Original composition: Antardrishti - Inner Vision

What is worse than having no sight? Having no vision. Antardrishti – Inner Vision by sitar master Baluji Shrivastav OBE. An international music, dance and visual performance, the project is inspired by Chapter 11 of the Hindu philosophical epic the Bhagavad Gita. It explores the concept of divine sight through music, dance and film, and examines what is sight and sightlessness.

The first performance took place at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre in September 2018 as part of the Unlimited Festival.  It included the Inner Vision Orchestra, the only blind ensemble in the UK founded by Baluji himself, plus special guests from India - Sayani Palit, Raju Maurya, Perumal Varudaraj and Chimanlal Patel.  Also featured on stage were digital artists Addictive TV, who brought a mixed media dimension involving musicians and sounds filmed in India. Classical Indian dance presented by Arunima Kumar Dance Company, and narration by blind storyteller Giles Abbott added another dimension. Lighting design by David Abra.

A smaller version of the show then travelled to Norwich before heading to India with dates in Delhi at the British Council Theatre and in Mumbai at the Royal Opera House (India’s only surviving opera house which was inaugurated in 1911 by King George V).

‘Antardrishti – Inner Vision’ was an Unlimited International Commission which celebrated the work of disabled artists. It was produced by Baluji Music Foundation with support from Arts Council England, British Council, Greater London Fund for the Blind and PRS Foundation. It will continue to tour in different forms. Music from Antardrishti - Inner Vision featuring the Inner Vision Orchestra has been released by ARC / Naxos Music on Baluji Shrivastav OBE album ‘Indian Classical Interactions’. Produced by Linda Shanson and Francoise Lamy.