Brahmastra Multi-Ethnic Ensemble
Brahmastra Multi-Ethnic Ensemble draws from Singapore’s vibrant cultural mosaic, presenting Indian classical and folk traditions through a multicultural lens. As one of the ensembles championing cross-cultural collaboration, it bridges musical worlds with both authenticity and innovation.
Comprising a collective of multi-award-winning musicians from diverse disciplines and genres, the ensemble crafts a sound that is deeply rooted yet refreshingly global.
The ensemble also nurtures the next generation through its dedicated youth wing, empowering young artists to explore the beauty of diversity and gain invaluable experience collaborating across artistic traditions.
Past Productions | Collaborations
Arts Everywhere @ CDC (Opening)
Arts Everywhere @ CDC (Opening), held at Choa Chu Kang SAFRA, on 30th March 2025 was organised by the National Arts Council (Singapore), People’s Association, and Community Development Council. Presented by Brahmastra Arts House, the event featured Songs and Dance of Diversity—a vibrant showcase in collaboration with SIFAS and Flamencosinforonteras. The ensemble performed a series of popular and Singaporean songs, reimagined through the rich lens of Indian classical and folk traditions.
Fringe activities included engaging booths presented in collaboration with Damaru SG and Manimaran Creations, adding a hands-on, community-driven dimension to the campaign.
Concert Video Links Available:
Vibing Hues, presented as part of In Youthful Company
Vibing Hues, presented as part of In Youthful Company by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, featured the youth wing of the Brahmastra Multi-Ethnic Ensemble. Showcasing their versatility, the young artists performed a dynamic mix of popular melodies alongside pieces rooted in Indian classical and folk traditions. The performance took place at the Esplanade Concourse on 19th April 2025.
Concert Video Links Available:
The Opening Launch of CDC Vouchers
The Opening Launch of CDC Vouchers, held on 3 January 2025, brought together a collective of multi-ethnic musicians who presented Singaporean folk songs reimagined through the rich influences of Indian classical, folk, and Singapore’s diverse soundscape.
Opening Act of Indradanush 2.0
The Opening of Indradhanush 2.0 by Swarnabhuthi, held at the Civil Service Club on 4th May 2024, featured the youth wing of the ensemble presenting a curated Indian classical music repertoire, thoughtfully adapted for a multi-ethnic soundscape.
In Sanga's Senses: Poetries of the Human Experience
28th April 2024 | 2.30 pm and 6.30 pm | Play Den, The Arts House
On 28 April 2024, audiences at the Play Den, The Arts House, were invited on an unforgettable sensory journey—In Sanga’s Senses. Rooted in the timeless beauty of Sangam poetry and enriched by personal anecdotes, the performance awakened the senses through the intricate interplay of taste, scent, touch, sight, and sound.
Storytellers and musicians came together to explore the essence of humanity, celebrating memory, identity, and shared experience. The Brahmastra Multi-Ethnic Ensemble offered a moving soundscape, weaving Indian classical elements into a contemporary, multicultural musical tapestry.
Presented by Brahmastra as part of the Tamil Language Festival 2024, and supported by the Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee (TLLPC), the concert stood as a powerful reminder of the beauty of being human.
Concert Video Links Available:
Common Cultural Heritage in ASEAN – Edutainment Programme
The Brahmastra Multi-Ethnic Ensemble was featured as part of the Edutainment Programme presented by C Asean. Composed by Niranjan Pandian, the performance was created specially for the digital release of the programme, celebrating the rich and diverse cultural heritage shared across the ASEAN region.
Concert Video Links Available:
Sounds of Diversity, South East Asia Tour [Bangkok and Lampung] - 2023
18th - 24th August 2023 | Various Timings | Lampung, Indonesia and Bangkok, Thailand
The Brahmastra Multi-Ethnic Ensemble embarked on a tour across Indonesia and Thailand, showcasing original compositions and a diverse repertoire to audiences in both countries. Supported by the Market and Audience Development Grant from the National Arts Council (Singapore), the ensemble delivered engaging performances at various venues including Lampung, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Chulalongkorn University, and as part of the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music Symposium.
The tour took place from 13th to 24th August 2023, fostering cross-cultural exchange and celebrating the region’s musical diversity.
Concert Video Links Available:
Tunes of Somerset Belt, as part of Realise Your Somerset Belt S2
October 2022 | 7.30 pm | Youth Park, Youthcorps
''The Tunes of Somerset Belt," performed by the Indo-Asean contemporary ensemble Brahmastra Multi-Ethnic Ensemble, was a concert as part of the Realise Your Somerset Project (RYSP) in 2022. This project, a key part of the Somerset Belt initiative, aimed to empower youth by providing them with opportunities to shape the area into a vibrant youth-owned precinct.
The concert, featuring five original music pieces composed by Niranjan Pandian, was designed to celebrate the impact of individuals within the Somerset Belt community. The music, with Indo-Asean arrangements and English lyrics, was performed using a unique blend of instruments from across cultures, including the pipa, tabla, oud, and cello. "The Tunes of Somerset Belt" was a part of Somerfest, a festival celebrating the aspirations of youth in the Somerset Belt.
In summary, "The Tunes of Somerset Belt" was a musical showcase that celebrated youth voices and contributions within the Somerset Belt, as part of the broader Realise Your Somerset Project initiative.
Concert Video Links Available:
The Voices, The Stories and The Reminiscence as part of Arts In Your Neighbourhood 2021
Arts in Your Neighbourhood 2021 | Presented by the National Arts Council (Singapore)
As part of the Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) 2021 series, the Brahmastra Ensemble invited audiences on an evocative sonic journey through Pasir Ris with an original production that blended memory, landscape, and music into an immersive experience.
Set against the imaginative backdrop of a boat ride along the Pasir Ris River, the performance guided listeners through tales of kampung life, tranquil beaches, and the transformation of the neighbourhood into a modern-day heartland. The concert’s narrative arc was supported by original compositions and reimagined arrangements that seamlessly intertwined Indian traditional music, South East Asian melodies, and film music influences, enriched further by the subtle sophistication of jazz elements.
This thoughtfully curated performance was more than a showcase of musical virtuosity—it was a celebration of community, heritage, and the stories that flow through the everyday spaces we inhabit. As the Brahmastra Ensemble steered through genres and histories with finesse, audiences were left with a renewed connection to place and a resonant sense of shared cultural memory.
7 Wonders of Punggol as part of Arts In Your Neighbourhood 2019
August 2019 | Puggol Plaza and Punggol SAFRA
Arts in Your Neighbourhood 2019 | Presented by the National Arts Council (Singapore)
7 Wonders of Punggol, featuring the Brahmastra Multi-Ethnic Ensemble and puppeteer Grace Kalaiselvi, brought seven iconic locations of Punggol to life in a vibrant, multi-disciplinary production. Staged at Punggol Plaza and One Punggol in 2019, the performance invited the community to reconnect with their surroundings through music, storytelling, and visual theatre. The concert also showcased seven original compositions by Niranjan Pandian, each inspired by the unique character of these beloved Punggol landmarks.
Back to Basics, as part of PAssion Arts Festival 2017
Back to Basics was performed by the Brahmastra Multi-Ethnic Ensemble as part of the PAssionArts Festival 2017. The event was organised by the People’s Association and Aljunied Community Club, and took place in August 2017 at the Kovan Multi-Purpose Hall.