Aruna is widely regarded as the leading South Indian female vocalist of her generation and has long sought to create a larger following for Carnatic music, seducing Indian audiences with her unusual deep vocal timbre and defying boundaries in her collaborations with internationally renowned artists from Europe and Africa.

Hari Sivanesan is a young and active London based musician of Sri Lankan descent. An exponent of the veena – a lute-like instrument dating back 3,000 years and prefiguring the sitar – Hari is the latest recipient of BBC Radio 3’s World Routes Academy scheme, founded to support outstanding young artists working in world music. Hari believes ‘it’s time for Carnatic music – India’s music of the South – to shine in the West, and I’m looking forward to diving into the roots of our music further!’ Hari is a student of Smt Sivasakthi Sivanesan, one of the UK’s foremost Carnatic figures.

As Aruna and Hari work together, BBC Radio 3 follows their partnership through regular interviews, recordings and performances, while also taking a wider look at South Indian music and cultural traditions (Saturdays, 3pm). The BBC Prom on 27 July presents a remarkable opportunity to see the results of this distinctive collaboration.