RaGa perform at Kolkata after their royal musical journey

The ITC Sangeet Research Academy 2025 was a three-day celebration of music with music maestros coming in from all over India. The second day featured the Carnatic vocal duo Ranjani–Gayatri. After their glorious performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London, this was their first public performance in Kolkata. Accompanying the singer duo were Vittal Rangan (violin), Manoj Siva (Mridangam), and S Krishna (Ghatam). Kolkata has always harboured musical heritage from Wajid Ali Shah to the babus of North Kolkata. The cultural significance thus increases tenfold when the city receives artists like RaGa. The Statesman got to exclusively speak with the artists:

How was the experience performing at the Royal Albert Hall, representing the ancient core music of India?

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Performing at the Royal Albert Hall felt like standing at a confluence of histories – the long arc of India’s classical tradition meeting a global space that has held some of the world’s greatest artistic expressions. We did not approach it as a ‘big international moment’, but simply as an offering of the music we have lived with all our lives. Yet the response – 5,000 people listening with extraordinary attention and rising together in a standing ovation – reminded us that the essence of our classical tradition travels far beyond geography. The experience reaffirmed something we have always believed: when music is presented with soul and integrity, people anywhere in the world can feel its depth.

What was the cultural significance you felt, performing in the UK?

The UK’s cultural ecosystem has long engaged with Indian classical arts, but what we experienced this time felt particularly meaningful. The audience received Carnatic music not as a niche tradition or an exotic form, but as a serious classical art. Their openness and sensitivity – even among those hearing it for the first time – made the moment culturally significant. It showed us that Indian classical music is now part of a global conversation, capable of filling vast halls and touching listeners across cultures. It affirmed that our artistic heritage stands with confidence among the world’s classical traditions.

You’re performing in Kolkata right after an international event. How significant is it to classical music?

Kolkata has always felt like a cultural home – a city where listeners meet classical music with both knowledge and emotion. Coming here immediately after the Royal Albert Hall concert creates a beautiful continuity. London reminded us how global audiences are embracing Indian classical music; Kolkata reminds us why this tradition has remained alive and vibrant – because cities like this nurture it with sincerity and depth. Performing here now feels symbolic: from a global stage back to a cultural heartland, completing a circle that honours both the world and home.

What can India do to strengthen the outreach of culture?

India has an artistic heritage spanning centuries, and building on this strong foundation, a little more focused attention can make our cultural outreach even more impactful. Strengthening production and presentation values for global stages, expanding structured pathways for international collaborations and touring, offering young musicians more platforms for meaningful exposure, and continuing to document and archive our traditions with care – all of these steps can help India’s classical arts shine even brighter in the world’s imagination.

Has there been a revival of Carnatic music? Are younger audiences becoming more interested?

There is a growing interest in Carnatic music among younger audiences, marked not just by higher attendance but by deeper, more curious engagement. Many young listeners explore ragas, follow digital content, and ask thoughtful questions about manodharma and musical aesthetics. This reflects a revival in the quality of engagement, not just numbers.

However, to expand this movement, early exposure through schools, institutions, and government support is essential. Classical music renews itself with every generation, and today’s youth are embracing it with fresh imagination—though the community must work to widen this circle further.