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Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin

Lavanyaa
Surendar

Brookfield, WI

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From Classical Indian Literature to Live Performance

Lavanyaa Surendar grew up in a family of artists who performed Indian classical music and dance. She learned how to tell ancient stories and show emotions through those traditions. She now continues the legacy by sharing her knowledge with others.

Interview

View transcript:  English Transcript

Three questions…

One

Lavanyaa says music and dance are inseparable for her. Practicing both makes her a better communicator. How do music and dance fit together in your life?

Two

Lavanyaa’s musical style is called Carnatic music, which is originally from Southern India. It tells ancient stories from Indian mythology. What other songs have you heard that have a long history, or retell important stories?

Three

From a young age, Lavanyaa started learning Indian classical dance and music. She continues to study both. What activities or interests have you held onto for a long time?

Performance

“Bhaja Vishwanatham” – This song is a bhajan; a devotional song with a spiritual theme. A ‘bhajan’’ is usually performed by a group, with one or more lead singers, accompanied by music, and sometimes dancing.

View transcript with lyrics:  English Transcript with Lyrics In Sanskrit and English Transcript

Song

“Bhaja Vishwanatham”

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Musicians participating in this project have granted permission to PBS Wisconsin Education for their selected songs to be shared. By using this PBS Wisconsin Education website or any of the resources provided to you through the website, you signify your agreement to our Terms of Use.

“I think music is a companion to many of us across the globe, and everyone can relate to music. We listen to music when we are happy. We listen to music when we are sad. Music is used to enhance what we are trying to communicate.”
— Lavanyaa Surendar

Project Credits

Producer
Ryan Hendricks

Coordinating Producer
Mia Forslund

Videography
Ryan Hendricks
David Boffa

Editing
Ryan Hendricks

Sound
Kerman Eckes

Captioning
Vicki Way Kipp

Web Design
Charles Barrows
Norman Yuson Cuaño

Web Development
John Vieth
Tim Schneider

Graphic and Motion Design
Ian Glodich
Amanda Roslansky
Scott Stetson

Music Education Content
Darin Menk
Laurie Fellenz

Educator Guide
Beatriz E. Aguilar
Edgewood College
Madison, WI
 
Leila Ramagopal Pertl
Lawrence University and Edison Elementary School
Appleton Area School District
Appleton, WI

Performers
Lavanyaa Surendar
Ravishankar Subramanyan
Sanjana Vasireddy
Avaneesh Muralidharan
Nivedha Nandhagopalan
Joshitha Senthil
Shakti Iyer

Project Partner
Wisconsin School Music Association

Executive Producer
Megan Monday

Chief Curiosity Officer
Alyssa Tsagong

Director of Television
Jon Miskowski

Special Thanks
Megan Maikowski and the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum

Funding Provided By

Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation

Focus Fund for Education

Friends of PBS Wisconsin

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