A musical project led by K.J. Yesudas

Violinist Manoj George releases Sarvesa, drawn from P. C. Devassia’s renowned Sanskrit work Kristhubhagavatham, a Christian prayer in Sanskrit

You have heard him sing Carnatic kritis and devotional songs, now K. J. Yesudas breathes life into Asmaakam thatha sarvesha/ swarga lokam adhishtitha (Our Father, the Lord of all, Living in heaven above, Holy is your name, May your kingdom come) in his inimitable style. He is joined by a chorus of 100 priests and 100 nuns. The video was filmed across three locations: Little Flower Church in Elamkulam, Kochi; recording sessions with the Los Angeles Orchestra in LA; and a special segment featuring the veteran singer in Florida.

Bengaluru-based violinist and composer Manoj George and Carnatic vocalist Fr. Paul Poovathingal CMI, a disciple of K.J. Yesudas, recently released Sarvesa, a Sanskrit rendition of the Lord’s prayer. The lyrics are from Kristhubhagavatham, a work by renowned Sanskrit scholar Prof. P. C. Devassia. Pope Francis formally released the track during a special audience at the Vatican on November 20, 2024.

“Meeting Pope Francis was a divine experience,” says Manoj. “The Pope listened attentively to the song as we explained its essence and graciously signed the album cover.”

Manoj credits the concept of Sarvesa to Fr. Paul. “He called me one day to share the idea of composing Our Father in Heaven in Sanskrit. We decided to set it to tune in raga Natabhairavi using Indian and Western orchestration. The goal was to create a universal appeal by merging diverse musical elements.”

Next came the challenge of ensuring perfect pronunciation. “For this I approached Sanskrit scholars, including Professor Neelakanta from Kerala University.”

After finalising the melody, Manoj began writing the orchestral score, incorporating strings, woodwinds, and choral arrangements. “The polyphonic structure was designed to complement the melody while enhancing its spiritual essence,” says Manoj.

Conveying the essence

The choir, consisting of 100 priests and 100 nuns, was carefully put together. “We wanted a powerful collective voice to convey the essence of the prayer. The priests and nuns, primarily from Kerala, were trained for the performance. We then conducted rehearsals in a studio in Cochin.”

On the decision to collaborate with Yesudas, Manoj shares, “After recording the main track, we felt the song needed a legendary voice to anchor it — someone who could truly embody the spiritual gravitas of ‘Our Father in Heaven’. Father Paul, a former student of Yesudas, reached out to him, and he graciously agreed.” Yesudas’ vocals were recorded in Florida and later combined with the orchestral arrangements performed by the Los Angeles Orchestra, whose musicians are renowned for their work on Hollywood scores. The result was a moving opening that set the tone for the entire track. “The Los Angeles Orchestra comprises top-tier musicians who play for prestigious events such as the Oscars and Grammys. My friend Ricky Kej connected me to their coordinator, Rocio Marron, who helped assemble the ensemble.”

The singers gathered in Kochi for the shoot. “The biggest challenge was to bring together such a large group within a tight timeframe. We had only two to three hours before the evening Mass at Little Flower Church, but everything went smoothly thanks to careful planning and the Vicar’s support,” recalls Manoj.

While the primary goal is to ensure a wider reach for Sarvesa, Manoj reveals that this project marks the beginning of Fr. Paul’s effort to start a space where music therapy can be used to heal children with autism.

Published - November 27, 2024 06:24 pm IST