News & Notes

Margazhi meets mezze: A fusion of conversations and music

As part of the evolving Margazhi season, Aalaap and Gobbelin presented Margazhi and Mezze, an innovative event that had conversation series with artists - buddies. One of the unique sessions featured a conversation interspersed with music between acclaimed artists Sriranjani Santhanagopalan and Bharat Sundar, aptly titled An Equal Music. Akhila from Aalaap was the presenter for the evening.

The conversation was divided into three parts. The first part explored perspectives on life and the season of music against the backdrop of the month of Margazhi. The second part delved into topics such as musical upbringing, friendships, and influences. The third part focused on the responsibilities musicians face today, including nurturing and retaining an audience, as well as the need for musicians to take on multiple roles beyond simply dedicating themselves to their art.

The evening began with the question, “What is a raga to you when you think of the idea of leisure?” To this, Sriranjani responded, “My approach to Begada is completely different when I am at home with my tambura, without a microphone, and free from time constraints. I could name a raga, but that wouldn’t be truthful.”  Bharat agreed with her and recalled a memory from her concert in 2011.

When discussing how Margazhi has changed, shifted, and evolved over the years, Sriranjani remarked that the musical season has become a brand convention. “I’m realizing it’s not just about earning applause; it’s about taking on greater responsibility toward the audience. If you’re genuinely creating something that resonates with you, you hope the audience appreciates it,” she said. Bharat, however, expressed a slightly different perspective, saying, “To me, Margazhi hasn’t changed much overall, but there are certainly many things that have shifted, particularly this year.”

Talking about her life in music, Sriranjani shared that her journey began with her mother’s efforts. “My mom called sabhas and informed them that I was singing. From those calls, I got 10 concerts, and that’s how my musical journey began to take shape and flow,” she said.  Bharat shared that he began learning music from his aunt and gradually progressed to singing full songs. He participated in various sabha competitions, and over time, this journey led him to perform in concerts.

Discussing the similarities and differences between the duo, Bharat mentioned that their shared connection with any piece of music, regardless of genre, is a key similarity. “We come from different ideas and spaces. We agree, disagree, and reconsider,” he said. Sriranjani added, “It all comes down to intellectual maturity. Ultimately, it is love for music that binds us together.”

The discussion then shifted to the concept of short-form content in today's Instagram-driven world, where short attention spans dominate, and creators face the challenge of appealing to such an audience. Bharat admitted, “Somehow, I’ve never been able to fully embrace creating short-form content.”

When asked whether they feel pressured as artists to stay relevant, Sriranjani shared, “Creativity is about rearranging things to reflect how you see the world. When you practice, you arrange it in a way that resonates with you. Innovation happens every day, but groundbreaking innovation cannot occur regularly—it takes time. As a musician, I can’t achieve it instantly.”

                                                     

The discussion followed with a performance of their collaborative rendition of Bharatiyar’s song Mata parasakti vaiyam ellam.

The musicians also spoke about their discussions with sabhas to discourage live streaming of concerts, emphasizing that this art form is meant to be experienced live. “We are already dealing with challenges like amplification, and live streaming adds another layer of difficulty. The very presence of live streaming tends to interfere with our flow,” they shared.

 The conversation concluded with a question about the one song they currently have on loop. Bharat mentioned Kadhal yaanai, while Sriranjani shared that hers is a song on her agenda. 

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