Composer. Multi-instrumentalist. Community Activist.
Namratha Kasalanati
RECENT NEWS!
Recording of The King, the Lute, and the Elephant now out on YouTube!
The King, the Lute, and the Elephant is inspired by the Sanskrit play Swapnavasavadatta and its prequel written by Bhasa (c. 3rd century CE). This tale features a king named Udayana, known for his ability to charm elephants with his captivating lute performance. One day, as he greets the sunrise in the forest, he notices a beautiful white elephant in the distance, and wanders away from his guards. Suddenly, enemy soldiers jump out from the belly of the elephant and take the king captive.
Held in the enemy king Pradyota’s court, Udayana is forced to share the secrets of charming elephants with the enemy king’s daughter, Princess Vasavadatta. What starts out as an uncomfortable relationship eventually blossoms into love. Eventually, with Vasavadatta’s assistance, and some clever tricks with precious metals, Udayana is able to escape and return to his kingdom. Udayana and Vasavadatta are married and they live happily ever after.
Visiting India as a child, I would immerse myself in the storybooks and mythological tales my grandparents would share with me. As I grew into composing, those stories became the inspirations for my musical works. I cannot imagine my musical identity without my roots in the music and culture of my home, and I strive to blend that with my American upbringing and training in the Western musical tradition. I was drawn to this story because it embodies the message of connection across differences, which is particularly relevant in today’s polarized world. Throughout this piece, I incorporate Carnatic (South Indian Classical) ragas, and draw rhythmic influence from Bharatanatyam dance and South Indian folk styles. At the same time, I feature Western instruments, orchestrational techniques, and harmonic progressions. By blending these two worlds, I hope this work can comment on the power of unity, collective humanity, and connection across divides.
– Namratha V. Kasalanati
February 28, 2025
ABOUT
Namratha Kasalanati (she/her) draws from fantasy, history, and mythology to create cross-cultural narratives filled with wonder and exploration. Hailing from the Bay Area, her work aims to bring attention to the diverse musical traditions around the world, focusing on the intersections between Western and Indian classical music.
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In her composition career, she has written for orchestral, chamber, and solo settings. In February 2025, her orchestral composition, The King, the Lute, and the Elephant was premiered by the USC Symphony. In addition, she has been recognized by the United States Congress and California State Senate for her compositions and community activism. Some of her notable composition teachers have been Ted Hearne, Donald Crockett, Veronika Krausas, Brian Head, and Camae Ayewa (Moor Mother). She has also studied conducting with Sharon Lavery and orchestration with Frank Ticheli, Juan Pablo Contreras, and Mark Weiser. Beyond the classical sphere, she has composed for fifteen short films, one of which was screened at the Ojai Film Festival in November 2023.
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Along with her B.M. in Composition, Namratha is also pursuing a B.S. in Economics/Mathematics at the University of Southern California. As an economics student, she loves to examine how economics can help push for social change and intersect with public policy. Outside of class, she is the treasurer for USC’s Musical Theatre Repertory, the premier independent student theatre company on campus, as well as a research assistant with the Security and Political Economy Lab (SPEC). One may also find her triple jumping at the track or curled up with a good book.
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