Hamsanadam Explained
Hamsanadam (pronounced hamsanādam) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a pentatonic scale (audava rāgam, which means "of 5"), as it is sung in current days.[1] It is a derived scale (janya rāgam), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes), from the 60th Melakarta rāgam Neetimati.
Structure and Lakshana
Hamsanadam, as it is sung now-a-days, is a symmetric scale that does not contain gandharam and dhaivatam. It is called an audava rāgam, in Carnatic music classification (as it has 5 notes in both ascending and descending scales). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
This scale uses the notes shadjam, chatusruti rishabham, prati madhyamam, panchamam and kakali nishadam.
Other structures
Earlier structure of this scale were as follows:[2]
- Ascending scale :
- Descending scale :
In the above, shatsruti dhaivatam is added in the scale compared to current usage (shadava scale with 6 notes in ascendinga and descending scale), with a vakra prayoga (zig-zag descending scale).
Graha bhedham
Hamsanadam's notes when shifted using Graha bhedham, yields two pentatonic rāgams, Gambhiranata and Bhupalam. Graha bhedham 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 illustrations of this concept refer Graha bhedham on Gambhiranata.
Popular compositions
Hamsanadam has a few popular compositions:
Film Songs
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Iravum Nilavum(based on Ragam ShudhaSarang similar) | Karnan | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela |
| Konja Neram Ennai(based on Ragam Saranga similar) | Sirithu Vazha Vendum | M. S. Viswanathan | T. M. Soundararajan, S. Janaki |
| Ilakanam Maarudho(based on Ragam ShudhaSarang similar) | Nizhal Nijamagiradhu | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam |
| Aruvi Magal(based on Ragam ShudhaSarang similar) | Jeevanadi | V. Dakshinamoorthy | K. J. Yesudas,Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi |
| Thendral Vanthu Ennai Thodum | Thendrale Ennai Thodu | Ilaiyaraaja | |
| Kanni Ponnu | Ninaivellam Nithya | Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Susheela |
| Om Namaha | Idhayathai Thirudathe | |
| Sorgame Endraalum | Ooru Vittu Ooru Vanthu | |
| Isaiyil Thodangudhamma | Hey Ram | Ajoy Chakrabarty |
| Oru Devathai Vanthu(based on Ragam ShudhaSarang similar) | Naan Sonnathey Sattam | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Asha Bhosle |
| Malargaley Malargaley(Based on Shudhasarang,Saraswati) | Love Birds | A. R. Rahman | Hariharan, K. S. Chithra |
| Vayathu Vaa Vaa | Thulluvadho Ilamai | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| Oru Poo Ezhuthum Kavithai | Pooveli | Bharadwaj | P. Unnikrishnan, K. S. Chithra |
| Manasu Marugudhe | Pallikoodam | Narayanan,Subhiksha – Thenmozhi |
| Mangalam Pongidum | Vallamai Tharayo | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Poo Vaasam | Anbe Sivam | Vidyasagar | Vijay Prakash, Sadhana Sargam |
| Meetu Ennai(Pallavi Anupallavi only) | Maathangal Ezhu | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Thamirabarani Aaru | Solaiyamma | Deva | |
| Medhuva Medhuva (Varuma) | En Uyir Shanthi | Konnadi Edvinsan | Mano, K. S. Chithra |
| Uyir Ennum | Vaaraayo Vennilaave | Karthik Raja | Madhushree, Rita, Senthildass Velayutham |
| Thiruve Ninai Kaathal Kandene | Ilakanam | Bhavatharini | Madhu Balakrishnan |
| Arumbey | Kaali | Vijay Antony | Nivas,Janaki Iyer |
| Yugam Noorai | Vedala Hemachandra, Sangeetha Rajeshwaran |
| Kalakkattu Kannaala | Kaththukkutti | Aruldev | Ranjith, Cicily |
| Pudhu Unarve | Nishabdham | Gopi Sundar | |
| Malardhan Vizhundhadhu | Aneethi | G.V Prakash Kumar | Hesham Abdul Wahab, Ravi.G | |
Tamil Serial Title Song
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
