Nithyasree Mahadevan: Reinventing Carnatic Music for Gen Z

Nithyasree Mahadevan approaches the annual Margazhi music season with a renewed sense of purpose, viewing it as a crucial opportunity to connect with audiences and assess her own artistic development. She highlights the unique energy and heightened expectations of this celebrated festival, where listeners keenly observe performances and appreciate new compositions.

Managing a packed schedule during the season, Mahadevan stresses her commitment to performing with equal sincerity across various sabhas, noting the particular enthusiasm of listeners outside the city's core. She meticulously plans her setlists to avoid repetition, aiming to offer fresh experiences for rasikas who attend multiple concerts, a challenge amplified by current concert time limits.

Mahadevan is actively involved in initiatives like 'Creating A Rasika' to cultivate the next generation of listeners, having conducted outreach programs in schools to demystify Carnatic music for students. She believes that while film music can spark initial interest, the enduring appeal of classical forms depends on delivering quality, qualitative music that resonates deeply with the audience.