Hanumatodi Explained
Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi (pronounced hanumatōdi and tōdi), is a rāgam (musical scale) in Carnatic music. It is the 8th melakarta rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. This is sung very often in concerts. It is a difficult rāgam to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga (phrases of notes and intonation). It is called Janatodi in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1] Its Western equivalent is the Phrygian mode. Todi in Carnatic music is different from Todi (thaat) of Hindustani music (North Indian classical music). The equivalent of the Hindustani raga Todi in Carnatic music is Shubhapantuvarali (which is the 45th melakarta).[2] [3] The equivalent of Carnatic Todi in Hindustani is Bhairavi thaat in terms of notes, but the two sound very different due to differing uses of gamakas.
Structure and Lakshana
It is the 2nd rāgam in the 2nd chakra Netra. The mnemonic name is Netra-Sri. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gi ma pa dha ni. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music page for details on below notation and terms):
This scale uses the notes shuddha rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham. It is a sampoorna rāgam - rāgam having all 7 swarams. It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Bhavapriya, which is the 44th melakarta scale. A peculiarity of this raga is that it is sung in all lower notes. It is also classified as a "rakti" raga (a raga of high melodic content).
Janya rāgams
Hanumatodi has many janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Asaveri, Janatodi, Dhanyasi, Punnagavarali and Shuddha Seemanthini are popular. See List of janya rāgams for all of Todi's janyas.
Popular compositions
Most composers have composed songs in Todi. Thyagaraja alone has composed about 32 compositions in this raga with each composition starting at every single note of the three octaves. Thāye Yashoda, composed by Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi, is a very well known composition, in the Tamil language. This popular kriti is sung frequently in concerts. A popular varnam in the Todi rāgam is Erā Nāpai by Patnam Subramania Iyer, one of the famous composers of Carnatic music.
Other popular compositions are:
- Era Na Pai an Aadi thala varnam by Patnam Subramania Iyer
- Daani Samajendra, Saridisavasa (Varnams) by Swathi Thirunal
- Kādhanu vāriki, Dācu kovalena, Proddupoyenu, Dasarathi Nee Runamu, Aragimpave, Raju Vedale, Endu daginado, Chesinadella, Koluvamaregada, Nee vanti daivamu sadanana and Gati Neevani by Thyagaraja Sarasijanabha Murare, Devadevamam Palaya, Japatha Japatha, Devadeva Mam Palayamam, Mandara Dhara, Pankajaksha Tava Sevam, Samodam Kalayami by Swathi Thirunal
- Shri Krishnam Bhajamaanasa, Daakshayani,Shri Subramanyomam Rakshatu and Kamalambike by Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Raave Himagiri Kumari, Karunanidhi Ilalo by Syama Sastri
- Kangalidyatako by Sripadaraja
- Enu Dhanyalo Lakumi, Banda nodi Govinda, Ninna Nodi Dhanyanadeno by Purandara Dasa
- Sharadeye Karuna Varidhi Ny Vijaya Dasa
- Gajananam Ganapathim by Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar
- Kārthikeya Gangeya and Thamatham aen swami by Papanasam Sivan
- Paradevathe Nin Pada Bhajanam by Irayimman Thampi
- varnam miinakshi niidu by gnanananda teertha (ogirala veera raghava sarma)
- SarasijanAbha MurArE by Swati Tirunal*
- kriti kamakshi sada by gnanananda teertha (ogirala veera raghava sarma)
- Anjaneyam upasmahe by Bellary M. Sheshagiri Acharya
- Ninne namminanu by Shyama Shastri
- Notru Suvargam part of the Thiruppavai by Andal
- Sudha Nidhe Mamava Sadha by Balamurali Krishna
Film Songs
| Song | Movie | Year | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Ellam Sivan Seyal | Sivakavi | 1943 | Papanasam Sivan | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar |
| Kattradhu Kai Mannalavu | Avvaiyar | 1953 | M. D. Parthasarathy,Anandaraman and Mayavaram Venu | K. B. Sundarambal |
| Ennai Pol Pennallavo | Vanangamudi | 1957 | G. Ramanathan | P. Suseela |
| Aanandam Inru Aarambam(Ragamalika) | Kalyanikku Kalyanam | 1959 | M. L. Vasanthakumari,P. Leela |
| Konji Konji Pesi | Kaithi Kannayiram | 1960 | K.V. Mahadevan | P. Susheela |
| Pesuvadhu Killiyaa | Panathottam | 1963 | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela |
| Aadaludan Paadalai | Kudiyirundha Koyil | 1968 |
| Enge Nimmadhi | Puthiya Paravai | 1964 | T. M. Soundararajan |
| Oru Naal Irunthen Thaniyaaga | Ethirigal Jakkirathai | 1967 | Vedha | T.M.Soundararajan, P. Susheela, B.Vasantha |
| Thodiyil Paduginren | Thodiragam (film) | | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | T. N. Seshagopalan |
| Gangai Karai Mannanadi | Varusham 16 | 1989 | Ilaiyaraaja | K. J. Yesudas |
| Nethu Kodutha | Kathal Saathi | | Karthik |
| Athiradee | | 2007 | A.R. Rahman | A R Rahman, Sayonara |
| Usure Pogudhey | Raavanan | 2010 | Karthik, Mohammad Irfan Ali |
| Ammadi Idhu Thaan Kadhala | Idhu Namma Aalu | 1988 | K. Bhagyaraj | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Thodi Raagam Paadava | Maanagara Kaaval | 1991 | Chandrabose | K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra |
| Mankatha Theme | Mankatha | 2011 | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| Varaha Roopam Daiva VarishtamRagamalika (Hanumatodi, Mukhari, Kanakangi) | | 2022 | B.Ajaneesh Lokhnath | |
| Thamarai poovil amarnthavale | Devotional song | | | P. Susheela | |
Related rāgams
Todi's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 5 other major melakarta rāgams, namely, Kalyani, Shankarabharanam, Natabhairavi, Kharaharapriya and Harikambhoji. For further details and an illustration of graha bhedam of this rāgam refer related rāgams section in Shankarabharanam page.
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
