Kafi (raga) explained
Kafi is a raga in Hindustani classical music. It corresponds to Kharaharapriya in Carnatic music and Dorian mode in Western music
Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande classified most ragas into ten Thaats. Kafi Thaat is one of them. The raga Kafi is the principal raga of its Thaat. According to Bhatkhande, its name first appears in the Raga Tarangini of Lochana Pandit, who lived in the Mithila district around the 15th century CE.
Kafi has a direct lineage with the folk music of India. Folk music in Tappa, Hori, Dadra, Kirtan and Bhajans from different parts of India have been composed in this raga.
Many variations of Kafi exist. Contamination with vivadi swaras is common. This mixing has given rise to Mishra Kafi. Hence, a pure form of Kafi is seldom heard.
Description
Varna
Kafi is a sampoorna-sampoorna or heptatonic raga, with komal (half a note down) Gandhar (ga) and Nishad (ni). This is also referred to as the Bhairavi of night. Both Shuddha Nishad & Gandhar are occasionally used. The atmosphere created is most suitable for both types of Shringar (Separation & Union) and hence many Thumri & Hori compositions are sung in this Raag.
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Ṡa
(Ga and Ni are komal swaras). Dot above signifies the high octave, dot below signifies the low octave.
Ṡa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa
(Ga and Ni are komal swaras).
Vadi and Samavadi
Pancham (Pa) is the vadi swara and Risabh (Re) is the samavadi swara.
A typical improvisation of Kafi starts as M P D P M g R, g R S, n. D. S
The phrases below and termination in R are characteristic.
S R g M P D n
S, R g M P, M P D (M) g
The typical chalan can be illustrated as:
S S R R g g M MP - - D M P g RR n D n P D M PS n D P M G R S.
M P D D n S - SR g R S N D S -S R S n D n D PM P D P g - R -R n D n P D M PS n D P M g R S
Variants
- Shuddha Kafi
- Sindhura Kafi
- Zilaf Kafi
- Kafi Kanada
Organization and relationships
Various ragas, such as Bhimpalasi, Bageshree, Kafi Kanada, Bahar, and Brindabani Sarang are associated with this raga. Important tributaries of this raga include Sindhura, Barwa, Deshi, Neelambari and Pilu.
In Western Classical Music, Kafi corresponds to the modern Dorian Mode.
Behavior
Samay (Time)
Raat ka dvitiya prahar or evening 9-12
Seasonality
The raga is performed during any season.
The principal rasa for this raga is sringara.
Important recordings
- Ulhas Kashalkar, Raga Kafi (Concert), 2001;
- Shobha Gurtu, Thumri, Raga Kafi, 1987;
- Siddheshwari Devi, Thumri, Raga Kafi, 1983;
- Debashish Bhattacharya, Raga Mishra Kafi, 1996;
- Ustad Bahadur Khan, Raga Kafi, 1987;
Film Songs
Note that the following songs are composed in Kharaharapriya, the equivalent of raga Kafi in Carnatic music.
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Enna Seidhaalum | Irumbu Thirai | S. V. Venkatraman | Radha Jayalakshmi |
| Ariyaa Paruvamadaa | Missiamma | S. Rajeshwara Rao | P. Susheela |
| Maayavalaiyil | Gulebakavali | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | T. M. Soundararajan |
| Annan Kaatiya Vazhiyamma | Padithal Mattum Podhuma |
| Maharajan | Karnan | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela |
| Aagaya Pandhalile | Ponnunjal | M. S. Viswanathan |
| Madhavi Pon Mayilaal | Iru Malargal | T. M. Soundararajan |
| Ponmagal Vandhaal | Sorgam |
| Attamenna Solladi (I will sing for you) | Manidharil Manikkam |
| Malligai En Mannan | Dheerga Sumangali | Vani Jayaram |
| Aayiram Nilave Vaa | Adimai Penn | K. V. Mahadevan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela |
| Isaiyai Thamizhai | Agathiyar | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | Sirkazhi Govindarajan, T. R. Mahalingam |
| Poo Malarinthida | Tik Tik Tik | Ilaiyaraaja | K. J. Yesudas, Jency Anthony |
| Thaana Vantha Santhaname | Ooru Vittu Ooru Vanthu | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Vaazhavaikum Kaathalukku Jey | Apoorva Sagodharargal |
| Adukku Malli Yeduthu | Aavarampoo |
| Pattu Onna | Kumbakarai Thangaiah |
| Mappillaikku | Netrikkan | Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Susheela |
| Kannukkulle Yaaro | Kai Kodukkum Kai | S. P. Sailaja, P. Susheela |
| Maalai Karukkalil | Neethiyin Marupakkam | K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki |
| Roja Poo Adivanthathu | Agni Natchathiram | S. Janaki |
| Karutha Machan | Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu |
| Iravu Nilavu | Anjali |
| Kaala kaalamaaga Vaazhum | Punnagai Mannan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chitra |
| Aethamayya Aetham | Ninaive Oru Sangeetham | Malaysia Vasudevan, K.S. Chitra |
| Ilam Vayasu Ponna | Paandi Nattu Thangam |
| Nethu Oruthara Oruthara | Puthu Paatu | Ilaiyaraaja, K.S. Chitra |
| Poongatru Thirumbuma | Muthal Mariyathai | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki |
| Katti Vechukko Enthan Anbu Manasu | En Jeevan Paduthu |
| Anandham Pongida Pongida | Sirai Paravai | K. J. Yesudas,Sunanda |
| Thooliyile Ada Vantha | Chinna Thambi | Mano, K.S. Chitra |
| Unnai Vaazhtha Vanthen | Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren | K. J. Yesudas |
| Elangaathu Veesudhey | Pithamagan | Sriram Parthasarathy, Shreya Ghoshal |
| Kai Veesi | Nandalala | Vijay Yesudas, Swetha Mohan, Madhu Balakrishnan,Raagul,Chandrasekar |
| Ilavenirkala Panjami | Manam Virumbuthe Unnai | Hariharan |
| Aanenna Pennena | Dharma Durai | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Neela Vana Odayil | Vazhvey Maayam | Gangai Amaran |
| Indralogathu Sundari | Uyirullavarai Usha | T. Rajendar |
| Atho Vanile Nila Oorvalam | Thandanai | Chandrabose | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Pachchai Nirame (Sakiye) | Alaipayuthey | A. R. Rahman | Hariharan, Clinton Cerejo |
| Urvasi Urvasi | Kadhalan | A. R. Rahman, Suresh Peters, Shahul Hameed |
| Taxi Taxi | Sakkarakatti | A R Rahman, Javed Ali, Benny Dayal, Blaaze and Viviane Chaix |
| Kilimanjaro | Enthiran | Javed Ali, Chinmayi |
| Mayiliragae Mayiliragae | Anbe Aaruyire | Naresh Iyer, Madhushree |
| Gulmohar Malare | Majunu | Harris Jayaraj | Hariharan |
| Mudhal Mazhai | Bheemaa | Hariharan, Mahathi, R. Prasanna |
| Hasili Fisiliye | Aadhavan | Karthik, Harini |
| Suttum Vizhi | Ghajini | Sriram Parthasarathy, Bombay Jayashree |
| Yaaridamum | Thotti Jaya | Ramesh Vinayagam, Harini |
| Uyirile | Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | Mahalakshmi Iyer, Srinivas |
| Meela Mudiyamal(Unreleased track) | Vaaranam Aayiram | Benny Dayal, Srimathumitha,Rathika |
| Sangeetha Swarangal | Azhagan | Maragathamani | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,Sandhya |
| Kamban Engu | Jaathi Malli | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chitra |
| Janaki Devi | Samsaram Adhu Minsaram | Shankar–Ganesh | K.S. Chitra |
| Rendu Kannam Santhana Kinnam | Sivappu Malli | K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela |
| Panivilum Paruvanila | Paneer Nadhigal | K. J. Yesudas |
| Rosappu Chinna Rosappu | Suryavamsam | S. A. Rajkumar | Hariharan(vers 1), Sujatha Mohan(vers 2) |
| Edho Oru Paattu | Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen |
| Kanava Ninaiva | Aasal | Bharadwaj | V. V. Prasanna, Manjari |
| Santhikkadha Kangalil Inbangal | 180 | Sharreth | Unni Menon, K.S. Chitra, S. Sowmya |
| En Raasi | Enakkoru Magan Pirappan | Karthik Raja | |
| Inni Naanum Naanilai | Yai! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke! | Srinivas | Srinivas, Sujatha Mohan, Sunitha Sarathy |
| Yamini Yamini | Arvind-Shankar | Harish Raghavendra |
| Aathadi Manasudhan | Kazhugu | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Priya Himesh, Karthik Raja |
| Ayyayyo | Paruthiveeran | Shreya Ghoshal,Krishnaraj, Manikka Vinayagam, Yuvan Shankar Raja(Humming) |
| Dheivangal Ellam | Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga | Vijay Yesudas |
| Kadhal Vaithu | Deepavali |
| Un Mela Oru Kannu | Rajinimurugan | D. Imman | Jithin Raj, Mahalakshmi Iyer |
| Muzhumadhi Muzhumadhi | Kanimozhi | Satish Chakravarthy | Vijay Yesudas, Bela Shende |
| Ithanai Dhooram | Koottam | James Vasanthan | Haricharan, Shweta Mohan |
| Vinmeen Vithaiyil | Thegidi | Nivas K. Prasanna | Abhay Jodhpurkar, Saindhavi | |
References
- Hindustani Sangeet Paddhati and his concise commentary, A Comparative Study of Some of the Leading Music Systems of the 15th, 16, 17th, & 18th Centuries by Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande.
- https://tanarang.com/raag-kafi/
See also
