Sound. Is. Everything – 27 December 2020

In the very first moments of Ranjani-Gayatri’s concert for The Federation of City Sabhas, I learnt my lesson – Sound. Is. Everything.

If yesterday’s concert celebrated Abhogi as a centerpiece, today was about how one single composition can be used to convey so much of the raga. Listening to a new piece has its own joy, but listening to them render a piece you’ve heard a lot, and put in the hours to learn… now that’s a masterclass in perfection, an eye-opener to how a kriti can be presented in a manner that highlights each and every nuance. Sri Mahaganapathe, the composition that kickstarted the most interesting (and sorely missed) RaGa Candid sessions began this concert, with befuddling swarams at “Ramachandra Charana”. Co-artistes Vid. L Ramakrishnan, Vid. Sai Giridhar and Vid. S Krishna had begun revealing their brilliance way early in this concert.

Margazhi Redemption – Suswara Naada – 26 December 2020

And like that, 2020 found itself some redemption.

As I watched this momentous concert of Ranjani-Gayatri performing in front of a live audience after 9 months through my inadequate screen, I was bitter and envious for a few seconds and then felt overwhelming happiness – the sight of people being finally able to witness these musicians doing their brilliant thing, the sight of musicians finally being able to get their art across to the rasikas in real time, and space. The vicarious joy I experienced was enough to fill me with gratitude. Ah, the first wave of applause, as the artistes got on stage, after so long… Music to my ears.

Bhooloka Vaikuntham – 25 December 2020

Christmas Day. As the world celebrates, in Chennai, at around 3:00 am in the morning, people gather outside the gate and are busy conducting negotiations with the guards at The Music Academy. It’s the same conversation on loop every few minutes – “When will you open?” “Can’t you see there are so many of us standing here already? Let us in sooner, please”. By the time gates open, the crowd is huge, the queues have broken, and pandemonium ensues as people sprint or speedwalk to where the chairs are. After some more time spent on the chairs witnessing altercations about “who got there first”, the counter lights are switched on, instructions are given about the tokens, tickets, the whole process. And hot filter kapi arrives, in true Madras fashion. And throughout this time, the discussions all around are about music – about concerts that got over, predictions for upcoming ones, how someone sang or played a raga beautifully, how someone’s thani avartanam was mind-blowing. With a delightful dose of conversations about other Ranjani Gayatri concerts. This is how the Ranjani-Gayatri concert at Academy usually begins – It’s hours and hours before the actual performance but music is already in the air.

Brindavanathil Margazhi – 6 December 2020

As I jumped up awake and got ready in the morning to usher in the December Music Season with a steaming cup of chai and the title card appeared, with the beautiful greenery in view, I knew I was in for a feast for the senses. But as soon as Ranjani-Gayatri’s music began to pour into my ears, the sensory experience was transcended almost immediately to something way beyond and above it.

Sindubhairavi – When Stars Align – 28 November 2020

How do you know Margazhi is here? Is it when some stars align? No, it’s when these stars alight the stage, to delight ceaselessly.

The Ranjani-Gayatri concert began with characteristic purity in a beautiful prayer to the Gananaayaka, in the very unique Rudrapriya, complete with a crisp offering of kalpanaswarams. You know from the first piece, even the first phrase, what sort of a CONCERT it’s going to be. After this was the supremely delightful, gently swaying boat ride through the ocean of nectar that is Devagandhari in their voices – Ksheera Saagara. The stellar percussionists Vid. Manoj Siva and Vid. Anirudh Athreya were quick to remind me of everything I miss about concerts – such a heartening and fulfilling experience to listen to them embellish a masterpiece like this – every beat, every silence perfect. And that celestially pure “Taaraka Naama”. Bliss.