Nata (raga) explained

Nata (nāṭa), also known as Nattai, is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music), sometimes spelled Nattai. It is a janya rāgam (derived scale) from the 36th melakarta scale Chalanata. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the descending scale. It is a combination of the sampurna raga scale Chalanata and the pentatonic scale Gambhiranata.^{[1] [2]} It is an auspicious raga, which is mostly sung in the early part of the concert.

There is a raaga named Nata in Hindusthani music as well, and another raaga named Shuddha Nat. But they are sung rarely, and have no association with the Nattai of Carnatic Music.^[3] The closest comparable raga to be the Hindustani equivalent of Carnatic Nattai, is the Raga "Jog", which is believed to be a derivative of the Kafi Thaat.

Structure of Lakshana

Nata is an ASYMMETRIC rāgam that does not contain gandharam and dhaivatam in the descending scale. It is an sampurna-audava rāgam (or owdava rāgam, meaning pentatonic descending scale). Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:

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• :

It is a vivadi raga. The notes used in this scale are shadjam, shatsruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, shatsruthi dhaivatam and kakali nishadham in ascending scale, with dhaivatam and gandharam skipped in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music.

Popular Compositions

There are many compositions set to Nata rāgam. Many compositions in praise of Lord Ganesha are set to this raga. Here are some popular kritis composed in this ragam.

• Sri Rajadhiraja (Tanavarnam)
• The first Pancharatna Kriti Jagadananda karaka and Ninne Bhajana by Tyagaraja
• Mahaganapathim, Swaminatha paripalaya, Parameswara and Pavanathmajaagachcha by Muthuswami Dikshitar
• The first Thiruppavai Margazhi Thingal by Andal
• Paahi Saure and Jaya Devaki Kishora by Swathi Thirunal
• Umaiyor Bhagane by Papanasam Sivan
• Veda Mathe Veda Vinuthe by Muthiah Bhagavathar
• Pahi Nikhila Janani by Irayimman Thampi
• Sarasijanabha Mam Pahi by Palghat Parameswara Bhagavathar
• Sri Mahaganapathe Surapathe by Mayooram Viswanatha Sasthri
• Kamalambike Mamava Sada by Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar
• Karimukhavarada by G. N. Balasubramaniam
• Sri Gajanana, Sri Padmanabham, Pranathosmi Devam and Re Re Manasa by Thulaseevanam
• Sri Gananatha by Pallavi Sesha Iyer
• Tanthi Ma Mukha by Koteeswara Iyer
• Suryakodi Mamaprabhamakudei by Kutti Kunju Thankachi
• Namo Namo Raghukulanayaka by Annamacharya
• Jaya Jaya Janaki (1st Navaratna Malike), Vandisuvudadiyali by Purandaradasa
• Ananda Nartana Ganapathim by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi
• Sidhi Arul Siva Sakthi Balagane by Nilakanta Sivan

Film songs

Song	Movie	Composer	Singer
Ventriduven Unnai(Ragamalika opening portion only)Other Ragas : Bhairavi, Thodi, Aarabhi,Shanmukhapriya, Darbar, Hamsadhwani, Vasantha, Mohanam, Manolayam, Bageshwari, Saranga, Kambothi, Gowri Manohari, Saraswati and Kalyani (16 Ragas)	Agathiyar	Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan	T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Maanikkka Theril Maragatha	Thedi Vandha Mappillai	M. S. Viswanathan	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Mahaganapathim(Traditional Carnatic)	Sindhu Bhairavi	Illayaraja	K.J. Yesudas
Mettioli Katrodu (Starts with Suddha Dhanyasi)	Metti		Illayaraja, S. Janaki(Humming only)
Kavithai Kelungal(Ragamalika)	Punnagai Mannan		Vani Jairam
Aala Asathum	Kanni Rasi		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Isai Paadu Nee	Isai Paadum Thendral		S. Janaki
Oh Oh Oh Kaalai Kuyilgale	Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren
Holi Holi	Raasukutti		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Innum Ennai (Gambeeranattai with Tilang)	Singaravelan
Podu Thanthanathom	Nalla Naal
Panivizhum Malar Vanam (in Chalanattai)	Ninaivellam Nithya		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Inge Iraivan(In Jog)	Sir.I Love You		Mano, P. Susheela
Nan Deva devi	Thangakkili		Mano, Swarnalatha
Oru Pattampochi	Kadhalukku Mariyadhai		K.J. Yesudas, Sujatha
Naan Ondru Kettal	Ilayaragam		Arunmozhi, K.S. Chitra
Peigaley Nambathey	Mahanadhi		Kamal Haasan, Shanmugasundari
Annai Thanthai(Gambeeranattai)	Are You Ok Baby(2023)		Shweta Mohan
Sandhosha Kannire	Uyire	A. R. Rahman	A. R. Rahman
Spiderman	New		Kunal Ganjawala, Sadhana Sargam
Narumugaiye Narumugaiye	Iruvar		P. Unnikrishnan, Bombay Jayashree
Vennila Vennila			Asha Bhosle
Thom Thom	Alli Thandha Vaanam	Vidyasagar	Hariharan, K.S. Chitra
Oru Nimidamaa	Thithikudhe		Tippu,Srivarthini
Thangamagan Indru	Baashha	Deva	K.J. Yesudas, K.S. Chitra
Devi Devi	Santharpam		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Uma Ramanan
Katrinile Varum Geetham	Rasigan Oru Rasigai	Raveendran	Vani Jairam
Mudhalam Santhippil	Charlie Chaplin	Bharani	P. Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha
Solaigal Ellam	Pookkalai Parikkatheergal	T. Rajendar	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chitra
Vasantham Paadi Vara	Rail Payanangalil		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Valibam Vaazha Sollum	Ullaasam	Karthik Raja	Karthik Raja,Prabhu Deva,Ajith Kumar, Vikram, Maheswari,Shruti Haasan
Sogam Eni Ellai	Vaaname Ellai	Maragathamani	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Maragadha Mani(Chorus)
Uyire Uyire	Vaanam Vasappadum	Mahesh Mahadevan	Hariharan, Ganga
Iyengaru Veetu Azhagey	Anniyan	Harris Jayaraj	Hariharan, Harini
Chennai Senthamizh (copy of Mahaganapathim)	M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi	Srikanth Deva	Harish Raghavendra
Karigalan Kala	Vettaikaaran	Vijay Antony	Suchith Suresan,Sangeetha Rajeshwaran
Aagayam Kanatha	Unakkum Enakkum	Devi Sri Prasad	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Jingunamani	Jilla	D. Imman	Ranjith, Sunidhi Chauhan
Ammukuttiye	Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli Raajanum		Pradeep Kumar

Related rāgams

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

References

1. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
2. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
3. Web site: Cracked Open – the Nats! (Part 1/2) .