Veenaabheri – 7 October 2023

Ranjani-Gayatri’s Mysore concert began with the sparkling Begada that is Vallabha Nayakasya. What an amazing concert starter, packed with some delightful swarams in Rupakam! Settles all the unsettled and the unsettling.

Ranjani ma’am launched into alapana. Sigh, this ragam. One dha, to change everything. Dha One. The one and only Lathangi. Every time the higher Ga pours down to the Dha the heart breaks a little. Her alapana flowered and soared in intensity so perfectly, tugging at the heartstrings the whole time. Vid HM Smitha played a very sweet alapana full of the raga’s beauty before their rich rendition of “Bharati Deviya Nene Nene”. Absolutely love the -aangi phrases in the lyrics, making the raga feel so meant to be. Ceaseless Swarams poured to the thrilling 3/4 edam of the pallavi.

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.

RaGa Sudhaarasa Paanamu – 1 January 2023

Happy New Year!

What better beginning than music, and what better music than Ranjani-Gayatri’s!

New Year fireworks began with the raga of auspiciousness, Mangalam – the super duper favourite Ninnu Joochi, in Saurashtram. Sigh, how much we can trust these musicians to enthrall us, every single time! A burst of grip-max swarams fell in place.

Jagat-Aananda-Kaarakaas – 15 April 2022

Sri Guruguha in Devakriya kickstarted the awesome Ranjani-Gayatri concert yesterday at Chowdiah, the Lord of Beauty arrived bedecked with a fresh and crisp garland of swarams. This was followed by one of Arunachala Kavi’s gems, on Vibheeshana Sharanagathi, in the most poised, evocative Saurashtram. Even the improvisations so tranquil.