India Post News Service

ST. PAUL: The Minnesota Malayalee Association along with Concordia University held an Indian Class Music Night at Beutow Music Center Auditorium at Concordia University, St Paul last weekend. Fr. Dr. Paul Poovathingal (singing priest) CMI, Director of Chetana Academy, is the first Christian priest who has completed his Ph.D. in Carnatic music in India. Recently he was invited to perform at the Rashtapathi Bhavan.

He is the disciple of both Padmashree K J Yesudas and Chandramana Narayanan Namboothiri and has composed over 500 songs and released 20 albums He rendered Carnatic music forms such as Kriti, Kirthanam and popular forms like bhajans, hymns ballet.

He also performed some national integration and awareness songs to delight many people of the Malayalee Community. Fr. Paul started his concert with his famous keerthana 'Vatapi ganapathim' followed by 'Parisuddatmave (Valkulabharam)' set to 'Saamagaanapriye (Ananadabhairavi)'.

Other songs included 'Radha than prematho (Abheri)', 'Sobhillu (Jaganmohini)' and national integration song 'Jai ho Jai ho Bharat ma ki (Kalyani)'.

Here are some excerpts from the Fr. Dr. Paul Interview:

IP: How does it feel to be the first Christain Priest in India to get a Ph.D. in Carnatic music?

Fr. D. Paul: I did not have the intention to learn Carnatic music in a professional way, but I learned it through my Sadhana (constant practice of music). I remember the beautiful saying by Pandit Ravi Shankar that without proper tapasaya and sadhana one cannot become an artist.

IP: What types of genres of music have you composed in?

DP: I have composed a variety of songs including devotional songs like light bhajans, national patriotic songs along with kritis and kirtanans. I have composed three Hindi albums in which Sunidhi Chauhan and another artist sung in them. My music has been in television programs and has also been used for background music. None of my music has been in films yet.

IP: What was it like performing for President Abdul Kalam?

DP: I feel like it was a great gift from god, because I strongly believe it was beyond my capacity. They invited me to perform in the Rasthapati Bhavan on June 11 of this year. I presented Carnatic music as an inter religious format. I presented compositions from different religious such as songs on Lord Ganesh, Allah, Jesus Christ, national integration song, beauty chants and hymns of the concert. They appreciated it very much and mentioned that I gave a new dimension to classical Carnatic music

IP: I do you get the time, energy and inclination to play so many roles at one time?

DP: I normally just plan my day and anticipate things along with this practice yoga and pranayama which balances my mind in body along with providing me immense mental and spiritual energy.

IP: What are your future plans?

DP: My future plans are to fulfill my dream of starting music dance village- a music and meditation monastery. Help people with a lot of stress, experience god through music in depth