Harmonies inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s poetry

At a time of constant communal agitation, a little jewel of an evening slipped through and gave viewers an inspired taste of Sri Aurobindo’s creative offering. In his own words and throughout the evening a place of greater depth was revealed through performance: 

A secret harmony steals through the blind heart

And all grows beautiful because Thou art.

Shakti Balu created and choreographed this inspiring offering of Sri Aurobindo’s poetry. Recited with quiet authority by Malcolm Boyer, the poems were sung by five singers (Anushka Gunpth, Kirtana Krishna, Shanks Kini, Varun Rao and Antoine Colombani) in harmony, vibrantly and with a sweetness. They were accompanied by Shakti on piano and for some pieces by Lauren Chockmanon on flute. Many of the poems were danced in a powerful and sensitive accompaniment by Grace Gitadelila and Asokavadhani A.

Each poem was projected onto the screen, accompanied by beautifully drawn paintings by Jyoti Khare, capturing some of Sri Aurobindo’s poetic inspiration in art:

I have seen the beauty of immortal eyes,
And heard the passion of the Lover’s flute

And known a deathless ecstasy’s surprise
And sorrow in my heart for ever mute

Two performances in CRIPA were followed by an evening in the Ashram in Pondicherry, linking the two communities through creativity. At the end of the multi-media offering, the two dancers gave all the audience a rose to take home. It felt like prasad, and we left with a taste of something beyond matter.

In the thrilled happy giant void within

thought lost in light and passion drowned in bliss

Changing into a stillness hyaline

Obey the edict of the Eternal’s peace

Life’s now the Ineffable’ s dominion

Nature is ended and the spirit alone