RAGA PAYANAM - AMRITAVARSHINI, the Ragini of Rain
This is the beginning of a new series of blogs by me, called Raga Payanam. You can read about your favourite ragas in this section, the classical pieces in them, anecdotes, and of course film super-hits based on these ragas. Enjoy the musical rain!!
AMRITAVARSHINI:
Arohanam: S G2 M2 P N2 S
Avarohanam: S N2 P M2 G2 S
An auspicious pratimadhyama, audava raga, a janya of 66th Melakarta Citrambari(just for academic interest!), Amritavarshini as the name suggests is associated with rain. Muthuswamy Dikshitar is said to have brought rain to the parched lands near Ettayapuram by singing his famous composition Anandamrita in this raga. It is a minor raga, very well –loved by all rasikas, musicians and music directors for its characteristic gait, and brightness.
Classical compositions:
ANANDAMRITA - MUTHUSWAMY DIKSHITAR - The Raga Mudra is "Amritavarshini", raga name which also brought forth rain in Ettayapuram village where Dikshitar sang this piece)
SUDHAMAYI - HARIKESANALLUR MUTHIAH BHAGAVATAR - popularised by the late G N Balasubramaniam, the super-star of music whose birth centenary is this year, this kriti has a lovely chittaswaram also.
Film Songs:
SIVAKAMI AADAVANDAL - PAATTUM BHARATAMUM (music by M S Viswanathan, this song is a dance competition song that depicts a contest between Goddess Sivakami and Lord Nataraja, and has interesting jathis also)
MAZHAKKORU DEVANE - SRI RAGHAVENDRAR (this is a viruttam type of song sung by K. J. Yesudas, music Ilayaraja, in which Raghavendra Swamy prays to the lord of rain, Varuna for a downpour and extinguish the fire that is destroying the village. As soon as this piece is sung the rain starts and the fire is extinguished.
THOONGATHA VIZHIGAL - AGNI NATCHATRAM (Sung by K. J. Yesudas, and S. Janaki, in Ilayaraja’s music, this is a masterpiece in Amritavarshini. This song has lots of akaras and sangati-s which make it very special
NAAN THAANA - NINAITHALE , the latest addition, music direction Vijay Antony, Sadhana Sargam has sung this refreshing song.
A lively raga...
I will upload my recent concert clips in Amritavarshini very soon.... As we know music is better heard than read about, but every bit helps!!
Bye for now.....
AMRITAVARSHINI:
Arohanam: S G2 M2 P N2 S
Avarohanam: S N2 P M2 G2 S
An auspicious pratimadhyama, audava raga, a janya of 66th Melakarta Citrambari(just for academic interest!), Amritavarshini as the name suggests is associated with rain. Muthuswamy Dikshitar is said to have brought rain to the parched lands near Ettayapuram by singing his famous composition Anandamrita in this raga. It is a minor raga, very well –loved by all rasikas, musicians and music directors for its characteristic gait, and brightness.
Classical compositions:
ANANDAMRITA - MUTHUSWAMY DIKSHITAR - The Raga Mudra is "Amritavarshini", raga name which also brought forth rain in Ettayapuram village where Dikshitar sang this piece)
SUDHAMAYI - HARIKESANALLUR MUTHIAH BHAGAVATAR - popularised by the late G N Balasubramaniam, the super-star of music whose birth centenary is this year, this kriti has a lovely chittaswaram also.
Film Songs:
SIVAKAMI AADAVANDAL - PAATTUM BHARATAMUM (music by M S Viswanathan, this song is a dance competition song that depicts a contest between Goddess Sivakami and Lord Nataraja, and has interesting jathis also)
MAZHAKKORU DEVANE - SRI RAGHAVENDRAR (this is a viruttam type of song sung by K. J. Yesudas, music Ilayaraja, in which Raghavendra Swamy prays to the lord of rain, Varuna for a downpour and extinguish the fire that is destroying the village. As soon as this piece is sung the rain starts and the fire is extinguished.
THOONGATHA VIZHIGAL - AGNI NATCHATRAM (Sung by K. J. Yesudas, and S. Janaki, in Ilayaraja’s music, this is a masterpiece in Amritavarshini. This song has lots of akaras and sangati-s which make it very special
NAAN THAANA - NINAITHALE , the latest addition, music direction Vijay Antony, Sadhana Sargam has sung this refreshing song.
A lively raga...
I will upload my recent concert clips in Amritavarshini very soon.... As we know music is better heard than read about, but every bit helps!!
Bye for now.....
I really enjoy your Isai Payanam program on Jaya TV very much and it is an eye opener for people who have not been really trained on music and like it only due to "Kelvi Gnanam" like me
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to know that a Mechanical Engineer and a Musician are born in you
Regards
Krishnakumar
Dubai
Hello Ms. Charulatha Mani
ReplyDeleteI have recently come across your youtube postings under "Isai Payanam" and appreciate all of them. One small but important point (for me). In your presentation on Hamsanandi Ragam, you say that the song "Theusulavudhe" came from Hindhi. It is wrong. Adi Narayana Rao composed Thesulavudhe in Telugu/tamil simultaneously FIRST. Only AFTER that it went to Hindi. In fact, in one of the youtube postings, SP recounts Lataji telling him that Rafi originally hesitated to sing this song, being unsure of matching Ghantasala's rendering (who sang both the telugu and tamil versions), recommending instead Manna Dey. Eventually he did end up singing the Hindi song. So, the truth is that this all-time classic composition went from Tamil/Telugu to Hindi. This is for your kind information, so in the future you can credit it correctly. Actually, everyone in Hindi music accepts kuhu kuhu as the all-time best Hindi hit song, but the tune originally came from a south indian composer, and in a song originally sung in tamil/telugu. Thanks, wish you all the best.
Vanamali/San Francisco.
Dear Ms Charulatha Mani, I have purchased all your Isai Payanam DVDs from 1 to 10. I enjoy all of them. You have a very nice style of presentation. I am surprised why you have not taken the raga "Thodi" so far. Are you planning to include in the next releases? My parents also liked all these DVDs which are useful to learned as well as to common man. Thanks once again for the fine effort. In case you conduct these concerts in Bangalore pl let us know. Thanking you,
ReplyDeleteRegards
H Ramesh Rao
Hi,
ReplyDeletei have been all your programmes. it is very interesting & informative.
I would like to suggest.why don't you call mellisai mannar and discuss with him on classical music fantastically blend with film music.his music is not understood by many people.he is a born genius & gifted soul.I dont think anybody can match his stature.i would be happy if this happens.thanks.rangarajan.