Kelungal Kedhaaram

Ennavale adi ennavale en idhayathai tholaithu vitteyn- an A.R.Rehman hit in the film Kaadhalan thrills…..Sundari neeyum sundaran nyaanum serndhidum naal thiruvonam- an Illayaraaja hit in the movie Michael madana kaamarajan enthralls…..Idhu oru ponmaalai pozudhu in the movie Nizalgal mesmerizes……. Such is the splendor….so is the beauty of the Raaga Kedhaaram these songs are tuned in….. – A derivative (Janya Raagam) of the 29th Melakartha raaga Deerasankaraabharanam in the 72 Melakartha raaga system of Carnatic music, the Raagam by structure stirs the subtle spiritual love (Bhakti) though a bit passionately giving a touch of Veera Rasam (valour). Endowed with an Aarohanam (ascending notes) S M1 G3 M1 P N3 S and Avarohanam (descending notes) S N3…

Silirkum Sivaranjani

Kannum Kannum Kollai Adithaal Kaadhal Enru Artham- an electric and ecstatic composition of A.R.Rehman in the movie Thirudaa Thirudaa is also an eclectic piece where one finds eccentric elements from Western and Indian Classical music.

Hamsadhwani

When I first attended a concert of Flute Ramani sir, I was spellbound by his mastery over the craft. He began the concert with a kirti in the raagam Hamsadhwani, the very famous “Vatapi Ganapathim Bhaje’ham” composed by Dikshitar. That is what established my strong emotional association with Hamsadhwani. I was so captivated by the pleasantness of the raagam and also the musical eloquence with which Ramani sir delivered it that, to this day Hamsadhwani remains one of my all time favourites. Hamsadhwani is an audava raagam (what we call a pentatonic scale in Western) and is a janya (derivative scale) of Shankarabharanam. It does not feature Madhyamam and Dhaivatham in its aarohana avarohana structure….

Hypnotic Hindholam

My close friend Mr.Srinivas has the nice habit of analyzing Carnatic Raagaas in movie songs. He recently brought to discussion an A.R.Rehman hit Maargazhi Poove Maargazhi Poove in the movie May Maadham.

Exotic Maandu

Sowkiyama Kanney Sowkiyama…..Sowkiyama Kanney Sowkiyama…….an A.R.Rehman composition from the movie Sangamam is a piece par excellence in the Raagam Maandu.

Mayamalavagowlai

Mayamalavagowlai, a pazhamaivaaintha (ancient) raagam, must be one of the most familiar raagams among the common rasikas I guess. You would’ve definitely heard about it even if your only association with carnatic music is that you have a sibling who learnt carnatic vocals for a couple of months.

Simply Sindhu Bhairavi

Maargazi Thingal Allava Madhi Konjum Naal Allavaa Idhu Kannan Varum Pozudhallavaa – the A.R.Rehman hit in the movie Sangamam; Ovvoru Pookalume Solgirathey- the Bharadwaj hit in the movie Autograph;

Dharmavathi

The moment I hear the name Dharmavathi, the first thing that strikes my mind is this one particular scene from the movie Azhagan in which Mammooty gives a hard, tight slap to Madhubala.

Azagaana Aananda Bhairavi

The beauty of Carnatic music lies in its capability to convey fine aspects of human emotions in apt Raagaas or musical scales. Happiness is an emotion so natural to man that he utilizes every occasion to magnify his happiness and make merry.

Kalyani

Of several things that music (or rather the pursuit of music) teaches us, one important virtue I feel is Punctuality.

Amazing Aabheyri

I was just listening to the song Kannodu kaanbathellaam thalaivaa in the movie Jeans. It is an amazing composition of A.R.Rehman with notes swirling up and down like splashes of sea waves in a calm evening soothing our soul in the Raagam Aabheyri.

Rhapsodic Reethigowlai

I was first exposed to Reethigowlai during one of my flute classes in the initial days of my musical sojourn when I was learning a ‘geetham’ set in the raagam Aanandha bhairavi.

Scintillating Shanmukhapriya

Who can ever forget the all time green Shanmukhapriya melody Maraindirundhu paarkum marumam enna in Sivaji Padmini combo movie Thiilaanaa Mohanaambaal?

Charming Chaarukesi

Continuing our journey into the graceful garden of Carnatic music, we now move to the Raaga Chaarukesi. Chaarukesi is a charming Raaga that induces a soft mood but kindles deep rooted subtle emotions.

Mohanam – Raaga

Raaga is a sequence of musical notes in Indian Classical Music. Every Raaga has a defined style of exposition of the notes and has a name.