Orange, CA: Chapman University's International Student Organization and the Ektaa Center of Irvine will be sponsoring a screening of the documentary-feature film Raga Unveiled that chronicles the history and evolution of Classical North Indian music. The film will be shown at the Waltmar Theatre on the Chapman University campus at One University Drive, Orange, CA 92868 on September 12, 2009 at 7pm and will be followed by a question and answer session with the filmmaker, Gita Desai.
Raga Unveiled is an inspiring and sweeping look at the “architectural brilliance” of the North Indian musical system. For the first time on film, eloquent commentaries by musicians, Vedic scholars, and musicologists are interwoven with spectacular cinematography, intoxicating spectrums of sound, and rare archival footage resulting in a grand synthesis honoring the music in its entirety. Musicians featured include Ravi Shankar, Alla Rakha, Ali Akbar Khan, Shivkumar Sharma and Bismillah Khan.
Starting with the philosophy and history, the film traverses through the sublte and complex nuances of melody and rhythm, the vast expanse of improvisation and the intensity and decication that goes into the training and discipline of the musical form. It exemplifies the unique way it has been handed down the generations through a powerful oral tradition from the Guru (Master) to the Shishya (Pupil) A two-hour cut of the film will be shown, and a four hour and twenty minute director's cut will be for sale as a two-DVD set at the screening.
Admission is FREE, but RSVP is required to Heather Stoltzfus of the Ektaa Center at heather@ektaacenter.org. Parking information may be found at http://www.chapman.edu/CoPA/calendar/map.asp.
If you are a lover of music, passionate about the culture of India, or just want to know more about this fascinating topic, Raga Unveiled is a film not to be missed.
The Ektaa Center, located in the City of Irvine, is the first and only center in Southern California dedicated to the arts and culture of India. Chapman University, founded in 1861 and based in the City of Orange, is one of the oldest, most prestigious private universities in California.
To RSVP, email Heather Stoltzfus at heather@ektaacenter.org. For more details or information about the Ektaa Center, call Harish Murthy at (949) 300-8912 or visit www.ektaacenter.org.
