Shanmukhapriya Explained
Shanmukhapriya is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 56th melakarta rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Chāmaram in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1] [2] It is said to be borrowed into Hindustani music from Carnatic music. Many compositions on Lord Murugan and Lord Shiva are based on this raaga.
Structure and Lakshana
It is the 2nd rāgam in the 10th chakra Disi. The mnemonic name is Disi-Sri. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gi mi pa dha ni. Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
This scale uses the swaras chatushruti rishabham, sadharana gandharam, prati madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatam and kaisiki nishadam. 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 prati madhyamam equivalent of Natabhairavi, which is the 20th melakarta scale.
Janya rāgams
Shanmukhapriya has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of janya rāgams for scales associated with Shanmukhapriya.
Compositions
Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to Shanmukhapriya.
The compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar, namely, Siddhi Vinayakam, Mahasuram Ketumaham,sadashraye and Ekamreshanayakim have their school's rāgam name Chāmaram mudra in them.
A composition later set to Shanmukapriya
Film Songs
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Nenjil Kudiyirukkum | Irumbu Thirai | S. V. Venkatraman | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Leela |
| Arivukku Virunthaagum Thirukurale | Arivaali | T. M. Soundararajan |
| Ninaindhu Ninaindhu Nenjam Urugudhe | Sadhaaram | G. Ramanathan |
| Muthai Tharu | Arunagirinathar | T. R. Papa |
| Maraindhirundhu | Thillana Mohanambal | K. V. Mahadevan | P. Susheela |
| Pazham Neeyappa | Thiruvilaiyadal | K. B. Sundarambal |
| Pirandha Naal Mannan Pirandha Naal | Tenali Raman | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | P. Bhanumathi |
| Vellum peyar than velavan | Kandhar Alangaram | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | S.Janaki |
| Kannukkul Nooru | Vedham Pudhithu | Devendran | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Nadakattum leelai | Devi Sri Karumariamman | Shankar–Ganesh | T.M.Soundarajan |
| Thamthananam Thana | Puthiya Vaarpugal | Illayaraja | Jency Anthony,Sulochana |
| Thakita Thadimi | Salangai Oli | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Kadhal Kasukuthaiya | Aan Paavam | Illayaraja |
| Sollaayo Vaaithiranthu | Mogamul | M. G. Sreekumar, S. Janaki |
| Ooruvittu Ooruvanthu | Karakattakkaran | Malaysia Vasudevan, Gangai Amaran |
| Rajathi Raja | Mannan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha |
| Vanampadi Paadum Neram | Sir...I Love You | K. S. Chithra |
| Kannanai Thedi Vanthen | Karpanai | Santhosh Jayaraj |
| Poonthendralil Oru | Chandramathi | Raja Priyan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Abirami Neril Vanthaal | Vaanam | Chandilyan | Vani Jairam |
| Saravanabava Ennum Thirumanthiram | Mettukudi | Sirpy | Mano |
| Kodi Malligai Konjuthu Konjuthu | Senthazhampoove | Adithyan | Mano, Swarnalatha |
| Mudhal Kanave | Majunu | Harris Jayaraj | Harish Raghavendra, Bombay Jayashri,O.S.Arun |
| Silukku Marame | Paayum Puli | D. Imman | Divya Kumar,Shashaa Tirupati, Sharanya Gopinath |
| Thappu Thanda | Villain | Vidyasagar | Shankar Mahadevan,Sujatha Mohan |
| Dailamo Dailamo (loosely based) | Dishyum | Vijay Antony | Vijay Antony, Sangeetha Rajeshwaran | |
Ascending:S G2 M2 P N2 S
Descending:S N2 P M2 G2 S
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Antha Maanai Parungal | Andaman Kadhali | M. S. Viswanathan | KJ Yesudas, Vani Jayaram |
| Oru Naal Iravu | Kaaviya Thalaivi | P. Suseela |
| Naan Paadiya Paatai | Vazhkai Vazhvatharke | P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela |
| Vaazhandhal Unnodu | Savithiri (1980 film) | Vani Jairam |
| Parvai Ondre Pothume(reused Hindi tune) | Yaar Nee? | Vedha | T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari |
| Edho Ninaivugal | Agal Vilakku | Ilaiyaraaja | KJ Yesudas, S. P. Sailaja |
| Kaala Kaalamaaga Vaazhum (Loosely Based) | Punnagai Mannan | S P Balasubramaniam, K S Chitra |
| Kannamma Kaadhalenum Kavidhai | Vanna Vanna Pookkal | Ilaiyaraaja, S. Janaki |
| Nalam Vaazha | Marupadiyum | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Sangathamizh Kaviye(Ragamalika:Abheri, Bageshri,Sumanesa Ranjani) | Manathil Uruthi Vendum | K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra |
| Jal Jal Jal Salangai Kulunga | Ponnuketha Purushan | P. Jayachandran, Swarnalatha |
| Puthu Kaveri Karai | Pudhiya Swarangal | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra |
| Vaalvellam Inbam Inbam | Poongatru Puthithanathu | MS Geethan |
| Alaikadal(only A section) | | A. R. Rahman | Antara Nandy |
| Vinmeengalai Thaandi Vaazhum Kadhal BGM (has a tint of Chandrakauns as well, using Graha Bhedam)
| Uyire | Sukhwinder Singh & Palakkad Sriram |
| Oru Kelvi Unnai | Priyam | Vidyasagar | P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan |
| Vannanilavae Vannanilavae | Ninaithen Vandhai | Deva | Hariharan |
| Unai Ninaithu Naan Enai(Reused Tune) | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra, Sujatha Mohan |
| Sollaikulla Kaatukulla | Dharma Chakkaram | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha Mohan |
| Adikkira Kai Anaikkuma | Natpukkaga | Harini |
| Chum Chum | Enakkoru Magan Pirappan | Karthik Raja | Bhavatharini, Karthik Raja |
| Vaan Nilavudhaan | Pugaippadam | Gangai Amaran | Vijay Yesudas |
| Azhagu Kutti Chellam | Satham Podathey | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Shankar Mahadevan |
| Kanna Nee Ennai | Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam | G. V. Prakash Kumar | Bombay Jayashri,Naveen Iyer,D.A. Srinivas |
| Lazy Song | Oh Manapenne! | Vishal Chandrashekhar | Sinduri Vishal, Lady Kash | |
Related rāgams
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.
Shanmukhapriya's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other major melakarta rāgams, namely, Shoolini, Dhenuka and Chitrambari. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Shanmukhapriya.
Shanmukhapriya corresponds to Hungarian Gypsy scale in Western music.
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
- News: A Raga's Journey – Sacred Shanmukhapriya. The Hindu. 2 September 2011.
