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“Our origins are at risk”: Brazilian singer-songwriter Taïs Reganelli is in India, here is why Pune should listen to her

Taïs Reganelli will perform at Ruhaniyat on Feb 14 The Empress Garden

4 min readPuneFeb 13, 2026 01:01 PM IST

Reganelli is back in India for Ruhaniyat, a festival that lights up evenings across India. (Express Photo)

In 2023, Taïs Reganelli, a Brazilian singer-songwriter known for her velvety voice, did a deep reflection of her career and came to terms with the idea of retiring.

“I thought, ‘Well, if it ends here, it will be a beautiful journey.’ Beyond being a difficult career in itself, ageism exists, especially for women artists,” says Reganelli. Just then, Reganelli received an invitation to represent Brazil at the G20 convention in Varanasi.

Suddenly, everything began to look different. “I thought, ‘Hey, you still have a lot to do’. That moment was extremely important for me. I am very grateful to Banyan Tree, a Mumbai-based cultural organisation that sent me the invitation. After that, I went on many tours and am continuing doing what I love. Perhaps the most important thing in this career is to keep your feet firmly on the ground, but never stop dreaming,” she says.

Reganelli is back in India for Ruhaniyat, a festival that lights up evenings across India with songs and messages of the great mystics and indigenous thinkers from across centuries. The theme of Reganelli’s performance is “Whispers Through Rainforests”. Ruhaniyat will be held at The Empress Garden on February 14, 6.15 pm.

“Brazil is vast, just like India, and this results in a very diverse musical history, with many traditions and roots. As the Ruhaniyat festival had nature and our origins as its main theme, I chose to bring songs from different regions of Brazil. I fear that the preservation of our origins is increasingly at risk,” says Reganelli.

She adds that this very week, indigenous peoples in Brazil had protested to protect the Tapajós River from a project that aimed to drain its waters in favour of agribusiness. According to news reports, the government had given in and halted a plan to dredge the Tapajós River, which is an important tributary of the Amazon.

“Indigenous communities are losing more and more of their land. This is the region where my mother was born. Therefore, I bring a song called Benke, which is the name of a curumim (the term used to refer to an Indigenous child) who lived close to where my mother was born. I also bring a song by an artist from Pernambuco, representing the mangroves. I chose as well a song from Rio de Janeiro, so emblematic to the entire world, and finally, São Paulo,” says Reganelli.

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She is that type of artist which cannot separate music from themselves, their bodies and minds. “Music brings me balance, responsibility, affection and release. It is almost like therapy or a prayer. I find music in everything: in the sounds of nature, of animals, of the wind, of the rain. But I also perceive music in colours and scents. I locate and associate physical time, people, and places through music,” she says.

Listening to Raganelli is a way to be transported into the mystical norms of nature and care about the anthropomorphic degradation of a pristine world. “We do not necessarily need to compose protest songs for our issues to be highlighted, although such songs are extremely important. I am here for Ruhaniyat, and the other international guest artist, Hei Man, performs instrumental music. Her instrument evokes movements of nature, calm water, a storm, a wave. I firmly believe that art makes people more sensitive, and sensitivity leads to a more empathetic way of seeing the world. Care begins from within and extends outward,” she says.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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