Soumik Datta’s show Melodies In Slow Motion reminds the audience to listen to Nature and breathe

There are parts successful Soumik Datta’s Melodies In Slow Motion amusement successful Chennai wherever the assemblage hesitates to applaud.

The intimate radical of 15-something, are each wearing headphones and listening to the chirping of crickets, the trickle of crabs marching past, and the seemingly dilatory mish-mash of tides interspersed by mangrove roots. Between it all, travel the melodies performed by Sumesh Narayanan’s percussion, Debjit Patitundi’s tabla, Sayee Rakshith’s violin, and Soumik’s ain sarod. Nobody wants to disturb the sound. This is Nature we are talking astir — it is evident successful its precise being. Even breathing feels loud.

“Of course,” replies Soumik, to an assemblage subordinate who asks if they tin clap. The assemblage past proceeds to amusement their gratitude towards the performers for this experimental journey, 1 that seems to construe the waggle of bees looking for food; the rhythmic hum of cicadas; and the jubilant creation of fireflies buzzing freely among thick, wooded forests.

Melodies In Slow Motion’s archetypal amusement successful Mumbai successful April was vastly antithetic from the 1 present successful Chennai, Soumik says, speaking to The Hindu. “The lines blurred betwixt the assemblage and us. It was acold much interactive and it felt similar the assemblage was successful the exercise. This listening league successful Chennai is an experimentation for america too. The lines blur present otherwise due to the fact that we are seated successful a circle. There is not a dependable from the audience. I bash not spot this arsenic a atrocious thing. Here, everyone is immersed and adjacent though determination is nary applause, determination is simply a warmth — evident successful the silence,” helium says.

The show, commissioned by British Council India, was conceptualised during the pandemic. Soumik, who was successful London astatine the time, said helium heard sounds successful the metropolis that helium ne'er could earlier oregon aft the lockdown was lifted. The stillness gave commencement to galore projects by the award-winning composer including this task wherever helium spolights clime change.

He travelled crossed the state from Punjab to Puducherry, collecting shells, and the question of leaves, crabs, barnacles, and mangroves, portion sitting down to make these melodies. This amusement successful Chennai comes astatine the tail-end of his circuit crossed India, attempting to awaken a corporate consciousness with bright, beauteous melodies that are gentle astatine first, reaching crescendos close after.

“This euphony is astir listening and paying attention,” helium says close aft performing ‘Freedom’, the past way successful the performance, adding, “we are present playing much sensitively to each different and to you due to the fact that a abstraction similar this provides that benignant of intimacy.”

Soumik says that Chennai present feels similar a 2nd location arsenic galore of his collaborators are residents of the city. “I besides travel present during Margazhi. The metropolis is already rooted successful a taste aesthetic. Performing here, hence feels elevating. The assemblage excessively is aware,” helium says.

As the amusement closes, Soumik chooses to punctual america to dilatory down, to breathe. “We don’t wage attraction to these sounds connected the daily. If it helps modulate the cardinal tense strategy and punctual america astir this precise immense satellite astir us, I americium blessed to bring successful that awareness,” helium says.

Melodies In Slow Motion volition play 2 shows astatine 5pm and 8pm connected May 22 astatine Offbeat Music Ventures successful RA Puram. Tickets are priced astatine ₹250 and disposable connected kynhood.com