Ranjani – Gayatri
Ranjani and Gayatri are two sisters who sing and play Carnatic music on violin. They were born into a musical family, and their talent was recognised very early – it is said that they could identify complex rhythmic patterns and hundreds of different ragas by early childhood.
They trained within the family (“our father has been our severest critic…there is no concert that goes by without him giving us feedback”), as well as receiving violin lessons from TS Krishnaswami and vocal instruction from PS Narayanaswamy. They are notable as prolific song composers, and for fusing ideas from both Hindustani and Carnatic music.
“One is conditioned by one’s experience, knowledge and pre-set ideas of what and how music should be. The more the experience and knowledge, the more the barriers to free and easy enjoyment. So an untrained person, who doesn’t have a strong opinion, can enjoy the music without constraints.”
Ranjani and Gayatri have graced the Darbar Festival stage multiple times. In 2015, they performed at the Purcell Room of London’s Southbank Centre, accompanied by H.N. Bhaskar on violin, Sai Giridhar on mridangam, and Giridhar Udupa on ghatam. Their rendition of Raga Sindhu Bhairavi from this performance is particularly noteworthy. They returned to the festival in 2023, delivering an enchanting Carnatic vocal performance at the Barbican Centre in London. Their performances at the Darbar Festival have consistently captivated audiences, showcasing their profound artistry and deep-rooted commitment to the Carnatic music tradition.
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