The RaGa-yaan Experience – 3 September 2023

In any art form there are a few very special artistes who are constantly shooting for the moon, and the audiences and the art itself are all the better for it. And then there are Ranjani-Gayatri who not only aim for the moon but also land there, while taking hundreds along with them for the journey!

The RaGa-yaan arose with the poignant Bhoopalam, its notes of dawn a fitting tribute for a precious soul, in Dikshitar’s Sadaachaleshwaram Bhaavayeham, and brisk swarams adorned the Kamala-Vijayakara for a successful take-off. This was followed by the beautiful Ikonamma Swami in Manirangu anchored in the lovely gait of Mishra Chapu.

Swara RaGa Kaveri – 26 February 2023

Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bengaluru. Can’t imagine any other city where rasikas would burst into applause on the announcement that the first piece would be the Bhairavi Ata Tala varnam. Actually can’t imagine any other artistes for whom this would happen – but such is the magic of Ranjani-Gayatri’s music.

Ernakulatthappan Thiruvadi Charanam – 31 January 2023

More than an hour before Ranjani-Gayatri ascended the stage, the chairs and ground-mats were almost full. Whenever I looked around there were people as far as the eye could see, a sea of rasikas sitting, standing, devouring the downpour from the skies. Felt so blessed to be one of them.

They began with the exquisite varnam in Hindolam by TM Thyagarajan on Maalmarugan. This was followed by Swati Tirunal’s Parvathi Naayaka. That perfect kalapramaanam for swarams in two speeds that fell so tightly and crisply. After this came the evergreen Naadatanum Anisham. Such gems, each one of these! Vairamum, Maanikyam thaane aagi.