Hamsanandi Explained

Hamsanandi

Hamsanandi (pronounced hamsānandi) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a hexatonic scale (shadava rāgam, which means "of 6"). It is a derived scale (janya rāgam), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes). Hamsanandi is a janya rāgam of Gamanashrama, the 53rd Melakarta rāgam. It has only the invariant panchamam missing from its parent scale, Gamanashrama, like Shree ranjani.

Sohni raga in Hindustani classical music that belongs to the Marwa thaat resembles Hamsanandi.[1]

Structure and Lakshana

Hamsanandi is a symmetric scale that does not contain panchamam. It is called a shadava-shadava rāgam,[2] in Carnatic music classification (as it has 6 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, shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, prati madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kakali nishadam.

Popular compositions

Hamsanandi is an evening rāgam. It has ample scope for alapana and swara prasthara (phrases of notes). This scale has been used by many composers for compositions in classical music. It has been used to score film music too. Here are some popular compositions in Hamsanandi.

Film Songs

Songs composed in Sohni(Hindustani) are listed below which sound similar to Hamsanandi(Carnatic)

SongMovieComposerSingers
Kuhu Kuhu Bole Koyaliya Suvarna SundariP. Adinarayana RaoMohammad Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar
Jhumati Chali HavaSangeet Samrat TansenS. N. TripathiMukesh (singer)
Prem Jogan Ban KeMughal-e-AzamNaushadBade Ghulam Ali Khan
Jivan Jyot JaleGrahasti (film)Ravi (composer)Asha Bhosle
Kanha Re KanhaTruck Driver(1970 film)Sonik-OmiLata Mangeshkar
SongMovieComposerSinger
Thesulaavudhe Then MalaraaleManaalane Mangaiyin BaakkiyamP. Adinarayana RaoGhantasala, P. Susheela
Kaalaiyum NeeyeThen NilavuA. M. RajahA. M. Rajah, S. Janaki
Ninaithal Podhum Aaduven Nenjirukkum VaraiM. S. ViswanathanS. Janaki
Sammatham Sammatham Neram NallarukkuK.J. Yesudas,K. S. Chithra
EnnakoduppanKarnanViswanathan–RamamoorthyP. B. Sreenivas
Ezhumalai IrukkaThirumalai DeivamKunnakudi VaidyanathanK. B. Sundarambal
Vedham AnuvilumSalangai OliIllayarajaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja
Nee Paadum PaadalEnkeyo Ketta KuralS. Janaki
Putham PuthuThalapathiK.J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Or Poomalai Iniya Uravu PoothathuMano, K. S. Chithra
KeerthanaEn Paadal UnakagaMano
Oru PooncholaiVaathiyaar Veettu PillaiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Sammatham Thanthuten NambuKadhal Devathai
GanakkuyilaePooncholaiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Bhavatharini
Raathiriyil PoothirukumThanagamaganS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Vaanam Niram MaarumDhavani Kanavugal
Raaga Theebam YetrumPayanangal MudivathillaiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Nee VaruvaiGowrimanohariM.M.A. Iniyavan
Vaan Mazhai PolEndravadhu Oru Naal Shankar–Ganesh
Ezhu SwaramumOru Pudhiya KadhaiUma Kannadasan
Vaigai KaraiyinileKanavan ReadySirpy
Oh VennilaSenbaga Thottam K.J. Yesudas
Pottu Vaithu PoomudikkumNinaithen VandhaiDevaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Vaname Ketkutha En PaatuNadodi KathalMalaysia Vasudevan
Idhya VeliyilOru Pudhiya UdhayamMano, Swarnalatha
Anbe AnbeChinna RajaP. Unnikrishnan
O KannukkulDhinamdhorumOviyanP. Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha

Related rāgams

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

Scale similarities

References

  1. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
  2. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications