Hindolam Explained
Hindōḷaṃ is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an audava rāgam (5 notes in arohana and avarohana) as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes). Hindolam is not the same as the Hindustani Hindol. The equivalent of Hindolam in Hindustani music is Malkauns[1] (or Malkosh[2]).
It is known to be a rāgam that is generally beautiful and soothing to listen to. Being symmetrical in its ascending and descending scales, it lends itself very well to improvisation and is therefore popular at concerts.
Structure and Lakshana
Hindōḷaṃ is a symmetric rāgam that does not contain rishabham and panchamam. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava rāgam in Carnatic music classification—audava means 'of 5'). Since pentatonic scales can be found in other world music such as Chinese music, shades of Mohanam and Hindōḷaṃ can sometimes be traced in Chinese and east Asian music. Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
This rāgam uses the swaras sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatam and kaisiki nishadam. Hindolam is not a melakarta rāgam, since it does not contain all the seven swaras.
Experts in Carnatic music hold differences of opinion on the janaka rāgams (rāgams of origin) that should be attributed to Hindolam. It is widely accepted that the 20th melakarta, Natabhairavi, is the parent rāgam of Hindolam, but some would like to associate it with the 8th melakarta, Hanumatodi. It can be derived from both, by dropping the rishabham and panchamam.
Popular compositions
Sāmajavara gamanā by the maestro Tyagaraja is one of the most popular compositions in Hindolam. Mamavatu śri Sarasvati by Mysore Vasudevachar is another popular composition. Here are some more kritis composed in Hindolam:
- Samajavaragamana, Manasulōni Marmamulu and Gōvardhana Giridhāri by Tyagaraja
- Madhukara Vritti, Yaare Rangana,[3] Avanavana Kayva, by Purandaradasa
- Dasa Dasara Maneya By Kanakadasa
- Guru Purandara Dasare, Uma Kathyayani By Vijaya Dasa
- Hari Sarvothama Vayu Jeevothama By Kamalesha Vittala Dasu
- Maa Ramanan, Sāma Gāna lolalane and Nambikettavar by Papanasam Sivan
- Sadanandamayi Chinmayi by Oothukadu Venkata Kavi
- Mamavatu Sri Saraswati by Mysore Vasudevacharya
- Chintayami Jagadamba by Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar
- Dēva Dēvaṃ Bhajē, Konḍalalō Nelakonna, Garuda Gamana, Narayana Ni Namame, Antayu Neeve Haripundarikaksha, Nigama Nigama Nigamandha by Annamacharya Ramanakku Mannan Mudi by Arunachala Kavi
- Mal Marugan (varnam) by Thanjavur Shankara Iyer
- Tillana (Dhim na naa tha dhirana) by Balamuralikrishna
Numerous bhajans, stotras, kritis and film music numbers also have been composed in the Hindolam rāgam.
Tamil Film Songs
| Song | Movie | Year | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Azhaikathey | Manaalane Mangaiyin Baakkiyam | 1957 | P. Adinarayana Rao | P. Susheela |
| Kangalum Kavi Paadudhe | Adutha Veettu Penn | 1960 | Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan |
| Ennai Vittu Odipoga Mudiyumaa | Kumudham | 1961 | K. V. Mahadevan | Sirkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela |
| Maamaa Maamaa Maamaa | T. M. Soundararajan, K. Jamuna Rani |
| Iravukku Aayiram | Kulamagal Radhai | 1963 | P. Susheela |
| Pachchai Maa Malaipol Meni | Thirumal Perumai | 1968 | T. M. Soundararajan |
| Or Aayiram Parvaiyile | Vallavanukku Vallavan | 1965 | Vedha (Credits only) |
| Azhage Uruvai Aval Vanthaal | Paattondru Ketten | 1971 | C. Ramchandra | P. B. Sreenivas |
| Malaro Nilavo | Raga Bandhangal | | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | P. Jayachandran |
| Maname Muruganin | Motor Sundaram Pillai | 1966 | M. S. Viswanathan | Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi |
| Iyarkai Ennum | Shanti Nilayam | 1969 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela |
| Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen | Avalukendru Or Manam | 1971 | S. Janaki |
| Om Namashivaya | Salangai Oli | 1983 | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Vilakku Vaipom | Athma | 1993 |
| Sri Devi En Vazhvil | Ilamai Kolam | 1980 | K. J. Yesudas |
| Darisanam Kidaikatha | Alaigal Oivathillai | 1981 | Ilaiyaraaja, S. Janaki |
| Naan Thedum Sevanthi | Dharma Pathini | 1986 |
| Yentha Jenmam | Ezhumalayan Magimai | 1991 |
| Unnal Mudiyum Thambi | Unnal Mudiyum Thambi | 1988 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Kanna Unai Thedugiren | Unakkaagave Vaazhgiren | 1986 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Thendral Thaan | Keladi Kanmani | 1990 | K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra |
| Kai Pidithu | Sirayil Sila Raagangal |
| Unnai Kanamal Naan Yethu | Kavidhai Paadum Alaigal | Arunmozhi, K. S. Chithra |
| Hey Raja | Jallikattu | 1987 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Mano |
| Ooradungum Saamathile | Pudhupatti Ponnuthaayi | | Uma Ramanan, Swarnalatha |
| En Veettu Jannal | Raman Abdullah | 1997 | Arunmozhi, Bhavatharini |
| Oh Janani | Pudhiya Raagam | 1991 | Mano |
| Nilave Nee Vara Vendum | Ennarukil Nee Irunthal | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Vazhatha Pennin Manam | Thanga Thamaraigal | K. S. Chithra |
| Mangalathu Kungumapottu | Sami Potta Mudichu |
| Enakkoru Devan | Idhaya Deepam | 1989 | Chandrabose |
| Panja Swarangal | Puthiya Sangamam | | Ramakrishna Raja | P. Susheela |
| Marghazhi Poove | May Maadham | 1994 | A. R. Rahman | Shobha Shankar |
| Yakkai Thiri | Aaytha Ezhuthu | 2004 | A.R.Rahman, Pop Shalini, Tanvi Shah, Sunitha Sarathy |
| Irumbile | Enthiran | 2010 | A. R. Rahman, Kash n' Krissy |
| Magudi Magudi | Kadal | 2013 | Aryan Dinesh, Chinmayee, Tanvi Shah |
| Innisai Alapadaiye | Varalaru | 2006 | Naresh Iyer, Mahathi |
| Kumudam Pol | Moovendhar | 1998 | Sirpy | Hariharan |
| Katradikkum Neram | Vivasaayi Magan | 1997 | Mano, K. S. Chithra |
| Thevaram Paadatha | Partha Parvayil | | M. M. A. Iniyavan |
| Sirumalli Poove | Jallikattu Kaalai | 1994 | Deva |
| Un Marbile Vizhi Moodi (Reused tune) | Ninaithen Vandhai | 1998 | K. S. Chithra |
| Ennavale Ennavale | Mano, Anuradha Sriram |
| Chinna Chinna Kiliye | Kannedhirey Thondrinal | Hariharan, Anuradha Sriram, Mahanadhi Shobana |
| Paadavandha Poonguyile | Oyilattam | | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Va Va Endhan | Cheran Pandiyan | 1991 | Soundaryan |
| Adiye Adi Chinna Pulla | Sindhu Nathi Poo | 1994 | Mano, S. Janaki |
| Ithazhodu Ithal Serum | Mannukkul Vairam | 1986 | Devendran | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Thendraliley Mithanthu | Puthiya Thendral | | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Siragulla Nilave Vaa | Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu | 2003 | Devi Sri Prasad |
| Poojai Nera Poongakatru | Mudhal Udhayam | 1995 | Shankar–Ganesh |
| Ramanukku Mannan Mudi | Pathu Matha Pantham | | P. Bhanumathi |
| Azhagiya Vezhigilil | Darling, Darling, Darling | 1982 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam |
| Sangeetha Vanil | Chinna Poove Mella Pesu | 1987 | S. A. Rajkumar |
| Chinna Chinna Megam | Devaraagam | 1996 | M. M. Keeravani | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha Mohan |
| Santhanam Theychachi | Manikkam | Karthik Raja | Bhavatharini |
| Veesum Kaatrukku | Ullaasam | 1997 | P. Unnikrishnan, Harini |
| Chandira Mandalathai | Nilaave Vaa | 1998 | Vidyasagar | Vijay, Harini, S. P. Charan |
| Kavidhai Iravu | Sullan | 2004 | Karthik, K. S. Chithra |
| Summa Kidantha | Thambi | 2006 | Karthik, Kalyani Nair |
| Vatta Vatta | Thennavan | 2003 | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Unni Menon, Padmalatha |
| Kalavani | Kodiveeran | 2017 | N. R. Raghunanthan | V. V. Prasanna, Soundarya |
| Othaiyadi Pathayila | Kanaa | 2018 | Dhibu Ninan Thomas | Anirudh Ravichander |
| Oonjala Oonjala | Sid Sriram, Niranjana Ramanan |
| Pesatha Mozhiye | Kombu Vatcha Singamda | 2022 | K. S. Harisankar, Chinmayi Sripaada |
| Adiye | Bachelor | 2021 | Kapil Kapilan |
| Kadai Kannaaley | Bhoomi | D. Imman | Shreya Ghoshal, Varun Parandhaman | |
Non Film Songs
Kannada Film Songs
Related rāgams
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.
Hindolam's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 4 other major pentatonic rāgams, namely, Mohanam, Shuddha Saveri, Udayaravichandrika (also known as Shuddha Dhanyasi) and Madhyamavati. 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 more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Mohanam.
Scale similarities
- Saramati has an asymmetric scale, with the ascending scale of Natabhairavi, while the descending scale is same as Hindolam. Its structure is S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N2 S : S N2 D1 M1 G2 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: Rama Mantrava. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/N8l7tAVr6nE . 2021-12-21 . live. .
- Web site: Namo Venkatesaya – Single by Mahesh Mahadev, Priyadarshini & S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. 2020-09-05. Apple Music.
