Diversity of Karnatak Classical Music in Christian Thematic Kriti-S of George Panjara: A Study

Abstract

As a consequence of the widespread practice of Karnatak classical music among practitioners in South India, the Christian music community in Kerala does not possess a comprehensive historical connection to Karnatak music in comparison to the timelines documented for traditional Karnatak music. Nonetheless, its development can be traced back to the post-trinity period. The Christian community originating from South India has adopted Karnatak music as a means of connecting their faith through their musical traditions. This adoption has resulted in the emergence and evolution of a distinctive style of Christian Karnatak music that integrates elements of the classical tradition with Christian themes and lyrics. In this study, the contributions of George Panjara, one of the Christian composers and lyricists from Kerala, have been examined. Additionally, this paper analyzes two selected compositions by George Panjara to illustrate his contributions to this field, highlighting his brief biographical sketch, the wisdom of raga bhava, various classical elements, diversity, and the innovative application of the knowledge of the composer.