Attractive charnam lines of Varnams

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 22 Mar 2011, 00:23

I am in a list making mood ...

The charnams of many varnams have attractive tune and I am curious about what your top 5 such varnams are.

Let me illustrate that with a few of my top pics.

1) Evaribodana - Abhogi varnam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWPWEivfmqE starting at 2:06 )
2) Sami dayachooda - Kedara Gowla varnam ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fhp9lWvE84 , starting at 2:58)
3) Viriboni - Bhairavi varnam ( no need to provide a reference but here it is anyway http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtayQialsJM starting at 2:52 )
4) Ninnu kori - Mohanam ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk6FD5N7Bz0 starting at 2:00 The charanam is played in a few different ways, variation is mainly in the deployment of the gamakams. The style played here is attractive but is not my most favorite but I could not find the one I like the most )

The criteria for this list is quite narrow, just the main charanam portion and not the charana swaras, not the pUrvAngA and not too much considerations to the attractiveness of the raga itself. It is just on the construction of the charanam. The beauty is typically carried both in the tune and some attractive rhythm and they come out great in that fast way of rendering the charanam. Espeicially the Abhogi and Kedara Gowla charanams are appealing to me only if they are sung faster than the pUrvAngA. The latter two, I can consume well in either speeds .

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 22 Mar 2011, 21:47

My list:
I've given the charanam lyrics, mostly in descending order, but they are all close.. the one I enjoy the most is:

1. Daasa Hrudaya (Valaj, Lalgudi Jayaraman) and then
2. Srinivasan Perumai Solla (Shanmukhapriya, Lalgudi J)
3. Maarakoti Roopa Sundara (Nalinakanthi,Lalgudi J)
4. Taamasa melataalajaala (Bahudhari, Lalgudi J) (sorry if I have mis-split the words.Not sure what they mean, and please feel free to correct this, and I'll fix it.
5. Marupadaku (Asaveri, Lalgudi J) (same apology)

I know my list is rather unidimensional.. all Lalgudi varnams.. above very much, but this is my list.. but I find them all (wouldn't anyone

) so interesting, stimulating, beautiful, and I welcome every opportunity to rave about their beauty!

Sorry I can't provide links at this time! If anyone else can do that, I would appreciate it!

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 22 Mar 2011, 22:24

Ranganayaki: I love Lalgudi varnams too. I am surprised that you haven't included the one in Charukesi. "Kuzhaloodum azhaga kanna" is a great charanam line.

VK: I like all the charanams on your list. I am not a big fan of Ninnukori in Mohanam. To many beginners singing it off-key has permanently put me off this lovely varnam. It is back in the concert circuit now, and it is quite trendy to sing it these days.

I would add three kamboji charanams to your list. SarasAku rA rA in the taruni varnam, Kamalakshi in jhampa talam (a rarer composition) and pada sarOja in the navaragamalika varnam. All different gaits, but brilliant in their own way.

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 22 Mar 2011, 22:31

MahaVishnu, The Charukesi varnam is great, but as I said somewhere earlier, I can get bored of songs.. and it is one varnam you hear a LOT. Otherwise, I used to love it. I did think of it too, but went Naah! But just thinking of these varnams makes me buoyant!

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 22 Mar 2011, 22:37

I like "anniTiki nIvE dikkani" of the rItigauLai varNam. =) nIrajAkShi nIpai of shankarAbharaNam is also good. And of course, cirunavvu of bhairavi.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 22 Mar 2011, 23:11

mahavishnu wrote: VK: I like all the charanams on your list. I am not a big fan of Ninnukori in Mohanam. To many beginners singing it off-key has permanently put me off this lovely varnam. It is back in the concert circuit now, and it is quite trendy to sing it these days.

I would add three kamboji charanams to your list. SarasAku rA rA in the taruni varnam, Kamalakshi in jhampa talam (a rarer composition) and pada sarOja in the navaragamalika varnam. All different gaits, but brilliant in their own way.

I know what you are saying about off key singing of ninnukori

My reference is an MLV one which I run to for a good reset to the "factory default".

That is one interesting thing about Mohanam itself. Beautiful ragam but this mOhini can lead even experienced singers down on a leveraged slippery slope to diaster.. even small deviations make it sound bad. The problem is, it is so easy to perceive a bad mohanam. Of course, when sung well, it shines so brightly. Even professional singers do not land on 'Ga' properly in the context of other surrounding swaras. A while back, I was on a hunt for anything Mohanam including other varnams, especially aTa thala varnam. There is one starting with 'manamohana'. I was mostly disappointed. TNS has sung that a lot, but it is usually a mess. Even the starting line sounds bland to bad many times.

I will definitely put 'pada sarOja' in my list as well. ( It does double duty by compensating for the lackluster first charana swaram in YKK.. PSI, what were you thinking?

). The Shankarabaranam anupallavi of that varnam is my all time favorite tune, but that of course is not part of the rules of this game.

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 22 Mar 2011, 23:25

I've floated back to the ground.. and for anyone who saw my earlier posts, I've removed the silliness.

VK, thank you for starting this topic and given me the opportunity to lighten my tread for a while.

. From your list, I love the Bhairavi and Abhogi varnams, charanam included as well as Mahavishnu's Padasaroja.. as I was telling a friend recently, the Abhogi varnam always transports me to a rainy Christmas morning in IIT Madras (where I grew up) in 1980, which was when I learned that varnam. Heavy rain and cyclonic winds. Abba the Movie was playing in town and my sister had gone to watch it. Was it 1980? - Would love the confirmation, but let's remember to stay on topic.

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 23 Mar 2011, 00:29

I have learnt a few (all Adi) and I have not come across a varnam that I dont like! - be it caranams or the whole song.

But stuff I have learnt+heard, like the refrains in:

kAnaDa
rItigowLa
nATakurinji
kalyANi (Adi)

Arun

VRV · Post by **VRV** » 23 Mar 2011, 01:07

Nice topic VK.

Yes Mohanam is definitely a varnam on a slippery slope even with a lot of practice. My list of favs include

Sahana Ata Tala Varnam
Nattai Ata Tala Varnam
Edukula kambhoji Ata Tala Varnam
Thodi Ata Tala Varnam
Arabi Varnam (Adi Talam)

Listening to Prof SRJ sing and explain these varnams with his personal anecdotes just elevates them to a different plain. Providing Mridangam accompaniment for these varnams is absolute bliss.

Vinod Venkataraman

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 23 Mar 2011, 03:28

"Sree man mohana gaana" in raga "Swarashtram" by Balamurali Krishna.. this is the most beautiful line, I think.. I am amazed at this line.. and by the entire varnam.. Especially as sung by this fantastic cuckoo woman: .. Kaushiki Chakrabarti.

When I voice such superlatives, please always remember that there is an implied "sounds so to me".. if anyone disagrees with my opinions, I do respect that, and won't mind. But I would love some comment on this varnam. It is simply beautiful singing. I came across it about six months ago, and forgot about it, unbelievably. It just came back to me now. I haven't heard it sung by anyone else, not even by BMK.

i am not sure if i'm mis-hearing the "sree"

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 23 Mar 2011, 04:11

Ranganayaki: No need to edit your old post. Sometimes, silliness is a good thing.

I have never heard the sowrashtram varnam of BMK. Is there a commercial recording of this artiste you mention?

I grew up in Madras in that period as well. But, I somehow don't recall the rains from christmas 1980, although I thought ABBA the movie as being from a year or two earlier. However, the Abhogi varnam is forever etched in my brain.

Now that we are reminiscing.... I do remember an amazing concert of Semmangudi, Lalgudi and Trichy Sankaran on Dec 21, 1980. I somehow think this is the single best live concert that I have ever been to. Of course, this is very subjective, but the impression that it made on me that day is still what keeps me deeply interested in concert music today.

davalangi · Post by **davalangi** » 23 Mar 2011, 04:40

vasanthakokilam wrote:
I know what you are saying about off key singing of ninnukori My reference is an MLV one which I run to for a good reset to the "factory default".

That is one interesting thing about Mohanam itself. Beautiful ragam but this mOhini can lead even experienced singers down on a leveraged slippery slope to diaster.. even small deviations make it sound bad. The problem is, it is so easy to perceive a bad mohanam. Of course, when sung well, it shines so brightly. Even professional singers do not land on 'Ga' properly in the context of other surrounding swaras. A while back, I was on a hunt for anything Mohanam including other varnams, especially aTa thala varnam. There is one starting with 'manamohana'. I was mostly disappointed. TNS has sung that a lot, but it is usually a mess. Even the starting line sounds bland to bad many times.

VK: Check this aTa tala varnam sung by Prof.SRJ (composed by Veena Kuppaier)

http://www.mediafire.com/?8w6bz5z1iuxxrrp

VRV · Post by **VRV** » 23 Mar 2011, 04:54

Davalangi,

Thanks
Simply beautiful........

Vinod

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 23 Mar 2011, 05:50

davalangi, thanks very much. Fantastic piece! It just sparkles in so many places. Thanks.

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 23 Mar 2011, 06:38

Mahavishnu,
Yes, it is on an album, but I found it on musicindiaonline, here's the link:
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/#/album ... -Kaushiki/

The varnam is the 5th item on the list. Please do give us your comments.

I'm sure you are right.. Considering the events of that Christmas morning, I must have been much younger than I thought. May be it was Christmas 1978 or '79. How interesting that one little event can change a lifetime! That one concert was so influential to you and remains an unforgetable memory... I see a couple of interesting threads to start from our discussion here..

@Davalangi,
When I try to download your varnam, I keep receiving a warning about a virus that was removed.. I don't dare to listen to that.. is there any other way to listen to that recording?

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 23 Mar 2011, 08:10

The mohanam varnam is beautiful. It sounds like a great way to introduce a student to the ragam and not just the pentatonic scale.
@ ranganayaki. Unfortunately, the music india page does not seem to load for me

I will try from a different computer at work tomorrow. If you have the album name, I will see if I can find it on iTunes or eMusic. Is the singer also known as Kaushiki Desikan?

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 23 Mar 2011, 08:36

Mahavishnu, I found this other link: http://www.we7.com/#/song/Kaushiki/Varn ... warashtram

You seem to be right, she may be also Kaushiki Chakraborty Desikan. The album seems to be called Kaushiki.

I'm impressed with your precise recollection that there was "no rain" in at X'mas 1980. I mean, it is now fairly certain that this did not happen in 1980, so may be you are right that there were no rains either! I'm almost certain now that this was in 1978. 1977 was too early, and since my sister went out with her friends and I had never ever done that yet and was sulking at home, Dec. 1979 would be too late. I'd gone out to a movie without my parents by then

. .

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 23 Mar 2011, 09:06

thanks, Ranganayaki.
What a haunting voice! And a spectacular varnam too. BMK brings such an unusual flavor of a ragam in his compositions. It does not even sound like the same ragam as Sri Ganapathini; the khyal accented flourishes in Kaushiki's rendition make it sound even more exotic.

IMDB lists "ABBA the movie" as 1977. My guess is that it trickled down to India a year later. So you are probably right that it is 1978. Was it playing continuous shows at the Vecumsees Blue Diamond theatre in the Saphire complex? I wonder if that building is still there!

vgovindan · Post by **vgovindan** » 23 Mar 2011, 09:20

mahavishnu,
I saw 'Sound of Music' there. What a wonderful movie was it!
Safire Theatre - http://chennai.metblogs.com/2006/07/12/ ... days-when/

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 23 Mar 2011, 09:23

Ha! I do remember thinking of my sister at the Safire theater.. may be it was there and then moved to continuous shows at the Blue Diamond.. or may be I only had the compound right and it was the Blue Diamond all along..

vgovindan, if you saw "Sound of Music" there, that must have been in 1968 or something like that when I was a four year old and identified with little Gretl

. Later, may be about ten years later, the movie returned to the Sathyam complex.

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 23 Mar 2011, 09:26

But to get back to the topic.. I don't want to hijack VK's thread.. I'm glad you enjoyed the varnam.. yes.. may be it was the name "vasanthakokilam" but I could only think of a cuckoo when I heard it and my jaw dropped.

Can someone explain this raga correctly?

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 23 Mar 2011, 09:54

You are all resurrecting some old memories. Yes, Abba the movie was at the Blue Diamond and I recall watching it a few times on the same day. Always a unique experience to buy one ticket and watch the same movie again and again. I think someone told me that is gone now. The 'kids' here would not even know what we are talking about

babusri · Post by **babusri** » 23 Mar 2011, 10:10

I am surprised no one has mentioned the Saveri varnam (Sarasuda).

Daanipai Nenaruna Eevela
Especially the Da in Daanipai.

In Anupallavi, Karunincha Ide Samayamu

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 23 Mar 2011, 10:18

nI sATi doranEgAna- hamsadvaNi- just because I can play this varnam well!
palukumu nAtO- darbAr.-Just two words in darbAr can sound so beautiful and my favorite of all varnams I learnt
pada sarOjamuna nammi- kAmbOdhi
nannubrOva nIku bhAramA-nATakurinji
Behag varnam caranam of TRS is also a good one

I think all caranams are lilting !

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 23 Mar 2011, 11:13

>I think all caranams are lilting

Quite true...The varnam composers seem to have put in special effort in constructing them with special rhythmic qualities with tilts and gaits. No wonder VRV says that it is a great bliss to provide mridangam accompaniment to those sections. We get to hear that and partake in a small fraction of that bliss.

Trying to come up with our own personal top 5 is indeed a task. When I originally wrote top 5, I thought that will keep it simpler but given the gems mentioned here, top 10 would be more appropriate.

Being a varnam geek, I had burnt whole CDs of varnams for drive time listening. I got back to one of them today and 'Era nApai (thodi)' and 'Vanajakshi (kalyani) Ata' were there. I have to put these two on my list.

I have to refresh myself with all your favorites and also check out those LGJ ones.

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 23 Mar 2011, 21:10

Mahavishnu, All, Do you think this is just a variation of Sourashtra, or is it a different raga? It certainly has a different name.

Babusri, Saveri is lovely, but it didn't make my list because I somehow prefer the Pallavi and Anupallavi to the charanam, beautiful as it is.

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 23 Mar 2011, 21:22

It seems like (typical?) BMK's version of the ragam. I have heard in an interview (on youtube) that he does consciously try to bring new flavors to a raga. That was in reference to his mela raga compositions - which we discussed a while ago, at least the first 10 or so melas. It is perhaps an acquired taste

- if we have preset notions and expectations (it is to me!)

The alapana at the initial gave no indication of saurashtram (i.e. the one we normally are used to) to me, and made me think purvikalyani domain for some reason. Same for the initial part of pallavi, it was until 'pA' of rUpa in the first line,when things clicked to familiar territory (mgpmgrs?)

Arun

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 23 Mar 2011, 21:28

suji,

durbar is indeed wonderful. One of my favorites too. Also like hamsadhwani's charanam. Learnt and know (or knew

) both of them.

I like the anupallavi of durbar a lot. But charanam is very sweet.

Among the others I have learnt, I also like Sriraga (although like pallavi/anupallavi a lot more). And sAranga, but again pallavi/anupallavi is even better.

Arun

malavi · Post by **malavi** » 23 Mar 2011, 21:46

My favourites are
vasantha - sunna charuniparikorvalera
ranjani - neeke dayaradu sri kamakshi
kanada ata tala varnam - sarasooda
kalyani ata talam - chirunaumomuna
todi - danimataluvini

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 24 Mar 2011, 00:23

arunk wrote: I have not come across a varnam that I dont like! - be it caranams or the whole song.

I have

1. Sankarabharanam-completely avoid-just can't play it well
However the S-bharanam -celuvudaina- of navarAgamalika- first class!

2. tODi- not much either -Ok
but love the caranam dAnimAtaluvini inta sAhasamElara

My memories of learning varnams- reminds me of the mosquitoes biting my left elbow when playing. I would endure and continue playing to finish off. Did not have the courage to ask the teacher for fan to drive those creatures away! Somehow they never bit her.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 24 Mar 2011, 05:09

A very useful thread,I should say.Makes me pay more attention to the sahityam in the varnams.
I like the caraNam of the nATkurinji varNam and the kambhOji jampa tALa varNam.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 24 Mar 2011, 08:15

Govindan sir, I wish I could list all the films I have seen at the Saphire complex. It was quite a landmark in the city.

Ranganayaki: I agree with Arunk on this. It is sowrashtram all right (I had doubts that it was chakravaham for a split second), there are touches of other things, but BMK's compositions are like that.

There are some ragams that I wish had varnams. Harikamboji, suddha saveri and oh well, hamir kalyani...If they did, I am sure I would like their charanams.

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 24 Mar 2011, 09:20

If any are interested I have tuned a varnam in Saraswati. The lyrics are penned by a friend of mine, an oncologist, Dr Jayamohan.
The notation can be viewed at:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid= ... m&hl=en_GB

I don't have a recording of it yet.
It is about Goddess Saraswati and 'karunai puri kalaimagalé sakala kalāvalliyé' is the carana line

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 24 Mar 2011, 19:31

Suji Ram wrote: 1. Sankarabharanam-completely avoid-just can't play it well

- me too. I do not like its pallavi and anupallavi at all, and also cannot execute it well it all (and thus avoid it). However, the latter parts more than make for it.

Arun

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 24 Mar 2011, 20:29

The varNa by Balamuralikrishna is in saurASTra. It is in his book Suryakanti. Here are the lyrics. I have left off the eTTugaDa svaras.

sAkAra sadguNa (svarAkSara varNa). rAgA: saurASTra. Adi tALA.

P: sAkAra sadguNa samyag-rUpa
A: pAkAra parabrahmA sAnanda muraLI gIta
(muktAyi svara)
sA ; pA ; sA* ri* ga* mA* pa dha ni sA* dha ni sA* ni sA* ; pA ;
(ettugaDa)

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 24 Mar 2011, 23:36

Lakshman, if it appears in the book as Saurashtra, I wonder why it is also recorded as Swarashtram.. It feels a little different in the lower notes. Again I'm not arguing or insisting.. Just expressing my discomfort. Thank you for all your information.

This varnam's been playing in a loop

, just constant background music, and can't get enough of it.. I think it's a lovely composition, but I also imagine that BMK probably counts himself lucky that this wonderful "cuckoo woman" as I think of her has taken interest in it.. It's a wonderful showcase for his composition. Is she also his shishya? I think a lot of the beauty comes from her personal style. I mean the violinist plays it with her, but it just doesn't measure up, nice as it is. She adds all these trills and effects.. What a blessing and a gift to have a voice like that!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 25 Mar 2011, 00:32

I think a lot of the beauty comes from her personal style. I mean the violinist plays it with her, but it just doesn't measure up, nice as it is. She adds all these trills and effects.. What a blessing and a gift to have a voice like that!

Ranganayaki, she is the daughter of Sri Ajoy Chakraborti, the noted HM singer and student of Sri BMK. Smt. Kaushiki learns HM from her father and CM from Sri BMK, as far as I can remember. She is married to Sri Desikan. And yes, she is amazing. She has sung the absolutely sparkling kuntalavarALi tillAnA of Sri BMK as well - I think, by far the best version I've heard, Sri BMK's included.

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 25 Mar 2011, 00:41

Ranganayaski: The book says svarASTra.

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 25 Mar 2011, 00:51

rshankar, you are already quite familiar with her. I did read this info about her on the day I posted it. I read that she was trained as a small child by her mother, and then her father took her up, and then she trained under Pt. Jnan Prakash Ghosh.. Unfortunately, the names can't possibly ring bells for me. I listen to Hindustani music, but my listening range is limited to a few names I enjoy.

I did discover the Kuntalavarali thillana too, and I definitely agree with you. Not only is it the best version I've heard.. It's nice, I used to think, but yeah, not great! Especially in comparison with other brilliant thillanas I've heard (please don't pounce on that line.. I am not trying to be political). But she has brought out a lot of the potential my poor lay ears and mind did not know was in that thillana. I did think SHE made that thillana sound great! That is so interesting.. How a composition can either be imprisoned in a singer's ability or just be allowed to fly out in all kinds of colors! We are just so lucky, like BMK, that we did not miss out on the potential of that varnam (or the tillana).

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 25 Mar 2011, 04:26

Ravi, thanks for the info about Kaushiki. Pt Ajoy Chakraborty is also involved with some of Prince Rama Varma's ventures and I was always wondering what the connection was. Now it seems clearer.

Lakshmanji, is svarashtra related to sowrashtram? It sounds like chakravaham in places.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 25 Mar 2011, 04:30

This site http://karnatik.com/janyalist2.shtml lists

svarAStra S R1 G3 M1 P D2 N2' S-S N2' D2 P M1 G3 R1 S

under 16 chakravakam with the same Aro/Ava

And many saurashtra s

under 15: MMG
saurAStra S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S-S N3 D1 P M1 G3 M1 R1 S
saurAStra S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S-S N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S
saurAStra S R1 G3 M1 P M1 D1 N3 S-S N3 D1 N3 D1 P M1 G3 P M1 R1 S

under 17: Suryakantham
saurAStram S R1 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S-S N3 S D2 P M1 G3 P M1 G3 R1 S
saurAStram S R1 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S-S N3 S D2 P M1 G3 R1 S
saurAStram S R1 M1 G3 M1 P D2 N3 D2 S-S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R1 S

( btw, who runs and maintains karnatik.com ? It has a lot of good material, including this 7000 janya raga list. I wonder what the source for their list is )

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 25 Mar 2011, 07:26

VK, that makes sense. It sounds inbetween a bistable chakravaham and sowrashtram. karnatik.com is a very useful site. I have primarily found them useful for sahitya/composer information (much of it can be sourced to Lji). I also wonder who administers the site.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 26 Mar 2011, 03:05

MV, back to the ninnukori topic, here is one by Mali: http://www.mediafire.com/?0jj3vwabi9nak6w

I have it tagged as "Sangeet Sammelan AIR Trichy 1960" . Recording quality is not good but listenable.
He makes the charanam line interesting ( not sure if it is more attractive ).
Doe he switch to thrisram in the middle of the charanam line and then to double chathusram speed to finish the whole thing in the same avartha?

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 26 Mar 2011, 06:27

very nice, VK. There are some things that only Mali can do, even with Ninnukori.

sarang · Post by **sarang** » 29 Mar 2011, 01:13

Few varnams composed by my guru Smt Padma Veeraraghavan.

1) Sri Bhoomidevi Srithajana Paalini Keervaani (Unnai Andri Yaar Ennai Kaappai - Keeravani)
2) Nee Manam Irangi Devi udan Nithamum Aryulvaaye (Annale Manivannane - Pantuvarali)

Others I admire are

3) Saati Leni Marakoti sundara Roopa (Vanajaksha - TRS Sir)
4) Sanmukhapriyadasu Nee Pai (Sarasamutho - by Mudikondam Venktarama Iyer)
5) Valli Manavalan Varam Arulvaai (Maal Marugan - Hindolam)

Very rarely we do look at what the Charanam actually means. It is very interesting to note how succinct these Charanam phrases are yet very meaningful

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 29 Mar 2011, 01:25

sarang: Please check your email.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 29 Mar 2011, 02:32

caranams in traditional padavraNams are what I like - in some they act as the pivot (both musically and from the sentiment point of view) around which both the mood and the speed change so subtly, while in others, the speed changes and the pithy caraNam focuses the mood of the varNam.
For example:
1. In sakhiyE inda jAlam EnaDi, in the pUrvAnga (the pallavi, the ap, and the muktAyisvara sAhityam) the mood is that of a nAyikA pining away because of the Lord's neglect, but come the caraNam, she becomes the bold one, stating - mAdE idil yennaDi rahasiyam, idu miga miga avasiyam
2. In sAmiyai azhittODi vA, the pUrvAnga is about the nAyika describing her viraha, and how the features of the Lord torture her, but in the caranam, it becomes intense, and she declares sadA ninaivu koNDu maiyyal mIrudE
3. In mOhamAginEn inda vElayil, in the pUrvAnga the nAyika languidly wonders if the Lord will come to her and satiate her passion, but suddently, she is energized in the caraNam, and declares mAdE innum yOcanai yEnaDi, madi mayangudal vINaDi
4. In mOhamAna yen mIdil, the pithy caraNam focuses the raw SRngAra of the varnam - mAran kaNaigaL tUvurAn SaramAriyAi
Others I like include:
5. vElanE deivAnai maruvum guNaSIlanE from nI manam irangi (latAngi)
6. naTarAjA dEvA saccidAnandA from svAmi nAn undan aDimai (nATTaikurinji)
7. Ayar kula dIpamE aruL tArAi from nI inda mAyam (dhanyAsi)
8. sAma gAna priyanE saccidAnandanE from karuNai vaDivamAna kayilai vAsanE (rEvati)
and many more

Ranganayaki · Post by **Ranganayaki** » 29 Mar 2011, 02:39

Shankar, Very nice commentary on the varnams.. thank you.

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 29 Mar 2011, 03:16

vasanthakokilam: The janya rAgA list at Karnatik.com was compiled and contributed by me.
The site is owned by Dr.P.Jayakumar. I have been associated with her site for many years and most of the lyrics you see there are also supplied by me.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 29 Mar 2011, 04:28

Thanks Lakshman. That janya raga list of yours is quite comprehensive indeed!