By IANSlife

January 20, 2023 (IANSlife) At the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, renowned artists A.R. Rahman and Dr. L. Subramaniam have teamed up to virtually celebrate shared humanity and the gift of life. The violinist and composer have created a musical tribute to the legendary musician Prof. V Lakshminarayana. The friendship that has existed between these two families for two generations is symbolised by this teamwork. According to legend, Prof. V Lakshminarayana, the father of Subramaniam, and composer, arranger, and musician RK Sekar, the father of Rahman, formerly resided on the same street in Chennai's Mylapore neighbourhood. Since then, the remarkable musical people have been in artistic and charitable communion.

Rahman and Subramaniam are joined in a unique collaboration by the artists in their family. The music video features performances by Rahman's children Khatija Rahman, Raheema Rahman, AR Ameen, Subramaniam's daughter Bindu Subramaniam, and Subramaniam's granddaughter Mahati Subramaniam, as well as the musicians' close friend and renowned percussionist Sivamani. It is centred around "Don't Leave Me," a song written by Dr. L. Subramaniam that Rahman grew up with. The song "Don't Leave Me," written by Subramaniam, is featured in this collaboration in a fresh arrangement by Rahman and Subramaniam.

About the rendition of “Don't Leave Me,” A.R. Rahman says, “Here we are, three  generations, virtually, at the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival. The friendship between our two families goes back two generations, when my father, composer, arranger and musician RK Sekar, and Prof. V Lakshminarayana, who is responsible for making the Indian violin globally known, used to live in the same street in Mylapore, Chennai. In celebrating and honouring the violin virtuoso, Dr. L. Subramaniam’s father, Prof. V Lakshminarayana, our families have come together to perform a song I grew up with, ‘Don’t Leave Me’, composed by Dr. L.S. whose timeless instrumentation and compositions continue to enrich, inspire, and influence all generations. Joining Dr. Subramaniam and me, in performing my favourite track, are my children Khatija Rahman, Raheema Rahman, AR Ameen, and  L. Subramaniam’s daughter Bindu Subramaniam and granddaughter Mahati Subramaniam, along with my dear friend and percussionist, Sivamani.

”Rahman adds, “Through this collaboration, we celebrate music and friendship, and hope that this tribute brings people together to not think about their differences but to see how we may all unite to create art and change.”

It opens with a spellbinding improvised composition by Rahman and Subramaniam who are joined by Sivamani as the trio render a delicate piano, violin and percussive intro. Combining the worlds of Indian and Western classical music, the instrumental tribute is a bridge between the past and the future, tradition and innovation, celebration and commemoration. It notably also features a spoken word performance by Bindu Subramaniam that’s dedicated to her grandfather, Prof. V Lakshminarayana and the divine.

About the collaboration, Dr. L. Subramaniam says, “It gives me immense pleasure and honour to collaborate with one of the greatest film composers and a visionary musician ARR. We have recorded a composition called ‘Don’t Leave Me’ which is dedicated to my father and guru Prof. V Lakshminarayana. This video has three generations performing together for the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival 2023. Thanks a lot to ARR for his magic touch.”

Supported by Harman and JBL, this collaboration between the musical families of Rahman and Subramaniam honours the art and legacy of Prof. V Lakshminarayana.

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