Jul 17 2026 to Jul 17 2026 6:30 p.m.

Price: Free Book/Buy

Where

Indian Heritage Academy

20th Main Road, 6th Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560095

Event Description

Manava Shodhisu is a concert-conversation presented by Noorakke Nooru Karnataka, revisiting one of Karnataka’s most important cultural figures through music, narrative, and storytelling.

Purandara Dasa is often remembered as the father of Carnatic music and as a saint-poet whose compositions continue to be sung across generations. But this evening looks beyond the familiar devotional lens.

The event explores Purandara Dasa as a man, a musician, and a communicator — someone who used simple language, humour, satire, metaphor, and music to speak to ordinary people.

Through live performance and narrative, the evening will trace his journey, his ideas, and his continuing relevance. It will look at his songs not only as devotional compositions, but also as reflections on equality, dignity, everyday life, and the human condition.

The evening will also mark the launch of a new episode of Noorakke Nooru Karnataka, continuing NNK’s larger effort to bring Karnataka’s cultural histories, people, places, and traditions to wider audiences.

About the artists

Manasi Prasad

A noted Carnatic vocalist, educator, and arts leader, Manasi Prasad brings together music and narrative to make Purandara Dasa’s life, compositions, and ideas accessible to contemporary audiences.

Shadrach Solomon

A pianist and keyboardist known for his sensitive accompaniment, Shadrach brings a contemporary sonic layer to the performance while supporting the emotional arc of the music.

C.V. Shruthi

A violinist trained in the Carnatic tradition, Shruthi adds melodic depth and classical texture to the evening’s musical storytelling.

Adarsh Shenoy

A tabla artist with experience across classical and collaborative formats, Adarsh brings rhythm, energy, and movement to the performance.

Why Purandara Dasa?

Purandara Dasa’s compositions have lived for centuries in homes, classrooms, temples, and concert halls.

But his work is not only musical heritage. It is also social thought, everyday philosophy, and powerful communication.

By revisiting his songs through story, translation, and live performance, this evening invites audiences to engage with:

the human story behind the saint

the musical legacy that shaped Carnatic learning

the social messages within his compositions

the humour, directness, and simplicity of his language

and the continuing relevance of his ideas today

The aim is to create an accessible entry point into Karnataka’s cultural history — for rasikas, students, young audiences, and anyone curious about the people and ideas that shaped our shared traditions.

What's included
Dinner