Music video ‘Maruthai’ takes on injustice against women
The Hindu
Renuka Arun’s new single is a blend of powerful lyrics and visuals set to Carnatic music and a symphonic orchestra
In a rare coming together of poetry, Carnatic music and a symphonic orchestra, musician Renuka Arun’s single Maruthai pays tribute to women and children who have been subjected to abuse.
As Carnatic music is not often performed with a symphonic orchestra, Renuka wanted to push her boundaries. When she composed the song about two years ago with the theme in mind, in collaboration with Spanish musician Pablo Borghi who arranged it, she was delighted at how the two diverse genres of music came together. “I had always had this dream, to have an orchestra playing for Carnatic music. I was apprehensive at first, but the result was beautiful. The song has an orchestra with 40 musicians from The Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra playing,” says Renuka, who has sung the song.
Set in a complex rhythm, the song is intense and fast-paced, which mellows towards the end. Keeping in mind the complicated structure, Renuka approached poet-lyricist, percussionist and rhythm expert Manoj Kuroor, who penned the lines. His lyrics are based on the mythological character Marutha. “Though portrayed as an evil spirit in mythology, Marutha can be interpreted as “maru thai” meaning another mother,” says Manoj. “In the context of this video, another dimension of motherhood is representative of the angst of the women who have had to undergo abuse. It is their collective voice,” he adds.