Gambhiranata Explained
Gambhiranata is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music) and Yakshagana where it is called Naati. It is an audava rāgam (or owdava rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a janya rāga (derived scale), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes). Gambhiranata is also known as Shuddha Nata.[1]
Structure and Lakshana
Gambhiranata is a symmetric rāga that does not contain rishabham or dhaivatam. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam[2] in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning 'of 5'). Its ascending and descending scale structure () is as follows:
The notes used in this scale are shadjam, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam and kakali nishadam (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms). Gambhiranata is considered a janya rāgam of Chalanata, the 36th Melakarta rāgam, though it can be derived from 8 other melakarta rāgams, by dropping both rishabham and dhaivatam.
Popular compositions
Gambhiranata rāgam lends itself for elaboration due to the pentatonic nature and symmetricity of the scale. The mallari tune played in Nadhaswaram at temple processions are set to this musical scale. Here are some compositions set to this scale.
Film songs
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Ventriduven Unnai(Ragamalika opening portion only) | Agathiyar | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan |
| Maanikkka Theril Maragatha | Thedi Vandha Mappillai | M. S. Viswanathan | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela |
| Sandhana Punnagai Sindhiya(Gambhiranata based) | Nadodi Raja | Shankar–Ganesh | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Naan Iravil Ezhuthum(Gambhiranata based) | Subha Muhuratham | K.J. Yesudas,Kalyani Menon |
| Vaanampadi Jodi Sernthu(Gambhiranata based) | Kuyile Kuyile | Shyam | K.J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam |
| Mahaganapathim | Sindhu Bhairavi | Illayaraja | K.J. Yesudas |
| Mettioli Katrodu (Starts with Suddha Dhanyasi) | Metti | Illayaraja, S. Janaki(Humming only) |
| Kavithai Kelungal(Ragamalika) | Punnagai Mannan | Vani Jairam |
| Aala Asathum | Kanni Rasi | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam |
| Isai Paadu Nee | Isai Paadum Thendral | S. Janaki |
| Oh Oh Oh Kaalai Kuyilgale | Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren |
| Holi Holi | Raasukutti | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Innum Ennai (Gambeeranattai with Tilang) | Singaravelan |
| Podu Thanthanathom | Nalla Naal |
| Panivizhum Malar Vanam (in Chalanattai) | Ninaivellam Nithya | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Inge Iraivan(In Jog) | Sir.I Love You | Mano, P. Susheela |
| Nan Deva devi | Thangakkili | Mano, Swarnalatha |
| Oru Pattampochi | Kadhalukku Mariyadhai | K.J. Yesudas, Sujatha |
| Naan Ondru Kettal | Ilayaragam | Arunmozhi, K.S. Chitra |
| Peigaley Nambathey | Mahanadhi | Kamal Haasan, Shanmugasundari |
| Sandhosha Kannire | Uyire | A. R. Rahman | A. R. Rahman |
| Spiderman | New | Kunal Ganjawala, Sadhana Sargam |
| Narumugaiye Narumugaiye | Iruvar | P. Unnikrishnan, Bombay Jayashree |
| Vennila Vennila | Asha Bhosle |
| Thom Thom | Alli Thandha Vaanam | Vidyasagar | Hariharan, K.S. Chitra |
| Oru Nimidamaa | Thithikudhe | Tippu,Srivarthini |
| Thangamagan Indru | Baashha | Deva | K.J. Yesudas, K.S. Chitra |
| Devi Devi | Santharpam | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Uma Ramanan |
| Irupathu Kodi Nilavugal | Thulladha Manamum Thullum | S. A. Rajkumar | Hariharan |
| Mudhalam Santhippil | Charlie Chaplin | Bharani | P. Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha |
| Solaigal Ellam | Pookkalai Parikkatheergal | T. Rajendar | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chitra |
| Vasantham Paadi Vara | Rail Payanangalil | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Sogam Eni Ellai | Vaaname Ellai | Maragathamani | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Maragadha Mani(Chorus) |
| Uyire Uyire | Vaanam Vasappadum | Mahesh Mahadevan | Hariharan, Ganga |
| Iyengaru Veetu Azhagey | Anniyan | Harris Jayaraj | Hariharan, Harini |
| Chennai Senthamizh (copy of Mahaganapathim) | M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi | Srikanth Deva | Harish Raghavendra |
| Aagayam Kanatha | Unakkum Enakkum | Devi Sri Prasad | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Jingunamani | Jilla | D. Imman | Ranjith, Sunidhi Chauhan |
| Ammukuttiye | Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli Raajanum | Pradeep Kumar | |
Related rāgams
Graha bhedam
Gambhiranata's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields another pentatonic rāgam, Bhupalam. 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 more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Gambhiranata.
- Amritavarshini is a rāgam which has prati madhyamam in place of the shuddha madhyamam. See below table for more details.
- Hamsadhvani is a rāgam which has chathusruthi rishabham in place of the shuddha madhyamam. See below table for more details.
Grahabedam
Scale similarities
- Nata is a rāgam which has scale of Chalanata, the 36th Melakarta rāgam, in the ascending scale, while retaining the descending scale similar to Gambhiranata. Its structure is S R3 G3 M1 P D3 N3 S : S N3 P M1 G3 S
Notes and References
- Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
- Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
