Gopala Krishna Bharati

The life and contributions of Gopala Krishna Bharati, the 19th-century composer-saint best known for the beloved opera Nandanar Charitram — a powerful musical telling of the devotee Nandanar's struggle against caste discrimination and ultimate liberation through Lord Shiva's grace. Bharati composed some of the most emotionally stirring pieces in the Carnatic repertoire, including "Tiruvadi Saranam" which so moved the young Papanasam Sivan that it reversed his prejudice against classical music and set him on the path to becoming a great composer himself.