Andolika Explained

Andolika is a Carnatic raga, which is also sometimes written as Andholika. This raga is a janya of the 22nd Melakarta raga Kharaharapriya.^[1]

Structure and Lakshana

This ragam is an asymmetric scale and is classified as an audava-audava ragam (five notes in the ascending and descending scale).^[2]

The notes in this scale are chatushruti rishabham, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, kaisiki nishadham in arohana and additional chatushruti dhaivatam in avarohanam, in place of panchamam (see pictures). From Kharaharapriya scale (22nd melakarta), the gandharam is removed in this scale and the rest are used in asymmetrical manner. Since gandharam is removed this scale can also be considered a janya of 28th mela Harikambhoji scale,^[2] but since 22 comes ahead many prefer to use the association with Kharaharapriya.

Select compositions

• Mahishasura a varnam set to Adi talam composed by Muthiah Bhagavatar
• Needayarada a varnam set to Adi talam composed by G. N. Balasubramaniam
• Raga Sudha Rasa in Adi by Thyagaraja
• Sevikka Vendumayya in Adi by Muthu Thandavar
• Adimalarina Sharanam in Adi by Puthucode Krishnamurthy

Film Songs

Language:Tamil

Related rāgams

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

Scale similarities

• Madhyamavati is a rāgam which has a symmetric scale matching the ascending scale of Andolika (descending scale also has panchamam instead of chatusruti dhaivatam). Its structure is S R2 M1 P N2 S : S N2 P M1 R2 S
• Kedaragaula is a rāgam which has the same ascending scale as Andolika and descending scale of Harikambhoji. Its structure is S R2 M1 P N2 S : S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

References

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
3. Web site: Missamma Raga Sudharasa song. Saregama Telugu. youtube(videostreaming). 30 June 2014.