Music Videos – shanti academy

Sri Sarasvati2

Music Video Creations

At the heart of Shanti Academy is a passion for and commitment to producing richly captivating and thought-provoking multi-media creations that educate, move and inspire – and unite us all regardless of culture, color or borders.

Raag Darshan

Conceptualization, lyrics, music composition, direction, production and arrangement by Kanniks Kannikeswaran. Presented by the Hindu University of America (www.hua.edu).

Produced to celebrate and mark 75 years of Indian independence, Raag Darshan features 75 ragas performed by Sathyaprakash Dharmar, Abby V, Keerthana Vaidyanathan, Reeshabh Purohit, Savitha Sai Shravanam and Mayur Davay.

"This is an outstanding production – brilliant in scope, with an audacity of vision that only a maestro such as Kanniks can legitimately dare to create. Composition, compilation, singers, instrumentals, imagery, editing, mixing, and audio processing all contribute to this unique package telling the story of Bharat in yet another stupendous dimension.”

Dr Raj Vedam

"My goodness! This made my eyes, mind and heart explode! It is so brain boggling, esoteric and yet universal!! And the visuals that went with it! The raga choice and blending … no words! Goodness, you can learn so much, and I need to watch this multiple times."

Mala Ramadorai

Classical Vocalist and Educator

KRISHNA – Janmashtami

Conceptualization, music composition, lyrics, arrangement, script, direction and production by Kanniks Kannikeswaran

A compelling music video celebrating Janmashtami conceptualization and portraying the story of Krishna in 10 ragas from the Hindustani music tradition with lyrics in Sanskrit.

“You have mesmerised us again and again. Krishna video production is beyond sublime! A marvellous journey into music, spirituality and dance.”

Dr Kalyani Derasari

Nada Yoga – The Yoga of Sacred Sound

Conceptualization, music composition, arrangement, direction and production by Kanniks Kannikeswaran

Nada Yoga explores the sacred nature of sound using the 1,000-year-old verses of the Sangita Ratnakara (by Śārṅgadeva of Kashmir) in a musical soundscape in the Indian pentatonic raga Mohana (Bhupali) with traditional instruments and voices choreographed to yoga movements. Conceived and composed in 2005 and performed several times on stage, this is the first video production of this composition.

“Ecstatic.”

Kusuma Narayanamurthy

Om Swastiyatsu

Music composition and production by Kanniks Kannikeswaran

A music video in honor of Bali in praise of Saraswati in the form of a Sanskrit Kriti in the raga Bhupalam (with Sruti bedha transitions to Gambhira Natta and Hamsanadam). Created by Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran and presented by the Hindu University of America celebrates Hindu Heritage Month 2023 and Navaratri/Saraswati Puja 2023 as well as the Hindu Dharmic traditions in the distant island of Bali.

“Every once in a while, one comes across perfection in some field or the other. This composition by Kannikeswaran is an outstanding example of perfection in classical music composition. It has elements of kshetra puranam, sthala puranam, raga mudra etc, just as Muthuswami Dikshitar's compositions do.”

K.M. Harikrishnan