Aarthi R.R. captures the mood of a raga on canvas and offers them as her tribute to the artistes.

Rasikas have long cherished Carnatic music as a living tradition. While most just enjoy listening, Aarthi R.R. transforms sound into visuals. As Chennai gears up for the Margazhi Season, Aarthi is all set to visit various concert halls with her sketchbook, brush and mini paint box.

The painting of Parvathy during a veena concert held at the Music Academy.
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Special Arrangement

It was interesting to watch Aarthi paint as vainika Jayanthi Kumaresh played Syama Sastri’s ‘Ninnu vina’ kriti, at her Music Academy concert last year. She captured the nuances of music through colours. Soon what emerged was the painting of Parvati embracing the lingam at the Kamakshi temple in Kanchipuram.

Aarthi describes the process as meditative and creative. When asked how she manages to complete the painting before a concert ends, she says, “Initially it was challenging. Although illustrating on the iPad would be easy, watercolour is my favourite medium. Digital references of the deities on my phone and constant reading about temples come in handy.”

Aarthi’s painting depicting Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi’s kriti ‘Manruladum paraman’ .
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Special Arrangement

Painting of K.S. Vishnudev’s concert held at the recent Bharat Sangeet Utsav recently.
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Special Arrangement

Aarthi usually gifts the paintings to artistes at the end of their concerts. Vocalists Sanjay Subrahmanyan, Ranjani and Gayatri, Sandeep Narayan, Trichur Brothers, Sikkil Gurucharan, Anahita and Apoorva, Sunil Gargyan, vainika Ramana Balachandhran are among those who have received her works. Says Aarthi, “A memorable moment for me was when Jayanthi ma’am held up my painting at the Zakir Hussain tribute concert and showed it to the audience from the stage.”

Aarti’s painting during the rendition of a Swati Tirunal’s composition.
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Special Arrangement

Having created over 50 concert-illustrations last Margazhi, Aarthi wants her art to evolve naturally. “Sometimes I just want to enjoy the music without the pressure of painting. However, seeing the years of sadhana that the artistes have invested in creating such soulful experiences, I feel the artworks are my humble tribute to them,” says Aarthi.