Kanhaiya’s poetry, Shrinathji’s music

Updated On: 19 August, 2024 07:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia Lulla

As vivid musical tale on the life of Krishna arrives at a Bandra cultural hub, writer Prasoon Joshi and composers Sachin-Jigar let us in on how being influenced by different avatars of the Lord affected their work

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A still from Krishna Kanhaiya

I’ve grown up in Uttarakhand. So, while I’ve been aware of the fact that [Lord Krishna] is referred to as Shrinathji, I was raised celebrating his [avatar] of Krishna Kanhaiya,” says veteran lyricist Prasoon Joshi, only moments before composer duo Sachin-Jigar tell us that as “Krishna bhakts”, they’ve spent their childhood with an appetite for “stories of Shrinathji”. The significance of this difference in the way the same deity is perceived across India is aptly articulated by Joshi when he addresses how the authenticity of mythological tales can be retained across decades. “I have understood that our teachings are both complex and simple at the same time. Several poets have described Krishna differently. While Meera describes him in one way, Surdas [narrates his stories] in another manner. We know that Tulsidas and Surdas are two poets. Tulsidas’s devotion is as a das [one who serves]. On the other hand, Surdas [has served as a] friend. Surdas will take several liberties when it comes to writing poetry about Krishna, because he [is referred to as the] friend. So, while it’s the same God they write about, the [gaze] is different. Neither can you accuse Surdas of being too friendly, nor can you call Tulsidas subservient,” says Joshi, making a case for writers who have revived the tale of the Lord for new generations.

Composer duo Sachin-Jigar roped in varied instrumentalists to introduce the sonic palettes of different parts of India in the play