Dharmavathi

[vijay]

Braindrain you forget to mention Parween Sultana who also took Madhuvanti for main!

[saipadmanabhan]

how did you guys miss out ooododi vandein kanna by ambujam krishna???a brilliant piece!!!

[PUNARVASU]

There's a nice Ambujam Krishna composition, Ododi Vanden Kanna..

Here's Gayathri Girish's rendition of the same.

http://sangeethamshare.org/svasu/364-Sm ... avathi.mp3

Saipadmanabhan,
here is the reference to 'OdOdi vandEn kaNNA'

[ganesh_mourthy]

could anyone download mss dharmavati RTP from media fire. ? it is not working for me

[Lakshman]

kmrasika wrote:

gitapriya wrote:
I think gitapriya is right on the composer. Refer: http://www.karnatik.com/c2145.shtml. If the audio is available we'll be able to ascertain the composer.

Here is the text:

surapAla sannuta. rAgA: dharmavati. Adi tALA.

P: surapAla sannuta shrIyutE dharaNIdharEndra jAtE mAtE
A: varavIyutenna paripAlisau karuNAnvitE shrI lalitE
C: paramEshvari shiva shankari hari sOdari rAjarAjEshvari
vara dharmavati gItapriyE shrIman mahAbala giri nilayE
Interestingly the songs does not have HMB's mudra "harikEsha".
The text is available in Mutthiah Bhagavatar Sahitangal vol 3 pg 110.

[Lakshman]

kmrasika wrote:

gitapriya wrote:
I think gitapriya is right on the composer. Refer: http://www.karnatik.com/c2145.shtml. If the audio is available we'll be able to ascertain the composer.

Here is the text:

surapAla sannuta. rAgA: dharmavati. Adi tALA.

P: surapAla sannuta shrIyutE dharaNIdharEndra jAtE mAtE
A: varavIyutenna paripAlisau karuNAnvitE shrI lalitE
C: paramEshvari shiva shankari hari sOdari rAjarAjEshvari
vara dharmavati gItapriyE shrIman mahAbala giri nilayE
Interestingly the songs does not have HMB's mudra "harikEsha".
The text is available in Mutthiah Bhagavatar Sahitangal vol 3 pg 110.

[ganesh_mourthy]

does someone have the MSS dharmavati? the sendspace thing has expired i think

[SrinathK]

O dharmavati! Possessing moving romantic rasa and vast scope, standing as the 59th mElA of the glorious 72, please arise from your long slumber in the caves of this forum and pour on our ears your musical essence and enchant our hearts!

Ok, Puranic Platitudes aside, let's see what she (it) looks like :

Aro : S R2 G2 M2 P D2 N3 S
Avaro : S N3 D2 P M2 G2 R2 S

dharmavati is a more recent raga. It came out of the same theory that derived the 72 sampUrna mElas, before that only dhAmavati existed. It has a greater scope than what many people think it does. Some of the factors that contribute to this are the ability to use virtually all its notes as platforms (what's the term for that again? jeeva / nyAsa swara?), its non-linear capability as well as its ability to be played slow, soft, moving, or fast with brighas and virtuoso, with long and short phrases, plain or gamaka laden. It has on some occasions even been used to play western genres.

It also helps that so many musicians have explored it a lot through pallavis, despite the fact that compositions in this rAgA are fewer and most of them are rarer numbers by post trinity composers (which even includes our late forumite K Ramraj). At some point it had (and probably still does) have a reputation of being a "pallavi" rAgA as a result of this. If a musician takes it up for detailed treatment, most of us would probably think an RTP is coming up.

As dhAmavati's younger sister, the non-linear phrases in dhAmavati are also possible in dharmavati. But the rAgA is mainly linear. The main rasa it generates is a sad, absorbing, but romantic mood. The influence of that G2 is vast - it is in fact the most significant note in the whole rAgA. To think that it shares all the other notes with kalyANi would tell you just how much difference that half step difference makes.

As dharmavati began to emerge as a raga getting attention over the last few decades (it actually only started getting explored seriously by the generation after the ARI-MVI-CVB-ALB-GNB-MMI-SSI gen and a half) - it is sometimes seen by some old school rasikas as that new kid on the block who thinks she can take on the big ones (this I have experienced in person ). And it looks like I am not alone here : https://sanjaysub.blogspot.com/2009/03/

However, in the matter of repertoire, there's more to be done with it. And speaking of repertoire, the present versions of Dikshitar's compositions are being sung in dharmavati, and so I'll start here with the two compositions of his.

parandhAmavati jayati - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM9N17wjWhc - Nithyashree (from Amutham Music's channel FYI.) I have a superb rendition by LGJ of it, but will have to upload it.

And who can forget this man? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKaHSQ_jBss

rAmachandrAya dAsOham - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9YiwW7K0J8 - What a voice...hope he comes back to sing some day.

Now not many people know that Maharaja Jayachamraja Wodeyar also has a kriti in it to his credit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcu1uRTk6-0

There is a kriti of MM Dandapani Desigar also :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idzTK1zlwoA (Only modern recordings available, apologies)

And of course, Ambujam Krishnan's ODODi vandEn kaNNA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88T_wWRMamg

Mysore Vasudevacharya has a kriti in it too (unfortunately the modern-ness of dharmAvati seems all the more underlined by the fact that I only find modern recordings of its repertoire) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ep4_gGAhXE

Next part, let's get the pallavis rolling....

[SrinathK]

RTPs incoming....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3onPai5sCM - MLV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCrEEFftPl8 - MSS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CagMJadhqY - Jayanti Kumaresh - only Ragam and Tanam, from her own channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLPmfc1LiV0 - Madurai GS Mani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N2ZVdv7G4c - And of course, there's Somu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4Jl9_LvRVM - And oh yeah, this rAgA is apt for the nagaswaram too

I didn't find a recording, but the Lalgudi school is very fond of dharmavati - I have a couple of good ones in my private collections. IIRC LGJ played an RTP with N Ramani on the flute during that tour in the early 70s.

But I bet you didn't know there's even a tillAnA in it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubG04d4Z7NA

[CRama]

Srinath, you have missed a very important musician who popularised RTP in Dharmavati. None other than Maestro T.N.Seshagoplan, His Dharmavati RTP- Palimsu Bangaru Kamakshi Bhagavati Gunavati Dharmavati had great influence on other musicians taking up this ragam for RTP in later years. His first double casette commercial album contained this. along side Padmavathi Ramanam, Sree Rajagopala etc. Was it Khanda Nadai. Here is the link from Sangeethapriya.
http://www.sangeethamshare.org/nagaraja ... hagopalan/

[shankarank]

There's a nice Ambujam Krishna composition, Ododi Vanden Kanna..

Here's Gayathri Girish's rendition of the same.

http://sangeethamshare.org/svasu/364-Sm ... avathi.mp3

Saipadmanabhan,
here is the reference to 'OdOdi vandEn kaNNA'

ODODi vandEn was , I heard from a good insider source, tuned by TNS. It is part of the famed TNS, LGJ, VR concert available on youtube. TNS shows how to use the ragA's linearity to fill the space and make a golu pATTu into a big layam league. VR's subtle accompaniment is a proof of his sensibilities!

[rajeshnat]

Few more dharmavatis in the order of my accquintance
-----------------------------------------------------
1. Maharajapuram santhanam sang a RTP in dharmavati in late 80's in academy. The casette was also out . It is quite rare for santhanam to take up pallavi as he generally skips that and goes for ragamaliga viruththam or slokham. I am unable to recollect the pallavi line now.

2. TNS is to me the main karanakartha for me to like dharmavati. Apart from the pallavi that crama mentioned and the tunesmith role that he played for oDODi vanden kanna , if my memory is right he also sings bhajana seya RAdhA , a beautiful number that usually finds a submain status. I have heard memorable rendition of the same bhajana sEya rAdhA by Suryaprakash and Sriranjani santhanagopalan.

3. Kandha Bhaktha Chinthamani-Dharmavathi-Kotteeswarayyar is also a spectacular number sung by TRS . IIRC priya sisters have also sung this number . TRS mama and dharmavati are one of a kind

4. In a 4 hour concert that I attended of Ramakrishna murthy he sang this pallavi in dharmavati
"pAlinchu baNgaru kAmAkshi bhagavathy guNavathy dharmavathi"

5. There are some rare numbers in thamizh. Brinda manickavasagan once sang this arulvAi angayarkanni , a dandapani desigar number in dharmavati

6. Quite recently TNS Krishna had sung a rare HMB krithi in dharmavati surapAla sannuta(R N S) - dharmavati - HMB.

7. TRS mama once sang a famous pallavi connecting the definition of pallavi in some other raga other than dharmavati . Suryaprakash with Vittal Ramamurthy and R Ramesh sang an extraordinary 45 mins pallavi in dharmavati that was broadcast in AIR . The pallavi line was "padamAm layamAm viNyAsamAm pallavi EnRAL"

8.Raji Gopalakrishnan has taken a pallavi that I heard recently in dharmavati . the pallavi line was mAl maurgan vElan kandan guhan, manam kanindhu aRul tharum "

9. Finally even before all this dharmavati chase started, isaignani illayaraja has given a truckload of great songs in dharmavathi even without me even knowing those songs are in dharmavati. raja sir has tuned a lot of songs in madhuvanti(a treasure of treasure) and mixes up with dharmavati too .I personally love this raga as it has also has one important child ranjani raga which is another treasure

[braindrain]

To add to this list..

Bidaram Krishnappa's 'amba brOvavE' is a beautiful composition. Bangalore Shankar, M S Sheela and others have some this elaborately. Shankar's website has an audio link to this kriti.

[RSR]

one of the best by Smt.MS......Kalki's song on GANDHIJI WITH S.V.Venkataraman's music.
https://sites.google.com/site/homage2ms ... azhavaikka

[CRama]

one of the best by Smt.MS......Kalki's song on GANDHIJI WITH S.V.Venkataraman's music.
https://sites.google.com/site/homage2ms ... azhavaikka

RSR, The above song is not in Dharmavathi. It is in Mayamalavagowla and Keeravani.
Keeravani starts from the line Balan Prahaladan.

[Sreeni Rajarao]

I vaguely remember that I have mentioned this elsewhere in the forum.... that several Mysore composers have composed in Dharmavati.

Veene Sheshanna's taramgadura - I have recordings by Mysore Brothers M Nagaraj and Dr. M Manjunath, Malladi Brothers.

Veene Subbana's composition - I know I have listened to a recording and enjoyed it.

Bidaram Krishnappa's and Mysore Vasudevachar's compositions have been mentioned in the thread already.

Bhairavi Lakshminaranappa's composition is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKac4rVq7xA&t=1110s

Svaramurthy V N Rao's "ninna nambideno" has been recorded by Vid. M S Sheela

[RSR]

one of the best by Smt.MS......Kalki's song on GANDHIJI WITH S.V.Venkataraman's music.
https://sites.google.com/site/homage2ms ... azhavaikka

RSR, The above song is not in Dharmavathi. It is in Mayamalavagowla and Keeravani.
Keeravani starts from the line Balan Prahaladan.

---------------
Respected Sir,
Perhaps, you are right.. though I have some reservations. 1) I got the ragam information from a practising vidwan and music teacher of my area, very aged man, in 2001. he did not give the information without taking much time to think. (2) I find a tremendous continuity in the tune and not likely to be a ragamalika. i know the tune by heart and hum it almost every day. (3) there is no similarity with the well known mayamalavagowla song 'meru samaana ' by smt. mss. nor of keerwani in later stanzas.
I believe that the music composer was sv.venkataraman and generally, neither he nor Smt MS had much preference for keerwani.
---------
Unfortunately, my 78 rpm record, is copyright of saregama now included in their LP of kalki songs. " kaatrinile varum geetham'. So, it denies our erudite rasikas, the bliss to listen and give their opinion unless, they are avid collectors of Smt.MS's early records.like you.
As ths is not a regulat krithi by well-known lyricist+composer, for which we can get information and confirmation from books etc, the ragam for most early records by Smt.MSS, can be gleaned only by just listening many times and correlating.
----------
With all due respect to you, I still believe that it is dharmavathi.
BEST REGARDS.

[SrinathK]

one of the best by Smt.MS......Kalki's song on GANDHIJI WITH S.V.Venkataraman's music.
https://sites.google.com/site/homage2ms ... azhavaikka

RSR, The above song is not in Dharmavathi. It is in Mayamalavagowla and Keeravani.
Keeravani starts from the line Balan Prahaladan.

---------------
Respected Sir,
Perhaps, you are right.. though I have some reservations. 1) I got the ragam information from a practising vidwan and music teacher of my area, very aged man, in 2001. he did not give the information without taking much time to think. (2) I find a tremendous continuity in the tune and not likely to be a ragamalika. i know the tune by heart and hum it almost every day. (3) there is no similarity with the well known mayamalavagowla song 'meru samaana ' by smt. mss. nor of keerwani in later stanzas.
I believe that the music composer was sv.venkataraman and generally, neither he nor Smt MS had much preference for keerwani.
---------
Unfortunately, my 78 rpm record, is copyright of saregama now included in their LP of kalki songs. " kaatrinile varum geetham'. So, it denies our erudite rasikas, the bliss to listen and give their opinion unless, they are avid collectors of Smt.MS's early records.like you.
As ths is not a regulat krithi by well-known lyricist+composer, for which we can get information and confirmation from books etc, the ragam for most early records by Smt.MSS, can be gleaned only by just listening many times and correlating.
----------
With all due respect to you, I still believe that it is dharmavathi.
BEST REGARDS.

Heard it just now. This is indeed a rAgAmAlika in mAyAmALava gauLa and keeravANi. MSS is singing in a slightly lower pitch than her usual, but this isn't dharmavati.

[RSR]

May be that I am wrong. However, i prefer to get more inputs from those who have actually heard the song.
It is a 78 rpm plate. evidently released 70 years back. (1949).
on one side, we have 'itthanai naaL aana pinnum'.. and the other side has this classic 'maaNilatthai vaazhavaikka'.
no offence meant.