Ranjani and Gayathri’s feel-good concert on the third day of the Pongal Music Festival was highly systematised in all aspects and it was a classic example of how virtuosity shines in a well-planned recital. The siblings internalised the charms of melody with Ranjani seeking tonal depths and Gayathri, tonal tints. The duo’s music was compelling right from the start to the finish of the kutcheri. Their mastery over the technique to elevate and titillate the rasika was the outcome of their musical sensibilities tuned to the same wavelength. Flagging off the concert with ‘Samidaya’ (Kedaragowla) in two speeds, the following ‘Parvathinayaka’ (Bowli) of Swati Tirunal with swaras gave a lovely lilt. Ranjani’s alapana of Ritigowla for the kriti, ‘Ragarathnamalikache’ with a feisty niraval made listening a pleasure. Gayathri’s portrayal of Mohanam with crafted sancharas in a deliberately chosen idiom bestowed a rare breath of freshness. Gayathri’s depiction of Mohanam was characterised by crispness and tonal shadings to produce a delicate filigree appeal for Ambujam Krishna’s composition, ‘Mohanamaai Thigazhven Rama.’ The raga delineation of Simhendramadhyamam shared by the artists brimming with the flavour of the raga revealed their tonal control of tara sthayi for the kriti, ‘Rama Rama Gunaseema.’ Gayathri’s take over of the next phase with nuances compelled admiration. Rajeev (violin) responded with fluid ease in the melodic segments and picked up the gauntlet with alacrity in the swara forays. Manoj Siva’s percussion support was of a high order with a vibrant thani. In sum, it was a sumptuous treat.
