CHENNAI: Music’s therapeutic effect on its listeners is well-known, but on Saturday, the city will witness a unique concert which — the performers claim — will rejuvenate them as much as it would a listener. This is at The Shakti Foundation’s ‘Remember Shakti’ concert to be held at the Music Academy on February 11 at 7.30 pm.The fusion music band comprises guitarist John Mclaughlin, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, Mandolin U Shrinivas, Kanjira exponent V Selvaganesh and musician Shankar Mahadevan. The quintet will perform in Chennai as part of a six-city tour. Prior to this, the five immensely popular musicians had performed last in October 2009 at the United Nations Headquarters, as part of the UN Day celebrations.Referring to the Remember Shakti band as one that he longs to perform for, musician Shankar Mahadevan told City Express that it was an honour to be onstage with those that he described as the ‘monsters of music’. “These concerts are a divine, spiritual learning experience for me, and rejuvenate me till my next performance with them,” the popular music composer and vocalist said. The band’s music is intense, difficult and of a very high caliber, he exclaimed.Ask Kanjira artiste V Selvaganesh what is unique about his performance in the city this week, and he claims the band Remember Shakti is itself a special aspect of his career in music. “John Mclaughlin has come up with two new musical pieces for this tour,” he reveals. Recalling his association with The Shakti Foundation for many years now, Selvaganesh opens up that performing for them makes him feel good about himself. “I feel a sense of contentment when I play for them,” he says. The Shakti Foundation, formed in 1991, is an organisation dedicated to the welfare of the physically challenged and to provide medicare to the rural underprivileged.Echoing Selvaganesh’s sentiments is Mandolin artiste U Shrinivas, who says he is excited that he is playing music for a cause. “It’s an honour to be associated with an organisation that does such good work for a noble cause, and the audience will listen to at least three new compositions this time,” he assures.Calling it an honour to play for The Shakti Foundation, guitarist John Mclaughlin described their contribution as “a continual work in progress”. “My colleagues and I are delighted and proud to be able to help the Foundation in its noble work,” he said, in a written statement. The ticket proceeds of ‘Remember Shakti’ are being directed for the most notable cause, that is, towards the purchase of a school bus for the physically and mentally challenged children and hospital equipment, he added.Vasanth Raghuvir, chairperson of the foundation, thanked the people of Chennai for their tremendous support without which The Remember Shakti Concert would not be possible. The concert is a tribute to the founder of the Shakti Foundation, Velan Raghuvir.
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