Ragas in Film Music

Also see: https://www.indianguitartabs.com/chords/threads/western-notes-vs-carnatic-ragam.48886/

  • The major scale corresponds to same notes in Shankarabaranam (29th melakartha ragam)
  • The C-minor scale corresponds to Natabairavi (though western lacks gamakas )
  • Kiravani ragam (21st melakartha ragam) corresponds to C Minor (Harmonic Minor) -- (Raise 7th note by half step.) Interval is: W-H-W-W-H-1.5 W-H
  • Gowrimanohari (23rd melakartha ragam) corresponds to C Minor (Melodic Minor) -- Melodic minor Ascending: W-H-W-W-W-W-H; Descending same as natural minor.
  • Use of suspended chords is more common with Ilayaraja Songs ??? e.g. Csus4 etc.

Why 2 songs of same Raga sounds so different ? There are so many factors in Raaga that can affect the net effect of Raaga. Raaga is just one factor of similarity of songs.

The other factors can be:

  • happy/sorrow/playful/peppy,

  • romantic/devotional/neutral/affection/love/anger/longing/loneliness,

  • fast/slow-tempo,

  • philosophical/poetic/down-to-earth/conversational.

  • High Pitch / Low Pitch dominated

  • The frequency of Signature Kamakas

  • Adherence to the scale to fixed number of notes (6, 5, ... vs using any of 12 notes)

  • Also See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Janya_ragas

  • Dheera Sankara Baranam Scale: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S

  • Legends used here:

    #Aro, #Arohanam       - Unusual Arohanam
#Avaro, #Avarohanam   - Unusual Avarohanam
#AroAvaro             - Unusual Arohanam / Avarohanam
~g                    - Gentle oscilation around gandharam; Also referred as Andolan or Alankar or Gamakkam

Charulatha Mani has delivered Isai Payanam in Jaya TV where she discusses this.

  • Chinna Kannan Alaikiran - RithiGowlai Unusual Arohanam/Avarohanam. Diff: G2 N2 (smaller ga and ni)

  • Thalaiyai kuniyum thamariye RithiGowlai

  • Alagana Ratchasiye RithiGowlai

  • Kangal irandal (subramaniapuram) RithiGowlai

  • Amudhe Tamilzhe - Rasika Ranjani (S R1 G3 P S / S D2 P G3 R1 S) Diff: R1 -N (smaller ri and Missing N)

  • Nilakuyile Unnodudhan Pan Paduven - Rasika Ranjani

  • Endhan Nenjil Neengadha Nalinakanthi (S G3 R2 M1 P N3 S / S N3 P M1 G3 R2 S) Diff: -D (Missing Da, Distinct #Arohanam)

  • Kandukonden kadukonden Nalinakanthi signature SGRM Arohanam.

  • Madhavi Ponmayilal Thogai virithal Kharaharapriya S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S. Diff: G2 N2 (smaller ga and ni)
    22nd Melakarta. Grahabedam of Shankarabaranam. Tyagarajar's most kritis. aka Harapriya.

  • Suttum Vizhi Chudare Kharaharapriya

  • Poo Malarndhida (Tic Tic Tic) Kharaharapriya

  • Sorgame Endralum Hamsanadam S R2 M2 P N3 S Diff: -G -D (Missing Ga and Dha)

  • Thendral Vandhu Ennai Thodum Hamsanadam (accidental dhaivatham allowed)

  • Iravum Nilavum (Karnan) Hamsanadam 5 notes scale.

  • Ohm Namaha Uyirin Uravukku Ohm Hamsanadam

  • Iyengaru veetu alage Natai S R3 G3 M1 P N3 S Diff: R3 -D (Big Ri and Missing Da)
    Jog in Hindustani Janya of 36th Chalanata

  • Amma Endralaikkadha Kalyani S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N3 S Diff: M2 (bigger Ma)

  • Sundari Ennal oru sedhi Kalyani 65th Melakartha. aka Mechakalyani

  • Janani Janani Kalyani Called Yaman in Hindustani.

  • Nadhamennum Kovilile (Manmatha Leelai) Sriranjani S R2 G2 M1 D2 N2 S Diff: -P (Missing panchamam)

  • Nada Vinodhangal (Salangai Oli) Sriranjani Janya of Karahapriya.

  • Nadam Ezhundadhadi (Gopura Vasalile) Sriranjani

  • Kaalam Maralam (Vaazhkai) Hamsadhwani S R2 G2 P N3 S . Diff: -M -D (Missing Ma and Dha)
    Janya of Kalyani(M2) rather than shankarabaranam(M1). The pallavi begins with ‘S,NN PG/SRG,R,SS’ —the characteristic progression for Hamsadhwani.

  • Ther Kondu Sendravan (Enakkul Oruvan) Hamsadhwani Interspersed with jathis, this song has clever sangatis in ‘Thozhi (NSRGR)’, and is set to triplet beat.

  • Mayile Mayile Un Thogai Enge Hamsadhwani

  • Sriranga Ranga Nathanin Paatham Hamsadhwani Only charanam.

  • Unnodu Valatha Valvu enna Valvu (Amarkalam) Hamsadhwani? Lot of use of Mathayamam. But somewhat similar to Hamsadhwani otherwise. Music By BaradWaj.

  • Vaadhabi Kanam Pathi Pathi Hamsadhwani

  • Anbendra Malaiyile Ananda Bairavi Arohanam: S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 P S Diff: G2 -N (smaller ga and missing N) and unusual #arohanam
    Like Bhairavi plus missing Ni.

  • Partha Mudhal Naale Ananda Bairavi

  • sabari malaiyil vaNa chandrodayam Ananda Bairavi (swAmi iyyaPan) [ Adi/ chatusram ]

  • Thirupparkadalil Palli Kondaaye Bhairavi unique arohanam, smaller ga, ni.

  • Ananda Ragam Ketkum Kaalam Simhendramadhyamam S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N3 S Diff: ga, dha, M2 (Smaller ga, dha; Bigger Ma.)

  • Thumbi Va Kapi

  • Urugudhe, Marugudhe Kapi

  • Senthamil Thenmolial Kapi

  • chinnanchiru kiliye kannamma Kapi

  • Madhura nagaril tamil sengam Kapi

  • Kadhal paravai katrinil virithu Kapi

  • indha sivakami maganidam Kapi

  • poomahal thuvi vasanthangal valtha Kapi

Shankarabaranam

  • S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S

  • W W H W W W H

  • Gamakas important for Ri and also Sa, Dha, Ni.

  • aka C Major scale or Bilawal in Hindustani

  • 29th Melakarta

  • Chinna Chinna Asai

  • Aalappol Velappol

  • Kanmani Anboda

  • Naadirukkum Nilamaiyiley

  • Omkaara naadhaanu santhaana (Sankarabaranam movie, KV Mahadevan Music)

  • Penn Maane Sangeetham Paadavaa

  • Poove Ilaiya Poove from Kozhi Koovuthu is a piece where the raga's impact comes through,
    especially in the landing and the gamakas at the nishada, and the madhyama.

  • Pachamalai Poovu from Kizhakku Vaasal is a folksy approach to the raga.

The phrase 'Shankarabharanamu' has the notes SRS, D,NS and S,SDP, GMPGRS, typical of the raga.

Raising the shadjam we get various other ragas with corresponding interval changes using grahabedam :

Shadjam       Raga                Melakarta Number
  D           Kharaharapriya          22
  E           Hanumatodi              08
  F           Kalyani                 65
  G           Harikambhoji            28 
  A           Natabhairavi            20 
  B           Invalid Melakarta

Natabhairavi

  • aka C-Minor scale
  • S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N2 S Diff: Smaller ga, dha, ni 20th Melakartha W H W W H W W
  • Natabhairavi has a number of popular janya ragams (derived scales) such as Bhairavi, Anandabhairavi, Saramati, Jaunpuri, Hindolam

Todi

aka Hanumatodi is 8th Melakarta raga.

  • S R1 G2 M1 P D1 N2 S S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S Diff: ri, ga, dha, ni (all small notes)

Malayamarutham

  • S R1 G3 P D2 N2 S S N2 D2 P G3 R1 S Diff: Smaller Ri, Ni. Missing Ma. Interval: H-3H-3H-W-H-W
  • Janya of 16th Melakarta Chakravaham
  • Thendral ennai ... from Oru odai...
  • Poojaikkaaga ... (Kathal oviyam)
  • Kanmani nee vara (Thendraley ennai thodu).

Kapi

  • Janya of 22nd Khara-Harapriya.
  • S R2 M1 P N3 S S N2 D2 N2 P M1 G2 R2 S
  • Arohanam: W 3H W 2W H ; Avarohanam: W H W W W H W
  • Diff: Smaller ga. #Arohanam misses ga and dha.
  • Thumbi Va Kapi
  • Urugudhe, Marugudhe Kapi
  • Senthamil Thenmolial Kapi
  • chinnanchiru kiliye kannamma Kapi
  • Madhura nagaril tamil sengam Kapi
  • Kadhal paravai katrinil virithu Kapi
  • indha sivakami maganidam Kapi
  • poomahal thuvi vasanthangal valtha Kapi

Ananda Bairavi

Arohanam: S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 P S Diff: G2 -N (smaller ga and missing Ni in Arohanam) and unusual #arohanam Avarohanam: S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S Interval Arohana: W H W W W 3H / 3H -H H W W W -W 5H Interval Avarohana: W H W W W H W

Janya of the 20th melakarta Natabhairavi (smaller ga, dha, ni). Some suggest that it is janya of 22nd melakarta Kharaharapriya (smaller ga, ni) which has right match for usage of normal dha.

It is Bhairavi plus missing Ni in arohanam plus normal dha in both arohanam and avarohanam. Anandabhairavi ragam is also a bhashanga rāgam, since it uses more than one anya swaram.

  • Anbendra Malaiyile (Minsara Kanavu)
  • Mettu Podu ... - Duet -
  • Konja Naal Poru Thalaiva - Asai (by Deva)
  • Partha Mudhal Naale

Bhairavi (Carnatic)

It is considered a janya of the 20th melakarta Natabhairavi.

arohana: S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S OR S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S avarohana: S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S

Diff: G2 N2 (smaller ga and ni) and unusual #arohanam.

Interval Arohana: W H W W W H W / 3H -H H W W W H W Interval Avarohana: W H W W W H W

Note that Bhairavi is Bashanka Raga since the parent raga contains smaller D1 where as this contains D2 in Arohanam.

Thirupparkadalil Palli Kondaaye from Swami Iyyappan.

The film Apoorva Ragangal, with the music of M. S. Viswanathan, has an attractive ragamalika. 'Adisaya Ragam...' starts off beautifully in Mahati raga and in the stanza that begins with 'Oru Puram Paarthaal', suddenly shifts to Bhairavi. Very rare in film music due to many restrictions for this raga.

Another example where ragam remains the same the song goes into a different scale is in "Vaanile thenilaa" when Vaanam paadum paadal naanum ketkiren starts singing. MSV has also few - rajavin parvai raniin pakkam --- Th Raga keeravani has the same notes as a Minor scale.

Ananda Bairavi

arohana : S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 P S avarohana : S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S

Diff: G2 -N (smaller ga and missing N) and unusual #arohanam

Janya of Karahapriya or Natabhairavi.

  • Anbendra Malaiyile - Minsara Kanavu -
  • Mettu Podu ... - Duet -
  • Konja Naal Poru Thalaiva - Asai (by Deva)
  • Partha Mudhal Naale

Bhairavi (Carnatic)

It is considered a janya of the 20th melakarta Natabhairavi.

arohana: S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S OR S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S avarohana: S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S

Diff: G2 N2 (smaller ga and ni) and unusual #arohanam

Thirupparkadalil Palli Kondaaye from Swami Iyyappan.

The film Apoorva Ragangal, with the music of M. S. Viswanathan, has an attractive ragamalika. 'Adisaya Ragam...' starts off beautifully in Mahati raga and in the stanza that begins with 'Oru Puram Paarthaal', suddenly shifts to Bhairavi. Very rare in film music due to many restrictions for this raga.

RithiGowlai

Arohanam : S G2 R2 G2 M1 N2 D2 M1 N2 N2 S Diff: ga, ni (smaller ga and ni) and unusual arohanam/avarohanam Avarohanam: S N2 D2 M1 G2 M1 P M1 G2 R2 S

Interval: W H W W W H W

Simhendramadhyamam

http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-the-passionate-appeal-of-simhendramadhyamam/article2817296.ece

  • S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N3 S S N3 D1 P M2 G2 R2 S
  • Smaller ga, dha. Bigger Ma.
  • W H 3H H H 3H H

In the piece "Ananda Ragam" from Panneer Pushpangal, sung by Uma Ramanan. In the line kaetkum kaalam... the sangati "PDND / DNSN / NSRG S" is logical in progression and effortless in delivery.

Hindolam Raga

  • S G2 M1 D1 N2 S
  • Diff: -R -P, ga, ni (No Rishabam, Panchamam and smaller ga and ni)
  • Intervals: 3H W 3H W W
  • Janya of 20th Natabhairavi (smaller ga and ni)
  • Ragavane ... Ramana Ragunatha ...
  • Ohm... NamaChivaaya ... (Salangai Oli)
  • Naan Dhedum ... Sevanthi Poovidhu ...
  • Margali Poove ... Margali Poove ... Un Madi Mele Oridam Vendum ...
  • Samaja Vara Gamana ... (Thiagarajar bagavatha)
  • Kangalam Kavi Paadudhe ...
  • Alaikadhe ...
  • Jagam Puhalam Punya Kadhai Ramanin Kadhaiye ... (Lava Kusaa)

Mohana

  • S R2 G3 P D2 S Diff -Ma -Ni

  • Intervals: W W 3H W 3H

  • Tamil film songs :

    Ninu Kori Varnam Isaithida  
Porale Ponnuthayi   
Kanmaniye Kadhal Enbadhu   
Poovil Vandu    Kaadhal Oviyam      Ilayaraja   S. P. Balasubhramaniam

Madhyamavathi

S R2 M1 P N2 S Diff: ni, -ga, -dha Interval pattern: W 3H W 3H W

Pentatonic scale.

Janya of Kharaharapriya (smaller ga, ni).

Madhyamavati's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 4 other major pentatonic rāgas, namely, Mohanam, Hindolam, Shuddha Saveri and Udayaravichandrika (also known as Shuddha Dhanyasi).

செவ்வந்தி பூக்களில் செய்த வீடு – மெல்லப் பேசுங்கள் உமா ரமணன் மற்றும் தீபன் சக்கரவர்த்தி பாடிய அருமையான ஒரு பாடல் இந்தப் படத்தில் ‘உயிரே உறவில்…’ பாடல் மிகவும் பிடிக்கும் மத்யமாவதி ராகத்தில் அமைந்த பாடல் இது . ஆனந்தத் தேன் சிந்தும் பூஞ்சோலையில், குயிலே குயிலே பூங்குயிலே, ஓ மானே மானே உன்னைத்தானே, தாழம்பூவே வாசம் வீசு, ஆகாய கங்கை, துள்ளித் துள்ளி நீ பாடம்மா, கவிதை பாடு குயிலே குயிலே போன்ற பல அருமையான பாடல்கள் இந்த ராகத்தில் இசை அமைக்கப் பட்டுள்ளன

Equivalent Songs

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_film_songs_based_on_ragas

  • Ahaya Vennilave Malai meethu vandhdeno - Malare Mounama .. Mouname Vedhama - ChinnanChiriya Vannaparavai .. (Darbari Kannada)
  • (Abheri Raaga) Isai Thamil Nee Seidha -- Singara Velane Deva -- Neela Vaana Odaiyil -- Kannodu Kanbadhellam Thalaiva --
  • (Karahaara priya) Suttum Vizhi Chudare
  • (Kapi ...) : Thumbi Va .... - Urugudhe, Marugudhe ... - Senthamil Thenmolial -- chinnanchiru kiliye kannamma --Madhura nagaril tamil sengam -- Kadhal paravai katrinil virithu vana veedhiyil parakava -- indha sivakami maganidam --poomahal thuvi vasanthangal valtha --
  • (Sri-Ranjani): Nathamennum Kovilile (manmatha leelai) --
  • (Raga Simhendramadhyamam) Ananda Ragam Ketkum Kaalam -- Thalattum Poongatru Naan Allavo -- Nee Pournami Endrum En Vanile (Oruvar valum alayam)

Find Raga For these songs

  • Germaniyin Senthen Malare
  • Adho Mega Oorvalam
  • Pattu Poove Mettu Paadhu .
  • En Kanmani En Kaadhali
  • Mella Pesungal - Sevvanthi Pookalil Seytha Veedu

Ilayaraja and Tamil Songs inspired by Western Music

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Table Of Contents
Ragas in Film Music
Shankarabaranam
Natabhairavi
Todi
Malayamarutham
Kapi
Ananda Bairavi
Bhairavi (Carnatic)
Ananda Bairavi
Bhairavi (Carnatic)
RithiGowlai
Simhendramadhyamam
Hindolam Raga
Mohana
Madhyamavathi
Equivalent Songs
Find Raga For these songs
Ilayaraja and Tamil Songs inspired by Western Music