Mohanakalyani Explained
Mohanakalyani is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale) from the 65th melakarta scale Mechakalyani. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending scale. It is a combination of the pentatonic scale Mohanam and the Melakarta raga scale Kalyani.[1] This ragam can be considered as a Prati Madhyamam equivalent of Bilahari, the janya of 29th Melakartha Dheerashankarabharanam. The equivalent of Mohanakalyani in Hindustani music is Bhoop Kalyan or Shuddha Kalyan.[2] Bhoop Kalyan belongs to the Kalyan thaat of Hindustani music. Similar to Mohanakalyani, Bhoop Kalyan is a combination of Bhoop and Kalyan. This rāgam is believed to be invented by Swati Tirunal Maharaja.
Structure and Lakshana
Mohanakalyani is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain madhyamam or nishādham in the ascending scale. It is an audava-sampurna rāgam (or owdava rāgam, meaning pentatonic ascending scale). Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:
The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chathusruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, panchamam and chathusruthi dhaivatham in ascending scale, with kakali nishadham and prati madhyamam included in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music.
Popular compositions
A few compositions have been set to Mohanakalyani rāgam. Here are some popular kritis composed in Mohanakalyani.
Film Songs
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Amudhum Thaenum | Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum | K. V. Mahadevan | Seerkazhi Govindarajan |
| Masila Unmai Kathale | Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum | Susarla Dakshinamurthi | A. M. Rajah, Bhanumathi |
| Chellakiligalam Paliyile | Enga Mama | M. S. Viswanathan | T. M. Soundararajan |
| Pudhiya Vaanam | Anbe Vaa |
| Ullangal Ondragi | Punar Janmam | T. Chalapathi Rao | A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela |
| Chinna Chinna Kannile | Then Nilavu | A. M. Rajah |
| Thanimaiyile Inimai | Aadi Perukku |
| Thullatha Manamum | Kalyana Parisu | Jikki |
| Thenmalli Poove | Thyagam | Illayaraja | T. M. Soundararajan, S. Janaki |
| Kaalai Thendral Paadi Varum | Uyarndha Ullam | P. Susheela |
| Naan Sirithal | Nayakan | K. Jamuna Rani, M. S. Rajeswari |
| Pattu Thalaivan padinal | Idaya Kovil | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Ohh Party Nalla | Idhayam | Malaysia Vasudevan |
| Muthal Mutham | Puthir | K.J. Yesudas, S. Janaki |
| Maragatha Veenai | Maragatha Veenai |
| Paarijatha Poove | En Rasavin Manasile | S. N. Surendar, K.S. Chitra |
| Oru Kanam Oru Yugamaga | Nadodi Thendral | Illayaraja, S. Janaki |
| Ninaikkatha Neramillai | | Mano, S. Janaki |
| Vannila Thennila | Kavithai Paadum Alaigal | Mano, K.S. Chitra |
| Keladaa Manida | Bharathi | Rajkumar Bharathi |
| Vaanmathiye | Aranmanai Kili | S. Janaki |
| Panneeril Nanaintha | | Laxmikant–Pyarelal |
| Uyire Uyire | Iniyavale | Deva | Hariharan, Swarnalatha |
| Kuku Kuku Kuyile | Aagaya Pookal | K.J. Yesudas |
| Kandupidi Avanai Kandupidi(charanam in Ragam Vasanthi) | Unnudan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Harini |
| Mudhan Mudhalaga | Engal Anna | Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam |
| Ethirveetu Jannal | Oor Mariyadhai | Malaysia Vasudevan, Krishnaraj |
| Chinna Veedu Chithra | Thai Poranthachu | Sabesh |
| Uyir Vazhgiren | Vaikarai Pookkal | Devendran | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam(vers 1), K. S. Chithra(vers 2) | |
Songs in malayalam
Related rāgams
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.
Scale similarities
- Mohanam has a symmetric pentatonic scale, with the notes same as the ascending scale of Mohanakalyani. Its structure is S R2 G3 P D2 S : S D2 P G3 R2 S
- Bilahari is a rāgam which has the shuddha madhyamam in descending scale (descending scale of Shankarabharanam) in place of the prati madhyamam. Its structure is S R2 G3 P D2 S : S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
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
- Web site: live. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/mXNt6Rw-RtI. 2021-12-05. Adinaye Kanna . YouTube.
