On an April morning, a mundane domestic frustration—an unexpected water stoppage—became an ironically prosaic beginning for a journey into the sublime.
For 90 minutes, Vidya Bhavani Suresh found herself obsessively waiting, wanting to hear nothing other than the sound of water gushing from her wash basin tap. When the flow finally returned, what was once background noise transformed into a symphony, sparking a profound realisation about the sounds we habitually ignore.
This moment of focused listening serves as the catalyst for her latest work, 30 Timeless Compositions of Carnatic Music.
It is a text that seeks to bridge the chasm between the casual listener and an art form often perceived as hermetically sealed. With a conversational yet sophisticated intellect, Suresh promises to dismantle the barriers of a seemingly inaccessible genre.
Suresh adopts a disarmingly accessible style that purposefully strips away the gatekeeping often associated with the Madras music season during December, or the Margazhi season as it is popularly known.
Wrapped in an inviting pink-and-yellow cover, the book is punctuated with humorous illustrations that establish a cheerful, welcoming vibe. This deliberate aesthetic choice signals a departure from the dusty, academic austerity that typically defines classical arts literature.
By beginning each essay with an engaging narrative or personal incident, the author gently nudges the reader toward technical complexities without inducing fatigue. This invites a broader audience to engage with the music's structural beauty.
In a compelling synthesis, the author draws a parallel between the transparency of modern media and the historical black box of classical composition. When a film song trends, we are treated to director’s cuts and interviews where creators dissect every bass line and lyrical choice. We possess an intimate map of the creative process because the creators are present to narrate their inspirations.
Conversely, the geniuses of the Carnatic tradition lived long before the advent of recording technology, leaving their "flashes of genius" hidden behind the veil of time.
Suresh’s work attempts to humanise these legends, shifting the spotlight from the performer’s modern rendition back to the original creator's vision. The book reconstructs the emotional and intellectual state of composers whose lives were previously obscured by history.
The author zooms in on the power of the small, highlighting subtle musical, rhythmic, or lyrical touches that usually pass unnoticed. It challenges the listener to move beyond passive consumption and into a state of active, granular appreciation.
By dissecting specific quirks in the metre or tune, Suresh provides a vital listening tool that reveals the hidden architecture of a masterpiece. These microscopic insights transform the listening experience, proving that a single lyrical idea can be as impactful as a complex raga. It is an exercise in mindfulness, teaching us that beauty is often tucked away in the details we take for granted.
The book offers a necessary corrective to the stagnation of standard concert repertoires by featuring a diverse roster of 25 composers. The author highlights under-utilised songs, and questions why certain brilliant works remain in the shadows.
This observation is apparently a vital resurrection of pieces that have been unfairly sidelined by the industry's focus on established hits. More than this, the inclusion of three women composers among the featured creators provides a more inclusive and accurate historical perspective.
By celebrating both the icons and the not-so-well-known figures in the Carnatic music field, the book enriches the genre's future by broadening its past. This diversity, the author notes, has ensured that the Carnatic tradition remains a living, breathing entity, rather than a static museum piece.
This 264-page page book fluidly moves from relatable anecdotes to the intricate technicalities of the art form as a whole.
As you close the book and return to your daily routine, the atmosphere will make you think of the microscopic beauty currently hidden in your own environment. It will also make you think of the sounds or rhythms you have in your favourite playlists or morning rituals.
Title: 30 Timeless Compositions of Carnatic Music
Author: Vidya Bhavani Suresh
Publisher: Skanda Publications
Price: ₹1,260
Pages: 264
