English Notes | Shankarbharanam | Rithvik Raja

Excerpt from a concert at Shri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha held on December 30th 2025 along with M Rajeev - Violin NC Bharadwaj - Mrdangam G Chandrasekara Sharma - Ghatam The English Notes is a popular composition created by the legendary composer Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar. It gets its name because its melody deliberately imitates the style of Western band music, marches, or waltzes that were commonly heard during the British colonial era in India. Though rooted entirely in Carnatic svaras, it features a distinct Western flavour, making it one of the earliest and most recognisable examples of cultural fusion in South Indian classical music. The piece was later popularised to the masses by the legendary Carnatic vocalist Madurai Mani Iyer.