Celebrating a confluence of cultures

 

In late July when Dr Ajith Bhaskar of Suvarna Fine Arts showed me a draft design of the poster for a coming show, I was thrilled to learn that SeRasa SeRasi will feature a beautiful artistic conversation between Indian classical rhythms and melody with the pulsating sounds of traditional Chinese drums.

 

A scene from SeRasa SeRasi where
Bharatanatyam dancers danced to Indian
classical music and traditional Chinese drums

When I read the small print on the poster, I saw that this show will be presented at the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House, a first ever such show in the artistic scene of Johor Bahru.

 

Curious about the show’s name, I quizzed him about it. He explained that SeRasa SeRasi was a play on words in Sanskrit that summarized the soul of this production that reflected Harmony, Unity and a Coming Together of artistic flavours.

 

I am familiar with the creative work of Ajith as I had the privilege to document his journey with Suvarna Fine Arts under Portraits in my 2017 MPH Non-Fiction Bestseller, My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage.

 

Dramatic opening to dance, Vismaya Vriksha

In the next few weeks, we just could not find a mutually agreeable time for a chat so when we finally managed to speak on the phone, he told me more about this grand production that will feature over 20 musicians and 15 dancers on one stage.

 

Ajith explained that this collaboration of Bharatanatyam dance and the Art of the 24 Festive Drums was more than a blend of two beautiful cultures and art forms but it represented the living, breathing essence of our nation’s social harmony.

 

Dr Ajith Bhaskar was the lead dancer
in the dance, Vismaya Vriksha

Over the years, I have worked with Tan Chai Puan, the co-founder of the Art of the 24 Festive Drums, to write about their performances, festivals and milestone events, so I am also familiar with this performing art which has its proud origins in Johor Bahru.

 

Incidentally, Tan Chai Puan was also featured as an exclusive story under Portraits in My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage, and in 2022, the Art of the 24 Festive Drums was among the brands established in Johor and exported abroad, featured in My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now.

 

Similarly, I have also enjoyed countless Bharatanatyam dance performances by Suvarna Fine Arts and several Rangapravesham, the debut performance of a student of Indian classical dance who have completed the tutelage with their Master.

 

Members of the sub-committee for the show
led by Vijay Chandran, Vice-President 
of Suvarna Fine Arts

In June 2023, the Art of the 24 Festive Drums celebrated its 35^th anniversary since its founding and I had the honour to be the moderator in the, Drum Up Coffee Talk with a panel of guest speakers who included Ajith Bhaskar and Tan Chai Puan, to discuss the performing art scene in Johor Bahru.

 

Inspired by this discussion, several Chinese drummers started to train together with Suvarna Fine Arts classical dancers and I had the privilege to witness the early stages of their exciting collaboration.

 

Then at year-end, these Chinese drummers and I had the pleasure to experience a grand show presented by Suvarna Fine Arts to celebrate their 30 years of artistic excellence.

Lim Shao Xi, lifted up fellow dancer
in this section of the performance

In May 2024, I had the privilege to enjoy the Rangapravesham performances by Suvarna Fine Arts student, Lim Shao Xi, a talented and inspirational young Chinese man with a passion to study the art of Bharatanatyam.

 

In the ensuing years, the collaboration between Suvarna Fine Arts and the Art of the 24 Festive Drums continued to develop. This partnership then blossomed into this, a first-ever grand show in SeRasa SeRasi, a confluence of cultures.

 

So I was (understandably!) both proud and pleased that Suvarna Fine Arts and the Art of the 24 Festive Drums will perform SeRasa SeRasi on one stage for the viewing pleasure of fans, family and friends of these two performing arts.

 

The Chinese drummers in action

At the lobby of the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House, I was warmly welcomed by elegant ladies, dressed in sari complete with accessories and neat hairdos. This reminded me that Suvarna not only trains students in the art of Bharatanatyam but also in skills to handle responsibilities in the front-of-the-house as well as backstage.

 

When I stepped into the auditorium, I was elated to see the stage set-up with the Indian Percussion Ensemble, the Vocal Ensemble (at Left) and the Instrumental Ensemble that comprised the violin, keyboard, veena and guzheng (in the center to the Right).

 

On the far Right of the stage were traditional Chinese drums to perform the dramatic Art of 24 Festive Drums by a smaller ensemble of five drums.

 

In this 90-minute show without intermission, the audience was treated to a mesmerizing experience of an exciting blend of Indian classical music played on the mridangam, rhythm pad, tabla, violin, flute, keyboard, veena and guzheng, complemented by the thunderous sounds of traditional Chinese drums.

 

A scene from the final dance,
Bhumi Mangalam

Incidentally, I was there in the early stages of training with Ajith where the Chinese drummers learnt that there was a science in Indian classical music where a circle of rhythm is repeated in five rhythmic cycles called, “Pancha Nadai,” in Sanskrit.

 

The Chinese drummers, who were clever with numbers and versatile learners, easily grasped the difference between the standard four-beat rhythm in drumming the Chinese drum and the song in cycle of 16 in Indian classical music.

 

With this little nugget of knowledge, I found it very interesting to watch how the elegant movements of the Bharatanatyam dancers were choreographed to match the rhythm of the unique blend of Indian classical music and Chinese drums.

 

Among the dazzling dancers who lit up the stage, I easily recognised the talented young dancer, Lim Shao Xi, who (I was later told!) returned from Taiwan where he was pursuing higher studies and practising Bharatanatyam, just to participate in this exciting showcase.

 

Another scene from the dance,
Bhumi Mangalam

The highlight of this show must be, Vismaya Vriksha, a dance where Ajith was the lead dancer, and an instrumental piece dubbed, Traditions in Dialogue, where the musical instruments seemed to “talk” to each other.

 

This orchestral performance was where the rhythmic and melodic genius of Indian classical music converged with the discipline and depth of Chinese percussion. 

Each rooted in centuries of history, philosophy and artistic expression, the meeting of these two ancient traditions showcased a common ground – the universal language of rhythm, melody and emotion – in the true spirit of SeRasa SeRasi, the confluence of cultures that vibrated in every rhythm and beat.

 

The show aptly closed with Bhumi Mangalam, a prayer for unity with a vision where race, creed and hierarchy dissolved into one world of love, peace and understanding.

 

At the curtain call, the audience responded with roaring cheers when they were introduced to the individual talents in the Indian Percussion Ensemble, the Vocal Ensemble and the Instrumental Ensemble as well as the Chinese drummers.

 

The creative team taking a bow
at the close of the showcase

The creative team featured Dr Ghana Venothan Retnam, flautist and Music Director, Gan See Shyan, Artistic Director of the 24 Festive Drums, the Associate Creative Directors, Sujatha Supliah and Ananthamalar Durairaj, and Dr Ajith Bhaskar as Artistic Director, Choreographer, Creative Director and concept mastermind of SeRasa SeRasi.

 

The presentation of this ticketed showcase at the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House was made possible with the generous support of sponsors and fans. Among them was Datuk Raman Velu, a board member of Yayasan Sultanah Rogayah, who recognises Suvarna’s commitment to the performing arts and has a keen interest in supporting the artistic efforts of Suvarna Fine Arts.

 

Suvarna Fine Arts is located at Nong Chik Riverside, No. 17, Level 2, Jalan Kolam Ayer 2, Kampung Mohd Amin, 80200 Johor Baru, Johor.