Kanchana Sisters

Vid. Kanchana S. Shriranjani and Vid.Kanchana S. Shruthiranjani are among the most sought after duet vocalists in the classical music sphere today. At a very tender age of 3 years, their father‘Karnataka Kalashri’ Kanchana V. Subbarathnam the renowned violinist of our country, initiated them into music. They began staging classical concerts at the age of 4. The sisters’ duo specializes in rendition of the “Avadhana Pallavi”s,which they learnt from their maternal uncle Dr. R.S. Nandakumar, Mysore. The ability to render most complex compositions by playing different taalas with different nadaion both hands simultaneously,has enthralled thousands of music connoisseurs. Our country has only a few artists performing this kind of avadhana and these sisters have excelled the extremes of this art. The precision of their avadhana performances with ancient convoluted taalas such as ‘Simhanandana’ (128 akshara kaalam) and implementation of ancient taala angas, have stunned the masses.They have documented their unique Avadhana art at the University of Hyderabad.

Besides being the toppers of their university in LLB (law) degree, both the sisters followed music as their passion and profession. Both earned 1st rank in ‘Vidwath’ degree in Carnatic Classical Vocal and Violin from the state Government of Karnataka and are “B High” graded artists in AIR. They have also earned many prestigious senior performer scholarships for music from the central government - HRD and other private organizations.  

Family Background:

Kanchana Ranjani Sisters, hail from a highly respectable family, which is renowned for music, charity and benevolence. They are the 4th generation in a family of core musicians:

Family background :

Kanchana Ranjani Sisters, hail from a highly respectable family, which is renowned for music, charity and benevolence. They are the 4th generation in a family of core musicians:

Father - 'Karnataka Kalasri' Kanchana V Subbarathnam was a par excellent carnatic violinist and composer who accompanied Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar at age 9 and Maharajapuram Vishvanatha Iyyer at age 14! Their mother K. Rohini Subbarathnam is a vocalist, composer, musicologist and guru.

Paternal grandfather - 'Sangeetha Ratna' Kanchana Venkatasubrahmaniam was a famous vocalist (disciple of GNB, Chembai and Chakrakodi Narayana Shastri).

Paternal great-grandmother - Vid. Kanchana Ananda Lakshmi was a composer and multi faceted artist, well versed in playing both Veena and Leg Harmonium. Her husband Kanchana Venkataramanaiyya was a music and Yakshagana patron.

Maternal Grandfather - Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. R.Sathyanarayana is a very renowned musicologist of International fame and a very revered srividya guru.

Maternal uncle –Dr. R S Nanda Kumar is aveteran vocalist and exponent in Taala avadhana and musicology.

Shriranjani is married to the renowned Mridangam artist ‘Sathya Sri’ Vidwan K.U. Jayachandra Rao and Shruthiranjani is married to a very popular Karnataka High court advocate Sri S. Rajashekar.

They have conceptualized, directed and performed diversified music projects and some of the popular ones include “Vachana Viveka”, “Sri Thyagaraja Seetha Kalyanam”, “Demonstration on Thiruppughal” etc. They are experts in notating poetic verses on the spot and have worked with famous poets such as Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh, Sri Dwaraki Krishnaswami, Sri Korgi Sankaranarayana Upadyaya and such others. They have also performed for Dance music with legends as smt. Sundari Santhanam (disciple of smt. Padma Subrahmaniam) and others. The duo have also composed and directed background music for many music albums, dance etc.

Some of the popular albums of Kanchana Ranjani Sisters are –‘Hanumagiri Panchamukhi Anjaneya Suprabhatha’, ‘Sri Kateel Durgaparameshwari Suprabhatha’, ‘Musical Affection’, ‘Ecstacy’, etc.

The duo have received many awards namely – ‘Ananya Yuva Prathibha Puraskara’ from Ananya Bangalore, gold medal from Padmabhushana Dr. D.Veerendra Heggade for their music achievements and many other felicitations by renowned Educational Institutions, Religious Mutts, temples and famous personalities