Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Field of Dharma bridges Carnatic and Western classical traditions, and draws from the Bhagavad Gita. Movement III, Dilemma (Charanam in raga Shanmukhapriya): “Abandon your faintheartedness, rise up!” Lord Krishna admonishes Arjuna. If Arjuna does not fight, he betrays his own people. The Kauravas have driven the Pandavas from their kingdom and into exile. And yet, Arjuna protests that he cannot kill his own teachers: “All my earthly pleasures would be tainted.” He asks: Would it be worse to lose this war, or to win it? Arjuna’s mind cycles around itself, alternating between duty and compassion, decision and indecision, point and counterpoint — until a gong tolls, marking a cosmic pause.
This original composition in 4 movements is from the album Confluence: Raga and Counterpoint. The album's music brings the intricacy of Carnatic ragas and gamakas (expressive inflections and curves) into the architecture of Baroque counterpoint and Western harmony. (Counterpoint is the combination of multiple independent melodic lines.)
In its structure, Field of Dharma draws from both the Carnatic kriti and the Western concerto. It features interaction between soloists within an orchestral setting, with counterpoint often shaping their exchange. The other work in the album is Fugue-Kriti.
Visit shankerkrishnanmusic.com for historical context, details about the music, compositional approach, and what's different about this project.
Composer: Shanker Krishnan
Released by IndianRaga
Co-producer: Geetha Raja
Soloists: Shraddha Ravindran (violin), K.R. Shrievats (veena), Mannarkoil Dr. J. Balaji (mridangam)
Artwork: Shanthi Chandrasekar
To learn classical music with a popular twist, sign up at indianraga.com/ragalabs
To feature in an IndianRaga production, apply to be an IndianRaga Fellow at indianraga.com/fellowship
IndianRaga brings together the best musicians and dancers across 60 international cities to collaborate on high quality music videos viewed by millions of people globally. The genres we work with are rooted in Indian classical performing arts and include Carnatic music (South Indian classical music), Hindustani music (North Indian classical music), semi-classical music, contemporary and fusion music, Indian classical dances including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Mohiniattam, Kathak, and also ballet, tap, contemporary dance. Our productions also include a wide range of instruments including mridangam, tabla, sitar, violin, flute/bansuri, veena, ghatam, and new-age categories like music arrangement and production with EDM, Trap, Pop amongst others. Our most popular innovations include classical cover songs, a cappella, mashups and remixes of the latest viral pop hits in both western and Indian music. Anyone can apply to join our collaborations, and you can visit indianraga.com for more details and application process.
Field of Dharma bridges Carnatic and Western classical traditions, and draws from the Bhagavad Gita. Movement III, Dilemma (Charanam in raga Shanmukhapriya): “Abandon your faintheartedness, rise up!” Lord Krishna admonishes Arjuna. If Arjuna does not fight, he betrays his own people. The Kauravas have driven the Pandavas from their kingdom and into exile. And yet, Arjuna protests that he cannot kill his own teachers: “All my earthly pleasures would be tainted.” He asks: Would it be worse to lose this war, or to win it? Arjuna’s mind cycles around itself, alternating between duty and compassion, decision and indecision, point and counterpoint — until a gong tolls, marking a cosmic pause.
This original composition in 4 movements is from the album Confluence: Raga and Counterpoint. The album's music brings the intricacy of Carnatic ragas and gamakas (expressive inflections and curves) into the architecture of Baroque counterpoint and Western harmony. (Counterpoint is the combination of multiple independent melodic lines.)
In its structure, Field of Dharma draws from both the Carnatic kriti and the Western concerto. It features interaction between soloists within an orchestral setting, with counterpoint often shaping their exchange. The other work in the album is Fugue-Kriti.
Visit shankerkrishnanmusic.com for historical context, details about the music, compositional approach, and what's different about this project.
Composer: Shanker Krishnan
Released by IndianRaga
Co-producer: Geetha Raja
Soloists: Shraddha Ravindran (violin), K.R. Shrievats (veena), Mannarkoil Dr. J. Balaji (mridangam)
Artwork: Shanthi Chandrasekar
To learn classical music with a popular twist, sign up at indianraga.com/ragalabs
To feature in an IndianRaga production, apply to be an IndianRaga Fellow at indianraga.com/fellowship
IndianRaga brings together the best musicians and dancers across 60 international cities to collaborate on high quality music videos viewed by millions of people globally. The genres we work with are rooted in Indian classical performing arts and include Carnatic music (South Indian classical music), Hindustani music (North Indian classical music), semi-classical music, contemporary and fusion music, Indian classical dances including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Mohiniattam, Kathak, and also ballet, tap, contemporary dance. Our productions also include a wide range of instruments including mridangam, tabla, sitar, violin, flute/bansuri, veena, ghatam, and new-age categories like music arrangement and production with EDM, Trap, Pop amongst others. Our most popular innovations include classical cover songs, a cappella, mashups and remixes of the latest viral pop hits in both western and Indian music. Anyone can apply to join our collaborations, and you can visit indianraga.com for more details and application process.
