As Ranjani-Gayatri began their thematic concert for the beautifully curated Provoke Art Festival – Thrayee, their intentions were amply clear – Why provoke, when you can Evoke!
The triumvirate of Durga-Lakshmi-Saraswati were invoked in Papanasam’s Sivan’s kriti in Arabhi with those jantai’s reiterating and reinforcing the raga’s beauty. The perfect Navaratri kriti! How can anyone resist a burst of swarams to this joyous starting piece!
Every Ranjani-Gayatri concert is a sacred space for the arts – Kalaalaya. Once they begin their music, the soul has no option but to quieten and listen. To behold RaGa after RaGa.
The listening began with the beautiful Kalyani kriti Ganapathe Mahamathe, with swarams for Ganapathe and Maam Paahi. When I visited the temple a while ago, I couldn’t see Kapaleeshwarar, because of the crowds, but no worries, he came for us in the favourite Papanasam Sivan’s kriti in sweet Valachi – Paadame Thunai Paramashiva!
Notes on Ra-Ga 