A music video for Argala Stotram by singers from Hyderabad

The artists in the music video | Photo credit: Special agreement

A team of singers well versed in Carnatic music and playback singing in Telugu cinema have come together for a music video for Argala Stotram. The music video, released on Thursday in time for the Navaratri and Dussehra celebrations, was composed, directed and produced by singer ML Gayatri.

The music video is an attempt to highlight the devotional passion of Argala Stotram, based on the scripture of Rishi Markandeya’s Chandi Sapthasathi. The project features an all-female cast – Chetana Raviraj, Valli Gayatri, ML Shruti and ML Gayatri.

Gayatri explains that Argala Stotram is divided into two categories: Durga Sapthasathi and Chandi Sapthasathi. The team chose Chandi Sapthasathi for the music video. “We have selected a special verse from Chandi Sapthasathi which will be vividly used during the Chandi Yagam. The Argala Stotram is a 23 verse hymn from the Chandi Sapthasathi, which is part of the Markandeya Purana. The Chandi Sapthasathi consists of 700 verses dedicated to Goddess Durga/Chandi and her various forms. The Argala Stotram praises them and asks for their blessings for protection, prosperity and the removal of obstacles.” She adds that the Chandi Sapthasathi and Argala Stotram are traditionally anonymous, meaning no individual author is named. However, they are attributed to Sage Markandeya as the text is from the Markandeya Purana.