Carnatic Roundtable with Abby V | Sudha Ragunathan, Aruna Sairam, Ranjani Gayatri | Sundari Silks

Presenting the first ever South Indian Carnatic Classical ROUNDTABLE featuring some of the fraternity's most leading musicians: Smt. Aruna Sairam, Smt. Sudha Ragunathan, Smt. Ranjani, and Smt. Gayatri (Ranjani-Gayatri / RaGa Sisters). I (Abby) got the honour of hanging out with them during the special season of Margazhi and engaging in conversation about music, fashion and everything fun. Extremely proud to partner with Sundari Silks, the pioneers of traditional craftsmanship, on this very special project. This video was shot at the Sundari Silks, T Nagar premise and all of us artists have been styled beautifully by Sundari Silks themselves.
Hope you've all had a great Margazhi / Chennai December Music season with much music, laughter and food!
#carnatic #sundarisilks #sudharagunathan #arunasairam #ranjanigayatri #ranjanigayathri #arunasayeeram #sudharaghunathan #carnaticmusic #carnaticclassical #carnaticvocal #abbyv #saree #sarees #silksarees #chennai #margazhi #decemberseason #decembermusic #margazhiseason #pattu #indianclassical #indianclassicalmusic #tyagaraja #thyagaraja #jagadanandakaraka #pancharatna #pancharatnakritis

[@radharangarajan7211]

I wish these artists perform Pancharathna Krithis in Ayodhya Rama temple

[@sujathaontheweb3740]

The humility that each of them has is so real and believable! Not said for camera, but felt within. Even someone as big as Aruna ma'am or Sudha ma'am! So humbling for the rest of us!

[@binnapakshi]

Abby, on the topic of audience lethargy, please ask the revered artistes to look into how the academy makes it inconvenient for the audience to attend concerts .. to listen to Ranjani- Gayathri concert this year we had to and elderly people as well , had to wait from 3 am to 5 30 am to collect a token come back to buy tickets later on .. this was proudly broadcast by the academy and everyone else , but was an annoying experience .. the concert was great but If you want crowds to sustain they need to make it convenient to attend and not complain of audience lethargy .. audience is not lethargic , they have challenges and turn up despite those challenges , for the love of the art form and the artist

[@goutham244]

Same experience for in 2019 while trying to get tickets for Bombay Jayshree amma’s …. !!! I wish they collab with new platforms ❤

[@nss6610]

Insane, archaic models need modernisation. Artistes need to embrace new platforms. RAGA especially

[@vhariharan1988]

It’s just that people aka artists must come out of Metro city and start performing at multiple places …. Say People and artists must grow out of the mindset that chennai is tamil nadu and rest of Tamil Nadu is just abandoned place … Similarly Bangalore is not just Karnataka.. there’s more to the state …. Also senior artists must makeup their mind to reduce the payment and comfort when they are outside metro because.. Im their own words music is universal….

[@vidhya1773]

Rightly said.. now in days of online ticketing which is extremely convenient MA is still in olden era giving all the inconvenience to the Rasikas!

[@suvarchalak3639]

Humble pranaams to all. Very good experiences.All are telling about their gurus proudly. But now a days no one are ready to teach us directly. What about next generations ?

[@PositivismAtItsBest]

Pure Heaven - modern days Gandharvas together ❤ Thank you so much Abby keep making more such Roundtables and interviews of these modern greats 🎉

[@raghvanster]

I like gayat gayatri akkas opinion for singing for self and praise of inner God...Bravo and long live the duo sisters music❤

[@geetaliification]

From one question to another one goes from one brilliance to another... *ALL* four artistes are simply *BRILLIANT*

[@carnaticraga909]

So amazing to see the camaraderie... All of them are so honest, candid and appreciate the other from their heart withiut holding back.

[@sridharsrinivasan7817]

Just watched Ranjani-Gayatri concert at Music Academy a few days ago. It was spectacular. Several whistle worthy moments.

[@rajeevganesh7144]

The 4 greats of this era. @Abby you will rise to their level and above in the coming era.

[@jayanarayan8763]

Such a wonderful and beautiful interaction. Raga by raja was beautiful by ranjani Gayathri. We were lucky to attend the concert in USA Dallas. Like that sudhaji i always attend your concert and i admire Aruna Sairam and her way of singing. I cannot explain the feelings. May sai give them a long and healthy life to give more and more consort.

[@padmavathimenakshisundaram8466]

Arunaji carries herself so gracefully, easy to talk to and wholesome...her jokes are honest and she seems approachable, her music is coming place of this innate simplicity... I never really thought about this ... Ra Ga are perfection personified ... like their music... And Sudhaji is fearless...like her singing...

[@vidyaviswanathan8804]

An interaction to be cherished forever. Thank you to everyone involved in this 🙏🙏

[@preetisrinivasan4562]

Abby, you are blessed to be around these great artists. They are truly queens of Carnatic music. - music lover

[@mprajeswarithampi6179]

Your questions & everybody's answers came from the bottom of their hears .that's why it's different and musical A beautiful Roundtable talk .

[@Angarayan]

Wow! Wow! What a great treat! Unforgettable for years to come. God bless all of you.

[@vinaykumarn2075]

Loveliest thing to end 2023. All my favourite voices and personalities in one frame

[@ramaaguntur7376]

19:45 to 21:10 is a lesson for every professional, no matter the field of work.

[@topprefectlink7517]

🤩🎉🎉 what a lovely talk. I could recall one beautiful moment with Sudha aunty. When she had visited her uncle at Krishnagiri. I was very small we all went to Lord Krishna temple in an auto. I was hold her tambura. She was guiding me to hold it very safe. ❤❤

[@sujathaontheweb3740]

Gayathriji makes such an important point about just enjoying your art and being so honest about her big success being "an accident"... That shows how secure she is!! And how the two sisters are so aligned, and how Gayathriji gives credit to Ranjaniji... It's so beautiful and so very very wholesome! ❤💕🧿❤💕🧿

[@kallidaiviramani5885]

All the four are not only top - notch musicians, they are excellent communicators, fluent , fashion conscious and fun lving. Gayathri is forthright in saying " don't expect room service" while commenting on people expecting free streaminig and, at the same time , shows her high sense of humour. (from Australia)

[@varsee10]

Kudos abby ❤ getting these stalwarts together is a blessing in itself. So wonderful to listen to each one of them talk

[@gamingkid9646]

Abby, a refreshing interview. Despite all their achievements, they are all so grounded. So much to learn from these stalwarts. Thank you, Abby and Sundari Silks.

[@shobanasankarasubban2663]

Wow! what a pleasure to see and hear the legends of our times talk!! the questions were also so interesting and they all are excellent speakers too! Loved it thoroughly! Thanks😍

[@bharathimohan6133]

Wow what a beautiful round table musical discussions with musical legends . God bless! Abby you are fantastic 👌👌

[@murthyvvarahi9039]

All Carnatic Gems together. So nice and enjoy the discussion. But unfortunately we miss one more gem Madam Bombay Jayasri because of her health issues. Thank you Abby Sir for arranging this wonderful meeting. 🙏🙏

[@vijayarangan17]

Nice interview Abby. Been attending their concerts for decades now. They are a part of our lives and living.

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

What Aruna sairam ji said is very very true. In the olden days, people used to be able to sit for hours together and listen to a 4 to 5 hour long katcheri. Such is not the case today. People are busy in their own lives and though they might have the interest to listen to a full fledged carnatic katcheri, they may not have the time to do so, because of various commitments in their lives. So, the katcheri format would need to be tailored in such a way that the katcheri doesn't drag on for so long. Some artists adhere to this and some artists don't. Artists need to understand the audience also. I have been to many many carnatic kutcheris in the US and this is definitely an issue because usually katcheris are held in the temple auditorium and temple part where the idols are all kept usually in the US will close by 9pm and so will the temple canteen. And by the time a kutcheri ends it is like 10pm night. Friday night, Saturday night or Sunday night. If it is Sunday night, then next day is working day in most foreign countries. So, we would get back home very very late at night. This is why many people leave during "Tani avartanam" because it is already getting late by the time the "Tani avartanam" is played and they need to get home and it takes them at least 45 minutes to get home.

[@ushasrinidhi7497]

Beautiful to see all my favorite musicians 🙏🙏

[@subrahamaniyanes5687]

Amazing seeing bunch of legends and Abby is adorable

[@priyanagasundaram5915]

I’m glad this conversation is in English. I’m better able to relate to it. If the conversation had been conducted in Tamil, the Telugu, Malayalee or Hindi-speaking people may not have been able to follow.

[@brahmipadayachi6382]

🧡 What a happy coincidence …, it’s midnight to usher in the New Year 2024 in SA . What a great way to welcome the New Year with these special ladies . Happy New Year in the spirit of Carnatic Music … so special ❣️

[@umaradha1494]

Amazing Round table, we always see them singing on stages it's a very different stage to hear from the great legends. Thanks and wish to see more like this.

[@nadhasamarpana]

Lovely video. Love sudhamma so much..1990s hve seen her energetic concerts ...still with the same energy..Arunamma too. God bless all these artists to perform in the coming years too with energy and health.🎉🎉❤

[@rameshkumargurudanti4339]

I am big fan of All in rountable. Abby its a good to bring them all together.

[@savithrir4229]

A very unique programme bringing together all the current day legends of the Carnatic field. Thanks to Abby the most admired musician of today well done 👏

[@sashidarpadmanaban]

Extremely happy to have viewed the amazing conversation. Many thanks Abby. Brought many smiles listening to stalwarts in carnatic music. May god bless all of you 🙏.

[@jayasudhakar6313]

Such a delightful conversation. So many life lessons.

[@ramaadevirangnathan7686]

Pleasant and lovely interaction...Happy to see our favourites together..Appreciate humbless and inquisitiveness in learning..Assets to carnatic music❤

[@lalithavenkat7219]

Such giant talents yet so so so humble. Very impressive.

[@ganareddy7286]

Thank you for this beautiful sharing of this round table talk of all you talented musicians.Enjoyed it .Should have more.Always follow all of you from South Africa.Amazing .

[@sivam3276]

it is such an amazing dialogue. Rich in content and so inspiringly thought provoking about music, concerts, audience participation, and just being excellent and communing with each other. The stars and their friendship and dedication just shone throughout the roundtable. As a journalist myself, i salute Aby and the entire flow that touch the hearts and brains of all, including myself being a total ignoramus to carnatic world. Thank you so much. THUMBS UP!

[@sojournerdisha]

Great indeed, Thank you Abby for this necter🙏💐💐💐And pranam to all the artist and their gurus🙏🙏🪷🪷🪷

[@indirasubraveti]

Very happy to see all the legends discussing music experience happily enjoying the round table chat.😊🎉

[@tsbalasubramoniam8886]

Smt. Sudha Raghunathan's journey with music and cookery is one i liked . This is how one can contribute to the cause of music 2ith innovations.

[@anuradhaarun5044]

Abby, I appreciate your conceptualization of this program. Hoping to see many more musicians at this table. Thanks. Raja by RAGA was very enjoyable. Thanks

[@madhusudanbhandarkar]

Galaxy of stars exchanging opinions. Absolutely fantastic.

[@dharshb4474]

A great idea...a Carnatic round table with musical powerhouses! What a delightful and insightful conversation... enjoyed this immensely! Thank you for doing this🙏🏽

[@sundareshb7630]

A feast indeed...accomplished veterans coming together

[@kamalasubramanian9859]

So very fantastically organized. Literally all with great vision. Thank you all

[@sujathaontheweb3740]

Ranjani ma'am is so articulate and calm! And that subtle sense of humour! Wow!

[@ravirajana.p6833]

Hi.. Anandhi 4rm Chennai... Blessed 2 watch 5 greats in one go..And d credit goes 2 Abbyji.Thank you so much..Jai Shri krishn 🙏

[@primssvlog]

Wow . just nothing to say beyond that... U bring all the legends in one stage... Thanks for this video ❤🙏🏼 Pranams to sudha ji, Arunaji, Raga ji, and abby 💐

[@aruna251]

Such a divine conversation!! The aura was like, that of a paradise. It looked as if the Divinity himself was present in the midst of this talk. So blessed to even watch this!

[@MichitaAmaru]

Wow, such a nice conversation between this blessed people... I am a bolivian living in Germany, I can only listen to what I can find on the net. My dream is to attend a concert of Ranjani and Gayatri personally .... May the Devī keep on showering Her grace over all this grate musicians 🙏🏽🙇🏽‍♂️ Thank you Abby for making this meeting possible and share it with the public 🙏🏽

[@RK-nq3fj]

Beautiful background of yours craving for Carnatic music.

[@sriram957]

Beautiful and cultured people. I could hear them speak all day.

[@mprajeswarithampi6179]

Thank you for these beautiful moments, dear Abby

[@jayasreeparthan8470]

Fantastic conversation sharing each other’s experience. All four have good communication skill apart from being music legends.

[@gayathrisubramaniam9163]

Well done Abby! Jagadanandakaraka- You made the audience world happy by bringing together all the music queens!

[@sukanthin4202]

Wonderful video. Hats off to Abby for organising this grand event.

[@mgchandrakanth]

Immense sincere appreciation and thanks for beaming this type of conversation and program for the benefit of lovers of classical music. All saraswatis have come together at a place for sharing their views, history, experience in itself is a great treat to watch. This is a novel innovative program and request for arranging such experience sharing endeavours. Honestly an outstanding exercise and god bless you all for your unique contributions to the field of performing arts. Its each one of you and scores of all vidwans and vidushis who have put India's rich culture and tradition on the world map. Once again pranama to all of you.

[@narayanr267]

Lovely interaction - need more of these! 😊

[@Vgea123]

This is absolutely amazing! Thanks for all the musical stalwarts for your time and giving us a wonderful time to watch this! Thanks Abby for organising this. Looking forward to see many more like this

[@swaroopak8368]

Happy to see all the star singers in one place & one frame👌👌🙏🙏

[@suhasinivaradhan8950]

What a lovely honest self analysis by gayathri. Thank you Abby for such insightful well thought out questions.

[@rekhavasu3948]

What an excellent opportunity for us to.listen to such greats!! Thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to many.more such round tables..

[@usharam7718]

Concert seasons should be not only during marghazi but also during Apr/May or some other months convenient to singers, so many of us can enjoy. It is up to the current genertaion of these greats to take the kegacy forward; so please help nuture this in India and create a big space for carnatic music bigger and better.

[@chandarrekha]

Blessed to watch it

[@ashvithavk]

Soooooooooo beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Please do more of these @Abbby

[@svasudhasarangapani7678]

What a fantastic conversation and wish many more to come !!

[@zizoucris10]

This is wonderful, need more of this

[@balakrishnanraghunatha7290]

Superb. Amazing way to share experiences & thoughts. God bless them for the continued contribution to carnatic music.

[@vinsatd]

Wonderful Abby,would love to watch more of these😊

[@bvanik502]

Such a great concept..... thanks Abby and Sundari silks👏🏻👏🏻.....the whole conversation was sooo refreshing.....big fan of Arunaji and Sudhaji❤ Looking forward to more such Round Tables🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@Jayalakshmi__G]

Much like listening to a Carnatic concert 🫶💙🥰

[@MV-un9ey]

Super super very diverse feelings and experiences of all, somehow I am able to connect to them even though I am a very ordinary person. Love how Ranjani Gayatri spoke about their weakness which makes the audience feel they are one among the normal people

[@prasadsn7254]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH ABBY SIR. WONDERFUL VIDEO

[@prathibhamm4569]

Excellent idea of bringing the legends on a table, very nice experience 😍😍😍

[@chitraraghunandan-lm4zq]

Enjoyed the Talk, more such programmes are needed to appreciate Carnatic music better

[@pranavanatyam94]

This is so divine to hear from medha artists.. Keep up Abhi ji. Please bring them again. It is lovely feeling to see together. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤

[@anonekomous2]

Please keep this going as a tradition 🙏

[@padminidurr8359]

Beautiful, such a joy, knowing a little more about your personal journey for your music and your connections, congratulations. Thanks Abby,you are a great inspiration not just for the young, but also the mature like me. 🙏Hope to have the experience of seeing you all, at the concert halls. Never can forget the joy having heard and seen Sudhaamma in a private home concert in Florida . Still fresh in my mind and heart

[@tigrebonita]

Such a fantastic conversation ! Awesome to see such great artists interacting so informally . Nuggets of wisdom from arunaji about humility and respecting the audiences time and effort . The synergy between the artist and audience is so true but for some unfortunate few who can’t make it - the elderly, the infirm ppl or care givers - online streaming is such a boon ! Humbled by the info that inadequacies ( self criticism ) can affect such great artist ; it’s is an astonishing revelation . 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@rajiravishankar9286]

Real gems of this century

[@Sweetmeet10]

So happy you brought the Roundtable concept to this much needed space of Carnatic music ❤🎉🙌🙌 My heart is singing with joy ❤

[@AmbikaRaghu-wp1kt]

Bondle of my favourites legends ❤️💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞

[@ananyavijayasarathy9637]

I love you ❤. Thanks abby for getting them on board ❤

[@ushakarra]

Margazhi not just made artists, it made rasikas too. It was a revolution at both ends. 🙏🙏🙏

[@Upasanaarts]

Loved when Gayatri adds about thinking out of the box at 19:40 when she says that things cannot happen with an agenda, it should always be a part of the process.

[@balajim9579]

Smt. Sudha Raghunathan is my fav and all time energy.. Wish she sing more these days on TV channels

[@prakashms9621]

Very lively and beautiful conversation between great musicians .

[@MV-un9ey]

Happy to listen to you all. Great work

[@pratapasrinivas]

Hi Abby, Great thought to conduct such a beautiful conversation with noted Musicians. Thoroughly enjoyed. Looking forward for many such conversations.

[@saijagreatworks3298]

Such a beautiful Margazhi conversation ❤❤❤❤❤ Thank you abby for this round table with these carnatic queens - A carnatic music lover, Saija

[@bhagavanhnbhagavan6994]

I wish if you can plan a concert with all five!

[@radharangarajan7211]

Just loved this Abby thank you

[@ravichandir9173]

Great show... looking forward for such series...

[@kumarpradeep6668]

Amazed hearing the Gems of Carnatic Music talking about the experiences. This pleasant conversation shall surely give some encouragement for the budding artists of Carnatic music and the lovers of Music. Thanks for making this round table discussion possible. May God bless you all🙏

[@varadarajanprabha4918]

Well done Abby. Inspte of being such star artists of performance all of them sat like a same family members sitting with their own loving younger brother/son. All of them sharing their experience how they have to be on the stage performing to the expectations of audience. When Arunaji told it is like serving to the expectations of Audience yes a real fact indeed. She inspires Audience as remarked by Sudhaji. Sudhaji is a Mercury on the stage with her beautiful smile and melodious music takes audience to a joyful world besides being joyful herself. Ranjani and Gayathri have been very frank in pouring out their feelings. Who is more who is less no question at all. They are stars in Carnatic Music etching their names in the minds of Audience. Dear Abby I have neither heard even one single concert nor I know yor full name. Only from utube I heard you showing the jhalak presentation of 72 melakartha ragas if I am right. Some time last year I heard this from utube. Appreciate the way all 5 of you joined like family members and shared your respective experience. Thank you all I enjoyed as I am the fan of all the 4 star singers. Sorry Abby I have not had the opportunity to listen to your music so far. Thanks to Sundari Silks colorful sarees and the gorgeous matching blue kurtha that you have been wearing.

[@RAJJUNE]

This is something which i have been waiting for!! Very interesting and insightful! One gets to connect with the views of these legends whom we admire and look up to ...you have brought them to a round table like this one! Great initiative and work! Thanks a lot! 🙏 Look forward to more such exciting and insightful programs !😊😊

[@durgaramakrishnan6189]

Very interesting conversation and meaningful in a relaxed way. Abby put forth excellent questions to the giants of Carnatic Music and they were so practical and honest. My humble Pranams and thanks for sharing these lovely moments.