A graded artist, Vidhushi Ranjani Venkatesh is among the few top women mridanga percussionists in Bengaluru. She started her musical training more out of necessity, than from passion. Ranjani comes from a family of musicians -- her mother Vid Saroja and sister Vid Dhanya are Carnatic vocalists, and her maternal grandparents Vid Subhadramma (grandmother) and Vid Venkatappa are violinists. They were then in Bellary and, for her mother’s and sister’s concerts, they had to bring down percussionists from Bengaluru, which was an expensive affair. To help them out, Ranjani’s grandmother encouraged this younger sibling to train in mridangam. Her first classes were with Vid Mariyanna, senior percussionist of mridanga. She trained in basics under him, for eight years. She rarely went out to play in the evenings, like other kids. Instead, during playtime, She practised mridanga. Her grandmother was insistent that she trains further, even if it means having to go to Bengaluru. In Bengaluru, under the tutelage of popular percussionist Vid N G Ravi, she got used to playing three hours at a stretch.
Speciality: Vocal