Music Mirror – Colonial Interlude

Documentary Screening
Direction: Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran

An NCPA Presentation

The documentary explores a fascinating encounter between two diverse musical traditions in colonial India, when Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775-1835), an eminent south Indian composer, wrote lyrics in Sanskrit to colonial tunes that had arrived in India with the British East India Company. This award-winning film traces the musical journey of Dikshitar through various sacred sites and explores the contrast between traditional raga-based compositions and the nottuswara sahityas (songs with Sanskrit lyrics written in Western tunes). It also includes interviews with folk music performers from the Cincinnati area, showing how 18th-century European tunes travelled across the world and took on varied forms in India and the US.

Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran is an educator, scholar and award-winning music composer based in the US. Regarded as a pioneer of Indian American choral music, he is known for his contribution to music and community for the past 25 years.
He has to his credit critically acclaimed productions like Rivers of India, featuring leading Indian singers, and Shanti: A Journey of Peace, portraying India’s cultural history using choral music and multimedia.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the director.

Entry free on a first-come-first-served basis.
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