rajan & Sajan Misra were also part of this event. Shankar Mahadevan said, “These days, we hear that Hindustani Classical music is on a decline. But looking at this crowd, would you believe this?”


Dy CM of Maharashtra, Shri Chaggan Bhujbal said, “It is a matter of pride for Maharashtra to have this symphony in the cradle of Hindustani classical music. When these people sing together, it sounds like a plea for peace and non-violence.”

The singers who were perched on a mammoth 27,000 square feet stage sang exquisite compositions, based on ancient ragas in the Gandharva Veda, namely, Shree, Purya Dhanashree, Des, Basant Bahar, Chandrakaus, Shankara, Kalavati, Janasammohini and Bhoop, enthralling a live audience of over 2 lakh people.

Present at the event, were numerous dignatories, politicians, celebrities, businessmen and corporate heads including Shri Chaggan Bhujbal, Dy CM Maharashtra, Shri Gopinath Munde, Dy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri Narayan Rane, Revenue Minister Maharashtra, Shri R R Patil Home minister, Maharashtra, among others.

Antarnaad is the grandest in the Art of Living tradition of showcasing ancient Indian arts on one platform. The Art of Living had earlier entered the Guinness Book of World Records with 1200 Mohiniattam dancers performing together on one stage in Kerala in 2006 and for its historic sitar concert titled Brahmnaad in New Delhi in Nov 2008, which brought together over 1000 sitar exponents, in aid of the Bihar Relief and rehabilitation.
The evening actually lived and reminded of the good old  "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" days.

Pic Caption: 2750 Hindustani Classical Singers performing on the stage together at Antarnaad. For Media Enquiries and for more details of Art of Livings contribution towards India's Music, Contact : media[dot]coordinator[@]artofliving[dot]org

Subject to change live @ kyra

Subject to Change- Live at Kyra- Bangalore

About the Band

We began as a motley bunch of us who just knew each other from seeing too much of each other through college. It’s been over a year since we got together to perform at an acoustic festival in Chennai, and the one thing that has established itself in our music, our “style” and us as a band is spontaneity and constant surprises; so the one thing we knew for sure was that we would morph and change all the time. We’re not entirely sure how we began, and we don’t know where we’re headed, but wherever it is, we’re having a blast getting there. That’s us, Subject to Change.


The band has a pretty mad mix of people and music; poor, talented and unemployed (Aakash and Toby), struggling, wonderful artist (Anisha), perennially broke academic (Anjana), rising star singer (Benny) and rock steady abe (Abraham). Somehow everything just comes together perfectly with our music, (thankfully). If we had to put a label to ourselves, we are an acoustic band, essentially 70’s and 80’s junkies, rooted in rock, folk, blues and rock ‘n’ roll, with swirls of r & b, indie, alternative and a healthy dose of indigenous music.

Subject to Change also seems to have a serious addiction to medleys that have just developed lives of their own! We began one night with Sting’s “Message in a bottle” and “King of Pain”, and in under 24 hours we had 20 songs- from MJ to the Doobie Brothers; Oasis to Tina Turner and we called it the “Deadly Medley”, and it has become something of a signature performance of ours. The medley fever spawned several other concoctions; little two- song medleys, a crazy blend of the black eyed peas and A.R.Rahman and so it goes. That’s not to say we’re obsessed with just combining other people’s genius, it’s just another unexpected oddity that makes our music.

Subject to Change is a relatively baby band; we each have a whole lot of ideas, but we’re just starting to put them together as “our” music. “Better Things” is our first step in the big (sometimes not so wonderful) world of original music, and hopefully that’s what the song will take us to. While the cosmos is busy arranging for our stardom, we’ll just keep doing what we do best, and y’all... can clap to the rest ;o)

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Kyra
Street: Indranagar
City/Town: Bangalore City, India

naveen thomas

Caesers palace

The band in colour