Keeravani Explained
Keeravani (pronounced) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 21st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. The 21st melakarta rāgam as per Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music is .
This rāgam is a popular scale in western music as well. The Western equivalent is the Harmonic minor scale.[1] [2] It is said to be borrowed into Hindustani music from Carnatic music.
Structure and Lakshana
It is the 3rd rāgam in the 4th chakra Veda. The mnemonic name is Veda-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gi ma pa dha nu. 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 chathusruthi rishabha, sadharana gandhara, suddha madhyama, panchama, suddha dhaivatha, kakali nishadha.
As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Simhendramadhyamam, which is the 57th melakarta.
Janya Rāgams
Keeravani has many janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. Kalyāna vasantam is a popular janya of Keeravani. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Keeravani. Other popular janya ragams include Chandrakouns, Sāmapriya and Vasantamanohari.
Compositions
Many composers have composed songs in Keeravani. A few of them are listed here.
Tamil Film Songs
Song | Movie | Year | Composer | Singer |
---|
Paattu Padava | Then Nilavu | 1961 | A. M. Rajah | A. M. Rajah |
Oho Endhan Baby | A. M. Rajah, S. Janaki |
Samarasam Ulaavum Idame | Rambaiyin Kaadhal | 1956 | T. R. Pappa | Seerkazhi Govindarajan |
Kunguma Poove Konjum Puraave | Maragatham | 1959 | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | J. P. Chandrababu, K. Jamuna Rani |
Oh Rasikkum Seemane | Parasakthi | 1952 | R. Sudarsanam | M. S. Rajeswari |
Buddhiyulla Manitharellam | Annai | 1962 | J. P. Chandrababu |
Aasaiyae Alaipolae | Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum | 1958 | K. V. Mahadevan | Thiruchi Loganathan |
Seettu Kattu Raja | Vettaikkaran | 1964 | L. R. Eswari, A. L. Raghavan |
Avala Sonnal | Selvam | 1966 | T. M. Soundararajan |
Kannale Pesi Pesi Kolladhe | Adutha Veettu Penn | 1960 | Adi Narayana Rao | P. B. Sreenivas |
Ninaipadhellam | Nenjil Or Aalayam | 1962 | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy |
Yaar Sirithal Enna | Idhayathil Nee | 1963 |
Manavane Azhalaama | Karpagam | 1963 | P. Susheela |
Kangal Irandum Unnai | Mannadhi Mannan | 1960 |
Avala Ivala | L. R. Eswari, L. R. Anjali |
Anubhavam Pudhumai | Kadhalikka Neramillai | 1964 | P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela |
Kannirendum Minna Minna | Aandavan Kattalai | 1964 | P. B. Sreenivas, L. R. Eswari |
Velli Kinnamthan | Uyarndha Manithan | 1968 | M. S. Viswanathan | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela |
Thaayir Chirandha | Agathiyar | 1972 | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | T. K. Kala |
Thanga Sangili | Thooral Ninnu Pochchu | 1982 | Illayaraja | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki |
Ada Machamulla | Chinna Veedu | 1985 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki, S. P. Sailaja, T. V. Gopalakrishnan |
Oorai Therinchikitten | Padikkadavan | 1985 | K. J. Yesudas |
Raja Raja Chozhan | Rettai Vaal Kuruvi | 1987 |
Kaatril Endhan Geedham | Johnny | 1980 | S. Janaki |
Kodiyile Malliyapoo | Kadalora Kavithaigal | 1986 | P. Jayachandran, S. Janaki |
Raasathi Manasule | Raasave Unnai Nambi | 1988 | Mano, P. Susheela |
Oh Papa Lali | Idhayathai Thirudathe | 1989 | Mano |
Poovoma Oorgolam | Chinna Thambi | 1991 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha |
Ennai Thalaata | Kadhalukku Mariyadhai | 1997 | Hariharan |
Khajiraho Kanavilor | Oru Naal Oru Kanavu | 2005 | Hariharan, Shreya Ghoshal |
Keeravani Iraviley | Padum Paravaigal | 1988 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
Nenjukulle Innaarunnu | Ponnumani | 1993 |
Intha Maamanoda | Uthama Raasa |
Thendral Kaatre | Kumbakarai Thangaiah | 1991 | Mano, S. Janaki |
Ilavenil Ithu Vaikasi Matham | Kadhal Rojavae | 2000 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra |
Chinna Mani Kuyilae | Amman Kovil Kizhakale | 1986 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
Mannil Indha | Keladi Kanmani | 1990 |
Poongodithan Poothathamma | Idhayam | 1991 |
Malaiyoram Veesum Kaatthu | Paadu Nilave | 1987 |
Vanaththai Parthen | Manithan | Chandrabose |
Putham Pudhu Malare | Amaravathi | 1993 | Bala Bharathi |
Unnai Thotta Thendral | Thalaivasal | 1992 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra |
Kaadhal Kaadhal Kaadhal | Poochudava | 1997 | Sirpy |
Poomedaiyo | Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum | 1986 | V. S. Narasimhan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
Kannalanae Yenathu | Bombay | 1995 | A. R. Rahman | K. S. Chithra |
Ennai Kaanavillayae Nettrodu | Kadhal Desam | 1996 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, O. S. Arun, Rafee |
Vennilavae Vennilavae | Minsara Kanavu | 1997 | Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam |
Vetri Kodi Kattu | Padayappa | 1999 | Malaysia Vasudevan, Palakkad Sreeram |
Evano Oruvan | Alaipayuthey | 2000 | Swarnalatha |
Manasukkul Oru Puyal | Star | 2001 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sadhana Sargam |
Machhakkari Machhakkari | Sillunu Oru Kaadhal | 2006 | Shankar Mahadevan, Vasundhara Das |
Arima Arima | Enthiran | 2010 | Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam, Benny Dayal, Naresh Iyer |
Neethanae | Mersal | 2017 | A. R. Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal |
Adangaatha Asuran | Raayan | 2024 | A. R. Rahman, Dhanush |
Vaannum Mannum | Kaadhal Mannan | 1998 | Bharadwaj | Hariharan, K. S. Chithra |
Anbae Anbae | Uyirodu Uyiraga | 1998 | Vidyasagar |
Adam Evaal | Priyam | 1996 | Mano, Devi |
Malai Kattru Vandhu(Ragam Darbarikaanada touches) | Vedham | 2001 | Hariharan, Mahalakshmi Iyer |
Kadhal Arimugama | Kadhal Kisu Kisu | 2003 | Vijay Prakash, Sujatha |
Oru Kaditham | Deva | 1995 | Deva | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
Enakenna Perandhava | Kizhakku Karai | 1991 |
O Ranganatha | Nesam | 1997 |
Muthu Nagaye | Samundi | 1992 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
Chanda o Chanda | Kannedhirey Thondrinal | 1998 | Harini |
Taj Mahal Ondru | Kannodu Kanbathellam | 1999 | Hariharan |
Anbe En Anbe | Nenjinile |
Pennkiliye Pennkiliye | Sandhitha Velai | 2000 | P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan |
Innisai Paadivarum | Thulladha Manamum Thullum | 1999 | S. A. Rajkumar | P. Unni Krishnan, K. S. Chithra |
Ennavo Ennavo | Priyamaanavale | 2000 | Hariharan, Mahalakshmi Iyer |
Enna Idhuvo | Aanandham | 2001 | Hariharan |
Rangola Ola | Ghajini | 2005 | Harris Jayaraj | Shankar Mahadevan, Sujatha, Ranjith |
Un Sirippinil | Pachaikili Muthucharam | 2007 | Sowmya Rao, Robby |
Thodu Vaanam | Anegan | 2015 | Hariharan, Durga, Shakthisree Gopalan |
Thirumba Thirumba | Paarvai Ondre Pothume | 2001 | Bharani | Harini, P. Unnikrishnan |
Engengo Kaalgal Sellum | Nandha | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Ilaiyaraaja |
Paravaiye Engu Irukkiraai | Kattradhu Thamizh | 2007 |
Theendi Theendi | Bala | 2002 | P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan |
En Anbae En Anbae | Mounam Pesiyadhe | Shankar Mahadevan |
Anbe Peranbe | NGK | 2019 | Sid Sriram, Shreya Ghoshal |
Azhagaai Pookkuthey | Ninaithale Inikkum | 2009 | Vijay Antony | Janaki Iyer, Prasanna |
Kavithaikal Sollava | Ullam Kollai Poguthae | 2001 | Karthik Raja | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha, Hariharan (Pathos) |
Oru Murai Piranthen | Nenjirukkum Varai | 2006 | Srikanth Deva | Hariharan,Sadhana Sargam |
Adiye Enna Raagam | Rummy | 2014 | D. Imman | Abhay Jodhpurkar, Poornima Satish |
Yedho Ninaikiren | Thalai Nagaram | 2006 | Manjari,Devan |
Ammadi Ammadi | Desingu Raja | 2013 | Shreya Ghoshal |
Kannamma Kannamma | Rekka | 2016 | Nandini Srikar |
Velicha Poove | Ethir Neechal | 2013 | Anirudh Ravichander | Mohit Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal |
Manasula Soora Kaathey | Cuckoo | 2014 | Santhosh Narayanan | Sean Roldan,Divya Ramani |
En Nadanam | Tamilzh Padam 2 | 2018 | Kannan | Sharreth, Vijay Prakash |
Nenjil Mamazhai | Nimir | B. Ajaneesh Loknath | Haricharan,Shweta Mohan |
Uyir Uruvaatha | Iravukku Aayiram Kangal | Sam C. S. | Sathyaprakash, Chinmayi | |
Janya Ragam:Rishipriya
Tamil Non Film Songs
Song | Album | Year | Composer | Singer | Source |
---|
Anbe Yen Maruththaai | Azhagiya Kaadhal | 2023 | Ramana | Ramana | |
Gnyaabaga Alaigal (Instrumental) | - | | |
Related rāgams
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.
Keeravani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other major melakarta rāgams, namely, Hemavati, Vakulabharanam and Kosalam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Keeravani.
Notes and References
- Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
- Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras