Lydian Nadhaswaram and Amirthavarshini are not ordinary musicians. Hailing from Chennai, the siblings duo made an unconventional choice early in life, stepping away from formal schooling to dedicate themselves fully to music. What began as an intense, all-consuming passion has today evolved into a body of work that places them firmly on the global cultural map.
Their journey reflects years of discipline, patience, and creative conviction, qualities that now culminate in one of the most ambitious musical projects ever attempted in Tamil history.
Lydian Nadhaswaram: From Child Prodigy to Global Name
Lydian first captured the world’s attention at just 13 when he won The World’s Best, a prestigious American talent competition featuring contestants from over 195 countries. The victory not only earned him a USD 1 Million prize but also marked a defining moment for Indian music on an international platform. He later became the first and only Indian musician to perform on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Now 19, and turning 20 this year, Lydian is a multi-instrumentalist proficient in over 35 instruments. Beyond performance, he is also a composer, sound engineer, and producer. Adding to his growing list of milestones, Lydian is set to present his first symphony next year, a feat that will make him the youngest Asian composer to do so.
Amirthavarshini: The Melodic Backbone of a Monumental Vision
Amirthavarshini, Lydian’s elder sister, is a flutist, singer, and composer whose role in their latest project is central and defining. She composed the melody lines for all 1,330 Thirukkurals, shaping the emotional and musical identity of each verse.
Her work, paired with Lydian’s technical and musical mastery, forms the foundation of a project that balances artistic depth with cultural responsibility, ensuring that the essence of the Thirukkural remains intact while being presented in a contemporary musical language.
The Thirukkural 1330: Musical Ethos
Their most ambitious undertaking to date, The Thirukkural 1330: Musical Ethos, stands as one of the longest music albums in the world and the largest project in Tamil music history. Spanning 22 hours, the work sets all 1,330 Kurals to music, something never achieved at this scale before.
The project traces it’s roots back nearly a decade. It was first conceived when Amirthavarshini was 12 and Lydian just 9. However due to thematic maturity required for certain sections, particularly Inbathuppaal, the siblings chose to pause the project. It was only after Lydian turned 19 on 6th September 2023, that they resumed work in full earnest. Within two years, all 1,330 compositions were completed. The album is scheduled for global release on 6th September 2025, marking Lydian’s 20th birthday.
A Global Soundscape for an Ancient Text
While the Thirukkural has been musically interpreted before, never has it been approached with such breadth and inclusivity. The album explores over 200 musical styles and genres, ranging from Carnatic and Hindustani to Western classical, symphonic, jazz, blues, pop, rap, electronic, acapella and Indian fusion.
More than 1,000 singers from around the world, aged between 3-94, have contributed to the project, reflecting it’s universal spirit. Each Kural is accompanied by it’s Porul (Meaning) and a concise Tamil synopsis written by scholar Shakthivaasan, following a strict format designed for clarity and accessibility across age groups.
Music, Meaning, and Accessibility
To reach an even wider audience, the duo is also producing 1,330 lyrical videos, complete with English renditions and subtitles. This ensures that listeners beyond Tamil-speaking communities can engage deeply with Thiruvalluvar’s philosophy.
What truly sets the project apart is it’s craftsmanship. Lydian personally played, recorded, sound-mixed and mastered all 1,330 tracks, while Amirthavarshini composed every melody, making the work entirely their own from start to finish.
A Cultural Milestone for Generations to Come
The Thirukkural 1330: Musical Ethos is more than an album. It is a cultural landmark, a rare moment where ancient wisdom meets contemporary global music through the vision of two young artists. By transforming Thiruvalluvar’s verses into sound, Lydian and Amirthavarshini ensure that the Thirukkural is not only read but sung, heard, and lived.
A treasure rooted in Tamil Nadu, shaped in India, and shared with the world, this project stands as a testament to what youthful dedication, patience, and artistic courage can achieve, once in a lifetime, and once in history.
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