Keeravani

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Keeravani
ArohanamS R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₃ 
Avarohanam N₃ D₁ P M₁ G₂ R₂ S
EquivalentHarmonic minor scale

Keeravani (pronounced keeravāṇi) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 21st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. The 21st melakarta rāgam as per Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music is Kiraṇāvaḻi.

This rāgam is a popular scale in western music as well. The Western equivalent is the Harmonic minor scale.[1][2] It is said to be borrowed into Hindustani music from Carnatic music.

Structure and Lakshana[edit]

Keeravani scale with shadjam at C

File:Kiravani-L Ramakrishnan.ogg

It is the 3rd rāgam in the 4th chakra Veda. The mnemonic name is Veda-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gi ma pa dha nu.[1] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

The notes used in this scale are chathusruthi rishabha, sadharana gandhara, suddha madhyama, panchama, suddha dhaivatha, kakali nishadha.

As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Simhendramadhyamam, which is the 57th melakarta.

Janya Rāgams[edit]

Keeravani has many janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. Kalyāna vasantam is a popular janya of Keeravani. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Keeravani. Other popular janya ragams include Sāmapriya and Vasantamanohari.

Compositions[edit]

Many composers have composed songs in Keeravani. A few of them are listed here.

Tamil Film Songs[edit]

Song Movie Year Composer Singer
Paattu Padava Then Nilavu 1961 A. M. Rajah A. M. Rajah
Oho Endhan Baby A. M. Rajah, S. Janaki
Samarasam Ulaavum Idame Rambaiyin Kaadhal 1956 T. R. Pappa Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Kunguma Poove Konjum Puraave Maragatham 1959 S. M. Subbaiah Naidu J. P. Chandrababu, Jamuna Rani
Buddhiyulla Manitharellam Annai 1962 R. Sudarsanam J. P. Chandrababu
Aasaiyae Alaipolae Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum 1958 K. V. Mahadevan Thiruchi Loganathan
Seettu Kattu Raja Vettaikkaran 1964 L. R. Eswari,A. L. Raghavan
Avala Sonnal Selvam 1966 T. M. Soundararajan
Kannale Pesi Pesi Kolladhe Adutha Veettu Penn 1960 Adi Narayana Rao P. B. Sreenivas
Yaar Sirithal Enna Idhayathil Nee 1963 Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Manavane Azhalaama Karpagam 1963 P. Susheela
Kangal Irandum Unnai Mannadhi Mannan 1960
Avala Ivala L. R. Eswari, L. R. Anjali
Anubhavam Pudhumai Kadhalikka Neramillai 1964 P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela
Kannirendum Minna Minna Aandavan Kattalai 1964 P. B. Sreenivas, L. R. Eswari
Velli Kinnamthan Uyarndha Manithan 1968 M. S. Viswanathan T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Thaayir Chirandha Agathiyar 1972 Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan T. K. Kala
Thanga Sangili Thooral Ninnu Pochchu 1982 Illayaraja Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Ada Machamulla Chinna Veedu 1985 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki, S. P. Sailaja, T. V. Gopalakrishnan
Oorai Therinchikitten Padikkadavan 1985 K. J. Yesudas
Raja Raja Chozhan Rettai Vaal Kuruvi 1987
Kaatril Endhan Geedham Johnny 1980 S. Janaki
Kodiyile Malliyapoo Kadalora Kavithaigal 1986 P. Jayachandran, S. Janaki
Raasathi Manasule Raasave Unnai Nambi 1988 Mano, P. Susheela
Oh Papa Lali Idhayathai Thirudathe 1989 Mano
Poovoma Oorgolam Chinna Thambi 1991 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Ennai Thalaata Kadhalukku Mariyadhai 1997 Hariharan
Khajiraho Kanavilor Oru Naal Oru Kanavu 2005 Hariharan, Shreya Ghoshal
Keeravani Iraviley Padum Paravaigal 1988 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Nenjukulle Innaarunnu Ponnumani 1993
Intha Maamanoda Uthama Raasa 1993
Ilavenil Ithu Vaikasi Matham Kadhal Rojavae 2000 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Malaiyoram Veesum Kaatthu Paadu Nilave 1987 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Chinna Mani Kuyilae Amman Kovil Kizhakale 1986
Mannil Indha Keladi Kanmani 1990
Poongodithan Poothathamma Idhayam 1991
Putham Pudhu Malare Amaravathi 1993 Bala Bharathi
Unnai Thotta Thendral Thalaivasal 1992 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Kaadhal Kaadhal Kaadhal Poochudava 1997 Sirpy
Poomedaiyo Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum 1986 V. S. Narasimman S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Kannalanae Yenathu Bombay 1995 A. R. Rahman K. S. Chithra
Ennai Kaanavillayae Nettrodu Kadhal Desam 1996 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, O. S. Arun, Rafee
Vetri Kodi Kattu Padayappa 1999 Malaysia Vasudevan, Palakkad Sreeram
Evano Oruvan Alaipayuthey 2000 Swarnalatha
Manasukkul Oru Puyal Star 2001 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sadhana Sargam
Machhakkari Machhakkari Sillunu Oru Kaadhal 2006 Shankar Mahadevan, Vasundhara Das
Arima Arima Enthiran 2010 Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam, Benny Dayal, Naresh Iyer
Neethanae Mersal 2017 A. R. Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal
Vaannum Mannum Kaadhal Mannan 1998 Bharadwaj Hariharan, K. S. Chithra
Anbae Anbae Uyirodu Uyiraga 1998 Vidyasagar
Adam Evaal Priyam 1996 Mano, Devi
Malai Kattru Vandhu

(Ragam Darbarikaanada touches)

Vedham 2001 Hariharan, Mahalakshmi Iyer
Kadhal Arimugama Kadhal Kisu Kisu 2003 Vijay Prakash, Sujatha
Oru Kaditham Deva 1995 Deva S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
O Ranganatha Nesam 1997
Taj Mahal Ondru Kannodu Kanbathellam 1999 Hariharan
Anbe En Anbe Nenjinile 1999
Innisai Paadivarum Thulladha Manamum Thullum 1999 S. A. Rajkumar P. Unni Krishnan, K. S. Chithra
Ennavo Ennavo Priyamaanavale 2000 Hariharan, Mahalakshmi Iyer
Kadhal Vennila Vaanathaippola Hariharan, P. Jayachandran (Pathos)
Un Sirippinil Pachaikili Muthucharam 2007 Harris Jayaraj Sowmya Rao, Robby
Anbe En Anbe Dhaam Dhoom 1997 Harish Raghavendra
Thodu Vaanam Anegan 2015 Hariharan, Durga, Shakthisree Gopalan
Engengo Kaalgal Sellum Nandha 2001 Yuvan Shankar Raja Ilaiyaraaja
Theendi Theendi Bala 2002 P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan
En Anbae En Anbae Mounam Pesiyadhe Shankar Mahadevan
Kan Pesum Varthaigal 7G Rainbow Colony 2004 Karthik
Azhagaai Pookkuthey Ninaithale Inikkum 2009 Vijay Antony Janaki Iyer, Prasanna
Kavithaikal Sollava Ullam Kollai Poguthae 2001 Karthik Raja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha, Hariharan (Pathos)
Adiye Enna Raagam Rummy 2014 D. Imman Abhay Jodhpurkar, Poornima Satish
Ammadi Ammadi Desingu Raja 2013 Shreya Ghoshal
Kannamma Kannamma Rekka 2016 Nandini Srikar

Janya Ragam:Rishipriya[edit]

Song Movie Year Composer Singer
Udhayam Neeye Ennarukil Nee Irunthal 1991 Illayaraja S. Janaki

Related rāgams[edit]

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Keeravani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other major melakarta rāgams, namely, Hemavati, Vakulabharanam and Kosalam. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Keeravani.

Notes[edit]

  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S R  M P  N 
    • Western: C D E F G A B C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:  N  P M  R S
    • Western: C B A G F E D C

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras