Dharmavati Explained
Dharmavati is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 59th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Dhaamavati in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1] [2] Madhuvanti is the nearest Hindustani music scale to Dharmavati.Raga Dharmavati was introduced in Hindustani music in vocal style for the first time by late Pandit Samaresh Chawdhury (disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar)
Structure and Lakshana
It is the 5th rāgam in the 10th chakra Disi. The mnemonic name is Disi-Ma. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gi mi pa dhi nu. Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
(the notes in this scale are chathusruthi rishabham, sadharana gandharam, prati madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham, kakali nishadham)
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 prati madhyamam equivalent of Gourimanohari, which is the 23rd melakarta.
Janya rāgams
Dharmavati has a few janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Madhuvanti, Ranjani, Sri Tyagaraja and Vijayanagari are popular in concerts. See List of janya rāgams for all rāgams associated with Dharmavati.
Compositions
Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to Dharmavati.
Notable film composers like T.G.Lingappa, Ilaiyaraja and later A. R. Rahman have composed film songs based on the scale of Dharmavati. T.G.Lingappa composed song such as 'kanasalli bandavanyare' (Shruti seridaga). Ilaiyaraja composed songs such as 'Meendum Meedum Vaa' (Vikram), 'Andhela Ravamidhi', (Swarna Kamalam), 'Vaanaville' (Ramana), 'Nataraaja paadaalu' (Aalaapana) in this raaga while Rahman composed "Ottagathai Kattiko", in the 1993 Tamil film Gentleman, based on the Dharmavati scale.
Film Songs
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Kaadhal Kaadhal Endru Pesa | Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa | M. S. Viswanathan | P. Susheela,M. L. Srikanth |
| Ammaanai | Avan Oru Sarithiram | T. M. Soundararajan, Vani Jayaram |
| Hello My Dear Wrong Number | Manmadha Leelai | K.J. Yesudas, L. R. Eswari |
| Mella Pesungal Pirar | Kasethan Kadavulada | Kovai Soundarajan, L. R. Eswari |
| Oomai Pennai Pesa Sonnal | Alaigal | S. Janaki |
| Kaalai Maalai | Gnana Paravai | K. J. Yesudas, K.S. Chitra |
| Nandhaa En Nila | Nandhaa En Nila | V. Dakshinamoorthy | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Ilam Solai Poothadhal | Unakkaagave Vaazhgiren | Illayaraja |
| Konji Konji | Veera |
| Natarajan Kudi Konda | Salangaiyil Oru Sangeetham |
| Yennullil Yengo | Rosappu Ravikkaikari | Vani Jairam |
| Vaazhvae Maayama | Gaayathri | B. S. Sasirekha |
| Vaanaville Vaanaville | Ramanaa | Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam,Illayaraja |
| Hey Aiyasamy | Varusham Padhinaaru | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chitra |
| Meendum Meendum va | Vikram | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Otagatho Kattiko | Gentleman | A. R. Rahman |
| Idhu Sugam | Vandicholai Chinraasu | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam |
| Padal Naan Pada | Idhu Oru Thodarkathai | Gangai Amaran | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Oh Swarnamuki | Karuppu Vellai | Deva | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chitra |
| Ulagathil Ulla | Thai Poranthachu | P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan |
| Un Samayalarayil | Dhill | Vidyasagar |
| Thavaminri kidaitha | Anbu | Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam |
| Silendra Theepori Ondru | Thithikudhe | Sujatha Mohan |
| Tha Thi Thom | Azhagan | M. M. Keeravaani | K.S. Chitra |
| Un Azhagukku | Aalavandhan | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | Shankar Mahadevan, Sujatha Mohan |
| Kanaa Kaanum Kaalangal | 7G Rainbow Colony | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Harish Raghavendra, Srimathumitha, Ustad Sultan Khan |
| Kanda Naal Mudhalai (Ragam Madhuvanti) | Kanda Naal Mudhal | Subhiksha, Pooja |
| Eno Uyirmele | Punnagai Poove | Bhavatharini |
| Vaada Bin Lada | Mankatha | Krish, Suchitra |
| Enakena Yerkanave | Parthen Rasithen | Bharadwaj | P. Unnikrishnan, Harini |
| Idhu Kathala | February 14 | Haricharan |
| Aayiram Yaanai | Vallamai Tharayo | Nithyasree Mahadevan, Chinmayi |
| Unnai Thinam Ethirparthen | Kadhaludan | S. A. Rajkumar | Prasanna, P. Unnikrishnan |
| Unnai Saranadainthen | | Sabesh–Murali | Harish Raghavendra, Kalyani |
| Vaaney Vaaney | Viswasam | D. Imman | Hariharan, Shreya Ghoshal |
| Sengathire Sengathire | Kadaikutty Singam | Pradeep Kumar |
| Kanna Thoodhu Po Da | Putham Pudhu Kaalai | Govind Vasantha | Bombay Jayashri |
| Mogamma Illai Mochama | Indira Vizha | Yathish Mahadev | Hariharan,Sujatha Mohan |
| Omkara Pranava Mantra Swaroopam | Maaligai | Mahesh Mahadev | Priyadarshini | |
Related rāgams
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.
Dharmavati's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 other Melakarta rāgams, namely, Chakravakam and Sarasangi. 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 Dharmavati.
See also
Notes and References
- Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
- Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
