Wherever Ranjani-Gayatri sing, with their ever so awesome fellow artistes, music HAPPENS. It flows through such perfect instruments that all the humans vanish and the music stands out. But at a venue like Kalakshetra, things just go to the another level!
Continue reading “Happening Music – 21 December 2023”
If you find my concert notes too long, here’s my short summary of the Ranjani-Gayatri concert at Vani Mahal today –
So Beautiful, So Elegant,
Just Sounding Like a WOWWWW.
The menacing clouds of the storm parted, as the curtains went up, to reveal the beings of light. A dancing Krishna emerged, celebrating his favourite Margazhi in the joyous jantai’s of Arabhi and the jathis and swarams and words of Purandaradasa. Aadidano Ranga! That burst of swarams to Mudaati Shri Krishnana! Ranjani-Gayatri, what a start to the music season!
The rising sun with its soft rays, the calm beyond all storms, an envelope of evocative Bowli that had us marvelling at the piercing beauty of each note. Melukovayya. Stirring.
Ranjani ma’am then treated us to a beautiful alapana of Shuddha Dhanyasi. The contrasts the plain notes and the gamakas create! Five become Infinite! With chiselled phrases and poised long notes, the different hues were brought out. After a lovely and melodious alapana by Vid L Ramakrishnan was presented Dikshitar’s masterpiece, Subrahmanyena Rakshitoham with fiery swarams poured at the gripping madhyama kala sahityam.
Navaratri is here! As I walked the vibrant streets of Mylapore, I beheld the countless golu idols in various colours and shapes and sizes – oh how much we love to celebrate the divine, in all forms and manifestations – in our thought, in our words. While each of these are beautiful, the favourite way I know, is through the notes.
“Shobillu Saptaswara!” proclaimed Ranjani-Gayatri in a power packed Jaganmohini. A start to render everyone speech-less… A burst of swarams added to the magic, apart from the charming chittaswaram. The second piece chosen was one by the best-est, Papanasam Sivan. How his kritis touch the soul and bind it to every other, asking questions we all ask ourselves and giving answers we all need to hear. Pallavi asks yearningly, and Anupallavi answers, without a doubt. And the charanam turns the questions to the only One with all the answers. Amma, Amma.
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 