The sublime beauty of Indian ragas

Composer A.R. Rahman, who scored "Slumdog Millionaire," "The Hundred-Foot Journey" and countless other movies, explores the traditional form of the raga, playing a cool, lovely set on the keyboard, joined by viola, chimes, drums and ethereal vocals. "You might not know what it means," he says, "But you can feel sublime beauty the way it's sung."

(Piano)

How many times have you changed a decision

to forgive someone

after being determined not to

with the influence of a tune?

(Piano)

How many situations
have you felt melancholic

and yet good about something?

(Piano)

How many times have you felt

that someone good-looking
felt more beautiful

when the right music played?

(Laughter)

(Piano)

Do the notes matter?

Does the way the scales go up matter?

Does it matter if you have heard
or learned the tune

when you were very, very young --

for it to give you that nostalgic
transcranial attraction?

(Piano)

Indian ragas are tried and tested

and these are the ones I know for sure.

So instead of dissecting like in a lab,

why don't we play it
and check out the results?

(Piano)

I want you to close your eyes,
open your hearts --

(Piano)

The first tune is based on Raga Khamas.

It's a very popular Indian tune.

It will be played by Carnatic
violin virtuoso, Ganesh.

(Music)

(Singing)

Thank you.

(Applause)

Now Shashaa will be singing a tune
based on Raga Megh.

Interestingly, there are a lot of stories
on Raga Megh Malhar.

Centuries ago it was sung to bring rains
to a drought-plagued kingdom.

(Music)

(Singing)

(Applause)

Thank you.

A raga could be called
a mode in Western music,

because Western music is mostly
on equal temperament scales,

whereas Indian and Arabic music
has microtonal nuances

in many such ragas and Malkauns.

The ascending and descending of notes
plays a major role

in some of the Vakra ragas.

Very few composers have managed
to bring out emotional music and miracles,

heightening the possibility
of compositions.

The next song,

by Sanaa Moussa,

is one such song.

You might not know what it means,

but you can feel sublime beauty
the way it's sung.

(Music)

(Humming)

(Singing)

Beautiful, thank you.

(Applause)

The next song is based on Raga Charukesi.

It was written by a Multani poet
from 18th century India.

I think Charukesi has a power

to connect to the consciousness
in a very empathetic way.

The poem says,

"You can break down a mosque,
you can break down a temple,

you can break down any place of worship,

but you should not break
a believer's heart

because in the heart
is where God really resides."

(Music)

(Singing)

(Applause)

Thank you so much.

(Applause)