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Same raga used for different situations

Topic started by swarapriyan/Murali Sankar (@ 129.252.23.231) on Fri Oct 23 23:39:22 EDT 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hope this shall prove a feast to IR fans. IR has invariably used the same raga for conveying different situations eg:

Raga Mohanam:

(1)Vandhadhey kungumam - love
(2)Nilavu thoongum neram - lullaby
(3)Ninnukori varnam - feet tapper
(4)Idhayam oru kovil - meloncholy
(5)Paruvamey - freshness of the dawn

There may be use of anya swaras. but that must not matter to a great extent. This thread may also discuss the works of other MDs. But the appreciation shall be better if different songs in the same raga of an MD is discussed. this may help us get a good look into the versatility of MD.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ dinky.ece.sc.edu) on: Fri Nov 6 17:10:40 EST 1998
  
  Thank you Shashi and Geetha but I still have doubts. If we try to sing Nila Kaigirathu, I think I would have recognized the Sa at Nila's Ni ie the swaras fro the first line would read "SGSNDP". But, because ARR used the swara interlude "SGMPPMPMGRGRSN", the question of fixing base S rises. Similar is the case with the hindi song too. Can you please trhow some more light?
  
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ dinky.ece.sc.edu) on: Fri Nov 6 17:12:33 EST 1998
  
  Another song that comes into mind is the "poongaatrilay " from "pattu paada va'. this is a percussion free song. Also the base swara for this song is a bit complicated. I think Ir uses a scale change in the anupallavi.
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ ncr1.ece.sc.edu) on: Sun Nov 8 14:01:05 EST 1998
  
  Let me start with a new ragam : keeravani.
  
  The songs in keeravani are many as it is one of IR's favorites. the notable are :
  
  (1)Keeravani, keeravani
  
  This song attaring Karthik and Paanupriya is a duet. It is a love duet. The opening especially is amazing with one voice of SPB in te foreground and another in the background, with the tunes being different altogether but mixing perfectly. The interlude start with a rendition of swaras and ends as "Nee Paa, Nee paarthathaal thaanadi soodaanathu maarkazhi". The backdrop of the song is a forest where the hero and heroine have set to discover some weird truth. The song elevates the feeling of happiness.
  
  (2)Malaiyoram veesum kaatru
  
  The same raga handled by IR in the film "Paadu Nilaavae" for an altogether different situation. Here the situation is self pity / pathos. A singer desperately seeking a breakthrough is vents out his feelings once he is insulted by a famous lady singer of whom he is a great fan. The song song's very first line indicates that the song that is sung by the side of the hills and the one that is sung within the heart are equivalent since both are inaudible to others. This explains that he is very much in the search for an opening. This song is a classic with the interludes giving a very sad connotation for the song.
  
  (3)Aruna kirana deepam
  
  this is probably the best of IR. IMHO, "guru" has outclassed every other album he himself had made. I personally feel that it is the culmination point regarding Film music for IR. All the other albums shall never be a match to this wonderful piece of music. I personally wish that no IR fan complains that IR gives many unattractive albums because he must consider "Guru" as the one that has everything of IR. Coming to the point: the song mentioned above is different from all others in the fact that it is neither pathos nor joyous . It symbolizes "surprise". The blind are trying to slowly open their eyes and this is probably indicates by the prelude which changes from low volume to high. Then the feeling of sight creeps in which is beutifully spoken by the hungarian instruments that follow the one mentioned above. Then comes the rise of joy and the state of the people is such that they feel like dancing which is indicated by the later portion of the prelude which has a very powerful beat to accompany. Once the song atrts the theme music for the song creeps in. The interludes are just too great to be compared with any of the othere osngs of IR.
  
  (4)Kaatril endhan geetham.
  
  A melody from Johnny. This symbolizes quest + sadness. The lady singer is trying to find her man desperately. The interlude is such that it gives a questioning feeling though as the song proceeds the orchestration acquires a sad overtone.
  
  Please add more numbers to the list
  
  
• From: balaji (@ schubert.crhc.uiuc.edu) on: Sun Nov 8 20:55:08 EST 1998
  
  i think these songs are also in keeravani:
  5. paattu paadava, from then nilavu, an excellent song sung wonderfully well. a joyous song between lovers.
  6. raja raja sozhan nAn: from rettai vAl kuruvi, sung by KJY. this song captures the essence of the movie and the interludes are amazing.basically shows mohan and his twin lives, with archana and radhika. describes a carefree attitude.
  7. mandram vandha thendralukku. i am not sure if this is in keeravani , but i think it is. a wonderful song and i think murali sankar has written enough about this song elsewhere.
  8. ennulle ennulle: from valli. a song of passion, of seduction and romance. another masterpiece of IR and a subdued swarnalatha.
  9. pAdip parandha kiLi: kizhakku vAsal, agony of an orphaned son. the song fits excellently in the mood of the situation.
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ perceval.ece.sc.edu) on: Mon Nov 9 01:02:59 EST 1998
  
  dear Balaji,
  
  Great contribution. Exempting the last all are keeravani based and not in pure keeravani. Even Aruna kirana has just one anyaswara touching the song once.
  
  Regards
  
  Murali Sankar
  
  
• From: balaji (@ schubert.crhc.uiuc.edu) on: Mon Nov 9 02:17:14 EST 1998
  
  murali, i am not that much knowledgeable to recognize anyaswaras. i can recognize ragas based on hearing only!!!
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ perceval.ece.sc.edu) on: Mon Nov 9 02:27:29 EST 1998
  
  Dear balaji
  
  No probs, Keep writing.
  
  
• From: Chandrasekaran (@ globalb25.citicorp.com) on: Mon Nov 9 13:28:19 EST 1998
  
  How about the great number Poavoma...Oorgolam in Keeravani. A popular song which has a fantastic flute interlude. Is it pure Keeravani ?
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ 129.252.26.37) on: Mon Nov 9 21:15:32 EST 1998
  
  Yes Chandra. Another song I would like to mention is "Pachcha molagaai adhu kaaram illai" from Mr.Bharath. This song is a "duppaanguthu" teasing the father-in-law. The point to note is that the all the songs listed above are very melodious numbers whereas this one is like "kooththu". I think "Nooru Varsham indha maapilaiyum ponnum" from "panakkaran" is also in the same raga with the mood being joyous.
  
  
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ 129.252.26.218) on: Tue Nov 10 23:52:19 EST 1998
  
  Some othes to:
  
  'thaimaavin thanalil and Nenjukkuley innarunnu" - both are duets and the situation is romance.
  
  
• From: CRAM (@ 206.103.12.102) on: Wed Nov 11 08:18:07 EST 1998
  
  is aasai adhigam vachchu manasa adakki vekkalaama from marupadiyum in the same raga? naan intha vishayathil LKG. would like to know more about which songs are in kanada, todi, kalyani.
  last night i was watching a song from kokkarakko (aandava, enna padamappa!!!) sung by IR in a very carnatic-sounding tune. does anyone remember the song (magesh singinig in a temple about his love, some varum tharuvai devi-kind of stuff)?
  
  
• From: vijay (@ 129.252.22.246) on: Wed Nov 11 12:31:51 EST 1998
  
  the best song from kokarakko is 'geetham sangeetham nee thaane' sung by SPB in the raga mohanam.
  
  
• From: Chandrasekaran (@ globalb25.citicorp.com) on: Thu Nov 12 08:52:10 EST 1998
  
  CRAM, aasai adhigam vachchu ... is in Sindhubhairavi.
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ l-1d29-06.engr.sc.edu) on: Thu Nov 12 23:29:41 EST 1998
  
  What is in the list next - sindhubhairavi,thodi,or kalyaani ? Dear Chandra, what shall we take up next ?
  
  regards
  
  Murali Sankar
  
  
• From: vijay (@ 129.252.28.65) on: Fri Nov 13 02:20:03 EST 1998
  
  i'll give a few songs on the beautiful raga kalyani. some of the best songs IMO are
  
  1. janani janani - a marvellous devotional on thai mookambikai, IR's favourite deity. IR's clear pronunciation of sanskrit words amazes me.
  
  2. nadhiyil aadum poovanam - iam listening to this song right now.... a beautiful start similiar to janani janani with sanskrit slokas being sung.
  
  3. amma endrazhaikaatha uyirillaiye - mannan. it is said that yesudoss was moved to tears when singing this song.
  
  4. naan paada varuvai- a fantastic song from uthiri pookal. for those who have not heard the song in a while i'm giving a link here to the song in gireesan's great site.
  i'll give a few songs on the beautiful raga kalyani. some of the best songs IMO are
  
  1. janani janani - a marvellous devotional on thai mookambikai, IR's favourite deity. IR's clear pronunciation of snskrit words amazes me.
  
  2. nadhiyil aadum poovanam - iam listening to this song right now.... a beautiful start similiar to janani janani with sanskrit slokas being sung.
  
  3. amma endrazhaikaatha uyirillaiye - mannan. it is said that yesudoss was moved to tears when singingthis song.
  
  4. naan paada varuvai- a fantastic song from uthiri pookal. for those who have not heard the song in a while i'm giving a link here to the song in gireesan's great site.
  http://wormhole.m59.big.ac.at/~grama/
  
  the song is in the classical raja section. the situation is a simple village girl without any proper knowledge of carnatic music sings this song ina very casual manner. from what i vaguely remember the heroine aswini's sister in this film sits near a pond with her friends and sings this song. her friends play ghatam using their pots which they had brought to get water. at the end
  the pot is carried away by the water. basically a fun song.
  
  so SJ has sung it in a very carefree manner similiar to how a village girl would sing this song in a very free manner. the various 'konashtais' which SJ does in this song even eclipses that of SPB's. overall a very apt song for a well deserved mahendran film.
  
  5. kalaivaaniye - another masterpiece from tha maestro. it is supposed to be based on the aarohanam of the raga alone. when KJ sings 'kanneer perugiyathe' in a high pitched tone i could feel my eyes getting wet automatically.
  
  that was the magic of IR's music in those days. iam disappointed iam not seeing numbers like the above today. more later....
  
  a heavy hearted,
  vijay
  
  
• From: vijay (@ 129.252.28.65) on: Fri Nov 13 02:21:33 EST 1998
  
  the first few lines of the previous posting have been repeated.
  
  
• From: balaji (@ schubert.crhc.uiuc.edu) on: Fri Nov 13 13:02:56 EST 1998
  
  vijay, what you say is true." kaNNeer perugiyathe" brought out all the emotions that the director wants to convey. the expressions shown by sivakumar and suhasini are still in front of my eyes.
  some more songs in kalyani:
  6. kannAle kaadhal kavidhai - in a maha dabba movie, this song stood out, what a composition!!
  7. veenaiyadi nee enakku mevum viral naan unakku - from ezhavadhu manithan, music is by l.subramaniam i think.
  8.sindhanai sei maname - from ambikapathy, a serene song.
  9. yamunai Atrile - dalapathy.
  10.naan enbadhe nee enbadho deva devi - sura samharam.
  then , the template i use for kalyani( i hope it is correct) - dorakuna from sankarabaranam.
  
  

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