Gourimanohari Explained

Gourimanohari
Equivalent:Melodic minor scale
Similar Raga In Prathi Madhyamam:Dharmavaty

Gourimanohari or Gaurimanohari is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 23rd Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. The 23rd melakarta rāgam as per Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music is .

The Western equivalent is the melodic minor scale.

The Hindustani music equivalent to this rāgam is Raag Patdeep.

Structure and Lakshana

It is the 5th rāgam in the 4th chakra Veda. The mnemonic name is Veda-Ma. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gi ma pa dhi nu.[1] Its 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 shadjam, chatushruti rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, chatushruti daivatam and kakali nishadham. It is a sampurna rāgam – a rāgam that has all seven swaras (notes). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Dharmavati, which is the 59th melakarta.

Janya rāgams

It has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of janya rāgams to look up all rāgams associated with it.

Popular compositions

The following are a few popular compositions in this rāgam.

'Shades of Blue: A Musical Tribute to Venmurasu' sung by Kamal Haasan, Sriram Parthasarathy, Saindhavi composed by Rajan Somasundaram is considered to be the definition of this ragam as it explores various shades of expressions possible in Gaurimanohari using vocals, Sitar, Sarangi, Flute, singing bowls and various string instruments.[2]

Film Songs

SongMovie/AlbumComposerSinger
Paattum NaaneThiruvilaiyadalK. V. MahadevanT. M. Soundararajan
Maattukara VelaVannakiliSirkazhi Govindarajan
Aadatha ManamumKalathur KannammaR. SudarsanamA. M. Rajah, P. Susheela
Unathu MalarPaadha KaanikkaiViswanathan–RamamoorthyP. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
Naan Paadum PaadalukkuRaga BandhangalKunnakudi VaidyanathanSirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram, S. Janaki
Malarae Kurinji MalaraeDr. SivaM. S. ViswanathanK. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Oru AalayamaagumSumathi En SundariP. Susheela
Jal Jal JalenumPaasam
Kadavul Amaithu VaithaAval Oru Thodar KathaiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Gowri Manohariyai KandenMazhalai PattalamS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Aagayam KanathaAlaya DeepamVani Jairam
Kannaa VaruvaayaaManathil Uruthi VendumIlaiyaraajaK. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra
Muthamizh Kaviyae(Ragam Dharmavati touches)Dharmathin Thalaivan
Amman Koyil KizhakaleSakalakala VallavanIlaiyaraaja
Sumangali PoojaiDharma PathiniP. Susheela, S. P. Sailaja
En Vaanile Ore Vennila (has more of Patdeep)JohnnyJency Anthony
Dhoorathil NaanNizhalgalS. Janaki
Oh EndhanUnakkaagave Vaazhgiren
Isaiyin DeivamMaragatha Veenai
Ponvaanam Panneer ThoovuthuIndru Nee Nalai Naan
Thalampoove KannuranguS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki, Uma Ramanan
Bhoopalam IsaikkumThooral Ninnu PochchuK. J. Yesudas, Uma Ramanan
Paadum VanambadiNaan Paadum PaadalS. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Oru KaaviamAruvadai NaalIlaiyaraaja
Katha Pola ThonumVeera Thalattu
Raja Magal Roja MalarPillai NilaP. Jayachandran, S. Janaki
Adhi Kaalai NilaveUrudhi Mozhi
Anbe Vaa ArugileKilipetchu KetkavaK. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Vedala Pulla NesathukuPeriya MarudhuSwarnalatha
Santhana KaatreThanikattu RajaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Solai Poovil Malai ThenralVellai Roja
Ennathaan SugamoMappillai
Maalai Ennai VaaduthuPookkalai ParikkatheergalT. Rajendar
PoongkaatrilaeUyireA. R. RahmanUnni Menon, Swarnalatha
Enna Solla PogiraiKandukondain KandukondainShankar Mahadevan
Vidai Kodu Engal NaadaeKannathil MuthamittalM. S. Viswanathan,Balram, Febi Mani, A. R. Reihana, Manikka Vinayagam
Malaiyorum KuyilInaindha KaigalManoj–GyanDeepan Chakravarthy,Vidhya
Sakalakala VallavanePammal K. SambandamDevaHariharan, Sujatha Mohan
Silu Silu Siluvena Kaathu(Ragam Dharmavathi touches in Charanam)Kizhakku KaraiK. S. Chithra
Ponmaalaiyil Tamilgeetham PaduvenVasantha MalargalS. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Vizhiyum VizhiyumSadhurangamVidyasagarMadhu Balakrishnan, Harini
Aasai Aasai(Charanam only)DhoolShankar Mahadevan, Sujatha Mohan
Kolaikara Analatchu En MuchuThambi Vettothi SundaramKarthik,Kalyani
Vanvillin VannamThendralSadhana Sargam
En NenjilBaana KaathadiYuvan Shankar Raja
AarariraroRaamK. J. Yesudas
Nijama NijamaBoseKK, Shreya Ghoshal
Vennmegam Pennaga(Kapi touches also)Yaaradi Nee MohiniHariharan
Kadhal Vanoli(starting Male voice in Ragam Reethigowla)AlbumKarthik RajaSujatha Mohan, Harish Raghavendra
Paarthu PoNeranja ManasuShreya Ghoshal
Sundari PenneOru Oorla Rendu RajaD. Imman
Mailaanji MailaanjiNamma Veettu PillaiShreya Ghoshal, Pradeep Kumar
Penn OruthiGeminiBharadwajS. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Kaadhal MazhaiyeJay JaySrinivas
Alwarpettai Aaluda(Loosely based)Vasool Raja MBBSKamal Haasan, VNB
Kadhal KolluthadiEnnul AayiramGopi SundarNajim Arshad, Mridula Warrier
Laali LaaliTheeran Adhigaaram OndruGhibran

Songs composed in Patdeep(Hindustani) which is equivalent to Gourimanohari (Carnatic)

SongMovieComposerSingers
Aahasakhi Ee VanameUma Chandi Gowri Sankarula KathaPendyala (composer)P. Susheela
Naa Madhi PaadinaPavitra HrudayaluT. Chalapathi RaoGhantasala (musician)
Nee Adugulona adugu vesiPoola RangaduGhantasala (musician)Ghantasala (musician) & P. Susheela

Below song is a traditional saint Tyagaraja Gowrimanohari Rendition used in film which sound similar to Patdeep(Hindustani)

Songs composed in Patdeep(Hindustani) which is equivalent to Gourimanohari (Carnatic)

SongMovieComposerSingers
Megha Chhaye Adhi RatSharmeeleeS. D. BurmanLata Mangeshkar
Saaz Ho Tum Avaaz Hun MainSaaz Aur Awaz(1966 film)NaushadMohammad Rafi[4]
SongMovie/AlbumComposerSinger
Ennilla EnillaUpendraGurukiranPratima Rao
Nanenu Ballenu NinnaNareyana NamamruthamMahesh MahadevPriyadarshini

Songs composed in Patdeep(Hindustani) which is equivalent to Gourimanohari (Carnatic)

SongMovieComposerSingers
Anuraga Lola gathriDhwaniNaushadK. J. Yesudas & P. Susheela
Kathirunnu KathirunnuEnnu Ninte MoideenM. Jayachandran
Raakuyil paadiKasthoorimanOuseppachanK. J. Yesudas
Katte née veesharuthipol (charanam Harikamboji)Kattu Vannu VilichappolM. G. RadhakrishnanK. S. Chithra
Periyone rahumane (based on Gowrimanohari but scale changes)AadujeevithamA. R. RahmanJithin Raj

Albums

Tamil

Related rāgams

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

Gourimanohari's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other major melakarta rāgams, namely, Vachaspati, Natakapriya and Charukesi. 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 see Graha bhedam on Vachaspati.

Notes and References

  1. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. Web site: Director Mani Ratnam Releases Musical Tribute to Jeyamohan's Epic Venmurasu. marketwatch.com. 2020-10-20.
  3. Web site: GurulekaEtuvantiGunikiGaurimanohari. Carnatic Ecstasy. YouTube. 15 June 2018.
  4. Web site: SaazHoTumAwaazHoonMain. Goldmines Gaane Sune Ansune. YouTube. 1 June 2019.