In the crowded younger echelons of Carnatic music, Sriranjani Santhanagopalan is an unmistakable star. Her voice is sweet and crystal clear without being cloying, she showcases range without compromising on quality, and has, over the last decade, carved out a place for herself distinct from that of her father and guru, the acclaimed senior vidwan, Neyveli Santhanagopalan. She is eclectic in her musical inspirations, forthright in her opinions, and considered in her responses. From classical concerts to YouTube collaborations to Tamil film covers applauded by her fans, Sriranjani experiments with her music, ever curious to see where it takes her.

Born into a musical family, Sriranjani’s earliest memories of music involve both parents. As a child, her mother used to teach vocal music in West Mambalam. There was a cosy hideaway on the terrace where the tiny tot played, one ear always on her mother’s lessons. “Amma’s rendition of the Saveri varnam is still my favourite. She renders it with such fidelity to the gamakas”, she notes with admiration.

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