Abheri Explained
Abheri (pronounced ābhēri) is a raga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a Janya raga (derived scale), whose Melakarta raga (parent, also known as janaka) is Kharaharapriya, 22nd in the 72 Melakarta raga system.
Bhimpalasi (or Bheempalas) and Dhanashree of Hindustani music sounds close to Abheri.[1] [2]
Structure and Lakshana
Abheri is an audava-sampoorna raga. Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
The swaras in this scale are Chathusruthi Rishabham, Sadharana Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Chathusruthi Dhaivatham and Kaisiki Nishadham.
There are some differing views on swaras in the scale of Abheri. It is considered a Bhashanga raga (scale has an anya swara, that is, a note which is not in the parent melakarta raga, in this case Kharaharapriya raga), with introduction of Suddha Dhiavatham (D1) in some phrases of the raga. A different view is that this raga is a janya of Natabhairavi (which has D1, suddha dhaivatham, in place of D2), with D2 being the anya swara (external note).
This raga is closer to Bageshri as for Bhagyasree Gandharam is sung softly. Thus a subtle difference of Gandhara makes a listener to feel this raga as Bhagyasree.
Popular compositions
Film songs
| Song | Movie | Year | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Yaanai Thandham Pole | Amarakavi | 1952 | G. Ramanathan, T. A. Kalyanam | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, P. Leela |
| Thanga Nilavil | Thirumanam | 1958 | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, T. G. Lingappa | A. M. Rajah, Jikki |
| Vaarai Nee Vaarai | Manthiri Kumari | 1950 | G. Ramanathan | Thiruchi Loganathan, Jikki |
| Kannan Mananilayai | Deivathin Deivam | 1962 | S. Janaki |
| Singaravelane Deva | Konjum Salangai | 1962 | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu |
| Kungumam Piranthathu Marathila | Paattondru Ketten | 1971 | C. Ramchandra | P. B. Sreenivas, P. Suseela |
| Isai Thamizh | Thiruvilaiyadal | 1965 | K. V. Mahadevan | T. R. Mahalingam |
| Kadhalaagi | Thiruvarutchelvar | 1967 | T. M. Soundararajan, Master Maharajan |
| Gangai Karai Thottam | Vanambadi | 1963 | P. Suseela |
| Komatha Engal Kulamatha | Saraswati Sabatham | 1966 |
| Velodu Vilaiyaadum Murugaiyaa | Chitrangi | 1964 | Vedha |
| Radhaiyin Nenjame | Kanimuthu Paappa | 1972 | T. V. Raju (Credits Only) |
| Nalama Nalama | Ival Oru Pournami | 1986 | T. K. Ramamoorthy |
| Pazhamuthir Solaiyilae | Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum | 1965 | M. S. Viswanathan |
| Raagangal Pathinaaru | Thillu Mullu | 1981 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Poo Malaiyil | Ooty Varai Uravu | 1967 | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela |
| Malarnthum Malaradha | Pasamalar | 1961 | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy |
| Thendral Urangiya Podhum | Petra Maganai Vitra Annai | 1958 | A M Rajah & P Susheela |
| Anbu Megame | Engamma Sapatham | 1974 | Vijaya Bhaskar | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam |
| Vanil Vazhum | Uruvangal Maralam | 1983 | S. V. Ramanan |
| Kuyile Kavikuyile | Kavikkuyil | 1977 | Illayaraja | S. Janaki |
| Chendoora Poove | 16 Vayathinile |
| Vasantha Kaala Kolangal | Thyagam | 1978 |
| Naatham En Jeevanae | Kaadhal Oviyam | 1982 |
| Chinna Chiru Vayathil | Meendum Kokila | 1981 | K. J. Yesudas, S. P. Sailaja |
| Megam Karukkuthu | Anandha Ragam | 1982 | K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki |
| Velakku Vetcha | Mundhanai Mudichu | 1983 | Illayaraja, S. Janaki |
| Engey Enthan Kadhali (also has Kharaharapriya) | Enakkul Oruvan | 1984 | S P Balasubrahmanyam |
| Poovae Poochudava | Poove Poochooda Vaa | 1985 | K. J. Yesudas(ver 1), K. S. Chithra (ver 2) |
| Velli Golusu | Pongi Varum Kaveri | 1989 | Arunmozhi, K. S. Chithra |
| Kallidasan Kannadasan | Soorakottai Singakutty | | P. Jayachandran, P. Susheela |
| Poonkaaviyam(Natbhairavi in Charanam) | Karpoora Mullai | 1991 | K. J. Yesudas, P. Suseela, K. S. Chithra |
| Sangathamizh Kaviye(Ragamalika: Abheri, Bageshri, Sumanesa Ranjani) | Manathil Uruthi Vendum | 1987 | K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra |
| Kuyile Kuyile | En Bommukutty Ammavukku | 1988 |
| Dhevadhai Poloru | Gopura Vasalile | 1991 | Malaysia Vasudevan, Mano, Deepan Chakravarthy, S. N. Surendar |
| Ennai Thottu | Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen | 1992 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha |
| Mayilaadum Thoppil | Chinna Pasanga Naanga | 1992 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Orellam Un Pattuthan | Orellam Un Pattu | 1991 | K. J. Yesudas, Swarnalatha(Pathos) |
| En Paattu En Paattu | Poomani | 1996 | Illayaraja |
| Punnaivana Ponguiyile | Sevanthi | 1994 | |
| Oorukku | Kummi Paattu | 1999 |
| Kanne Yen Kanmaniye | Kavithai Paadum Alaigal | 1990 | Mano, K. S. Chithra |
| Unn Manasile Paattuthaan | Paandi Nattu Thangam | 1989 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Poovendrum Ponne Endrum | Dhuruva Natchathiram | |
| Guruvayurappa | Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal | 1989 |
| Muththamizhe Muththamizhe | Raman Abdullah | 1997 |
| Kumbhabhisekham Koyiluku | Veera Thalattu | 1998 |
| Medhuva Meduva | Annanagar Mudhal Theru | 1988 | Chandrabose |
| Saravana Poikayil | Poramai | 1980 | S.D.Sekar | K. J. Yesudas, B.S.Sasirekha |
| Thanimayile | Sattam Oru Iruttarai | 1981 | Shankar–Ganesh | S. N. Surendar, S. Janaki |
| Vennila Mugham Paduthu | Jyothi Malar | 1986 | K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam |
| Poove Nee Yaar Solli | Thaniyatha Thagam | | A. A. Raj | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki |
| Kannodu Kaanbadhellam | Jeans | 1998 | A. R. Rahman | Nithyashree Mahadevan |
| Columbus (more Abheri than Madhyamavati) | A. R. Rahman |
| Taniye Taniye | Rangeela | 1995 | S. Janaki |
| Muppadhu Nimidam | Parasuram | 2003 | P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan |
| Sahana | | 2007 | Udit Narayan, Chinmayi, A. R. Rahman |
| Pathinettu Vayadhu | Suriyan | 1992 | Deva | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Sempattu Poove | Purusha Lakshanam | 1993 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Un Marbile Vizhi Moodi(Reused Tune) | Ninaithen Vandhai | 1998 | K. S. Chithra & chorus |
| Poothirukkum Vaname | Pudhayal | 1997 | Vidyasagar | Hariharan, Uma Ramanan |
| Varai En Thozhiyae | Arasiyal | S. P. B. Charan, Harini,Shubha Mudgal |
| Malare Oru Varthai | Poomagal Oorvalam | 1999 | Siva | Hariharan, Sujatha Mohan |
| Sollamalae | Poove Unakkaga | 1996 | S. A. Rajkumar | P. Jayachandran, Sujatha, Sunandha |
| Raasa Raasa Unna Vachuruken | Maanasthan | 2004 | Hariharan, K. S. Chithra |
| Oru Vaartha Kekka | Ayya | 2005 | Bharadwaj | Sadhana Sargam, KK |
| Pudhu Kadhal | Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan | 2004 | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Ranjith, Chinmayi |
| Engeyo Paartha | Yaaradi Nee Mohini | 2008 | Udit Narayan |
| Unakkul Naane | Pachaikili Muthucharam | 2007 | Harris Jayaraj | Bombay Jayashri |
| Oru Murai Parkumbothey Tholainthen | Puli Varudhu | Srikanth Deva | Madhu Balakrishnan, Anitha Karthikeyan |
| Kana Kaangiren | Ananda Thandavam | 2009 | G. V. Prakash Kumar | Nithyashree Mahadevan, Shubha Mudgal, Vinita, Uluwissu Santhoshan Suarez |
| Uyire Uyire | Ellame En Kadhali | 1994 | M. M. Keeravani | Mano, K. S. Chithra |
| Ya Ya Yadhava | Devaraagam | 1996 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra |
| Nee Korinal | 180 | 2011 | Sharreth | Karthik, Shweta Mohan |
| Konjam Thenkasi(Charanam in Nattai) | Thenkasi Pattanam | 2002 | Suresh Peters | K.S. Chitra, Srinivas, Sriram |
| Kannamma | Ispade Rajavum Idhaya Raniyum | 2019 | Sam C. S. | Anirudh Ravichander | |
Note that the following songs are tuned in Raag Bhimpalasi, the Hindustani equivalent of Abheri.
Album
Popular Classical Albums on this Raagam
An excellent rendition of this Raaga can be found in one of L. Shankar Albums Raga Aberi. He received a Grammy Nomination for this composition.
Related rāgams
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.
Abheri's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other janya rāgams, namely, Mohanakalyani, Kedaragaula and Arabhi (if we consider the Kharaharapriya-based scale). Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. In case of Janya ragams, only notes that occur in both ascending and descending scale are taken for this change. For further details and an illustration of Graha bhedam refer Graha bhedam on Sankarabharanam. Abheri has close resemblance to Karnataka—devagandhari and Bhimpalasi. Whether they are essentially same is a matter of debate among the musicologists.
See also
Notes and References
- Ragas in Carnatic music by S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
- Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
