Chalanata Explained
Chalanata (pronounced chalanāta) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 36th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is one of the few rāgams referred by the same name in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1]
Structure and Lakshana
It is the 6th rāgam in the 6th chakra Rutu. The mnemonic name is Rutu-Sha. The mnemonic phrase is sa ru gu ma pa dhu nu.[2] 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 shadjam, shatsruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, shatsruthi dhaivatham and kakali nishadham. As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampurna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Rasikapriya, which is the 72nd (last) melakarta.
Janya Rāgams
Chalanāta (also pronounced Chalanāttai) has two popular janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, namely Nāta (Nāttai) and Ghambheeranāta (Gambheeranāttai). Nāta ragam compositions are sung often in concerts and it overshadows Chalanāta.[3] See List of Janya Rāgams for list of janya rāgams associated with Chalanāta.
Compositions
A few compositions set to Chalanāta are:
Film songs
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Ventriduven Unnai(Ragamalika opening portion only) | Agathiyar | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan |
| Maanikkka Theril Maragatha | Thedi Vandha Mappillai | M. S. Viswanathan | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela |
| Mahaganapathim | Sindhu Bhairavi | Illayaraja | K.J. Yesudas |
| Mettioli Katrodu (more of Jog)
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Thangamagan Indru | Baashha | Deva | K.J. Yesudas, K.S. Chitra |
| Devi Devi | Santharpam | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Uma Ramanan |
| Mudhalam Santhippil | Charlie Chaplin | Bharani | P. Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha |
| Solaigal Ellam | Pookkalai Parikkatheergal | T. Rajendar | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chitra |
| Uyire Uyire | Vaanam Vasappadum | Mahesh Mahadevan | Hariharan, Ganga |
| Iyengaru Veetu Azhagey | Anniyan | Harris Jayaraj | Hariharan, Harini |
| Chennai Senthamizh (inspired from Mahaganapathim) | M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi | Srikanth Deva | Harish Raghavendra |
| 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.
Chalanata's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields a major Melakarta rāgam Shubhapantuvarali. 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 Chalanata.
Notes and References
- Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar Keertanaigal by Vidwan A Sundaram Iyer, Pub. 1989, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai
- Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
- Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
