Ravikiran is among the most significant contributors to Indian Music and Culture from age 2, when he stunned the world as a prodigy, identifying and demonstrating 325 Indian Classical Ragas (Scales/Modes) and 175 talas (Time Signatures), inspiring Sitar icon Pt Ravi Shankar to declare, ‘If you don’t believe in God, look at Ravikiran’. He presented vocal concerts between the age of 5 and 10 across India with top co-artists in prominent venues. From age 12, he has been enthralling audiences in numerous countries on the 21-stringed slide instrument, Chitravina and is rated as one of the all time greats of Indian music.
Ravikiran is widely regarded as a most prolific and inventive composer with over 1050 Music, Dance and Western Orchestral compositions to his credit, which include operas such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. His historic achievements include setting to music the entire 1330 Tirukkural verses of Tiruvalluvar in merely 16 hours and creating a set of 108 original compositions on the 108 Divya Deshams of Vishnu in only 45 days.
Inventor of the paradigm-shifting concept of Melharmony, which explores new chords and counterpoints based on melodic progression, Ravikiran has introduced over 100 Indian Ragas to Western Orchestras and World Music Ensembles, collaborated with frontline artists of diverse genres, mentored numerous award-winning performers and educators, initiated distance learning and online courses in Indian music, penned scores of books and articles, raised substantial funds for educational, health and social initiatives like the Musicians’ Covid Relief Fund, pioneered Rural Empowerment through Music and Arts Education and initiated Climate Literacy and Action Drives to prevent an environmental meltdown in the planet.
Ravikiran has been decorated with numerous Awards and Titles in several countries, in many instances being the first or youngest to receive such honours, including the President of India’s Senior Sangeet Natak Akademi Award at age 39. He attributes all his success to the revolutionary guru, Chitravina Narasimhan, the iconic T Brinda and the legends who have inspired him.
Any composition of Ravikiran can be presented by Musicians and Students in their performances or in non commercial videos at any time. But composer credits must be clearly given in such concert or videos. Dancers or organisations seeking to present any of Ravikiran’s creations can email [email protected]