Vakulabharanam

Summary

Vakulabharanam (pronounced vakuḷābharaṇam) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 14th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Dhātivasantabhairavi[1][2] or Vātivasantabhairavi[3] in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music. Hindustani equivalent of this ragam is raga basant mukhari

Vakulabharanam
ArohanamS R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₂ 
Avarohanam N₂ D₁ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S
EquivalentPhrygian dominant scale

Structure and Lakshana edit

 
Vakulabharanam scale with shadjam at C

It is the 2nd rāgam in the 3rd chakra Agni. The mnemonic name is Agni-Sri. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gu ma pa dha ni.[1] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

Shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham are the swaras used in this scale. As this scale is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Nāmanārāyaṇi, which is the 50th melakarta scale.[4]

Asampurna Melakarta edit

Vātivasantabhairavi is the 14th Melakarta in the original list compiled by Venkatamakhin. The notes used in the scale are the same, but the descending scale has notes used in zig-zag manner (vakra prayoga).[5]

Janya rāgams edit

Vakulabharanam has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Vasantabhairavi is heard occasionally in concerts. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Vakulabharanam.

Compositions edit

Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to Vakulabharanam.

Film songs edit

Language:Tamil edit

Song Movie Composer Singer
Ninaithen Vanthai Kaavalkaaran M. S. Viswanathan T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Pattathu Rani Sivandha Mann L. R. Eswari
Thuluvadho Ilamai Kudiyirundha Koyil T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Naam Oruvarai Oruvar Kumari Kottam
Sambo Sivasambo Ninaithale Inikkum M. S. Viswanathan
Paruvam Enathu Paadal Aayirathil Oruvan Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy P. Susheela
Kinnaththil Then Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu Ilaiyaraaja K.J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Aarum Athu Aalam Illa Muthal Vasantham Ilaiyaraaja
Aasai Nooruvagai Adutha Varisu Malaysia Vasudevan
Oru Thendral Pudhumai Penn
Pachondiyyeh Kelada Andha Oru Nimidam S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Thai Pongalum Vandhadhu Mahanadhi K.S. Chitra
Pangunikkappuram Sithiraiye Vanna Vanna Pookkal
Unakkum Enakkum Sri Raghavendrar Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Jigan Jinakku Veetla Visheshanga Swarnalatha
Pitchai Paathiram Naan Kadavul Madhu Balakrishnan
Maraththa Vechchavan Panakkaran Ilaiyaraaja
Unn Kanakku Thaan Raja Kaiya Vacha Mano
Nethurathiri Yemma Sakalakala Vallavan S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Chekka Chekka Sevantha Vallarasu Deva
Ada Moondrezhuthu Paarthale Paravasam A. R. Rahman Karthik, Harini
Enuyire Uyire Srinivas, Kavita Krishnamurthy
Oh Nanba Lingaa S.P.Balasubramanyam, Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam
Mayya Mayya Guru Maryem Tollar, Chinmayi & Keerthi Sagathia
Thanga Thamarai Minsara Kanavu S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (won National award)
Naan Aalana Thamarai Idhu Namma Aalu K. Bhagyaraj S. Janaki
En Kannai Bala Yuvan Shankar Raja Shankar Mahadevan
Thottu Thottu Kaadhal Kondein Harish Raghavendra
Shaheeba Shaheeba Daas Hariharan, Sujatha Mohan
Vilaiyaadu Mankatha Mankatha Ranjith, Yuvan Shankar Raja,Anitha Karthikeyan, Premgi Amaren, Rita
Vathikuchi Pathikadhuda Dheena S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Enga Poi Solluven Kudaikul Mazhai Karthik Raja
Dilruba Dilruba Priyam Vidyasagar Gopal Rao, Anuradha Sriram
Aai Shabba Karnaa Mano, Swarnalatha
Yelai Imayamalai Thavasi Manickka Vinayakam
Ava Kannapaatha Charlie Chaplin Bharani S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Harish Raghavendra
Megam Mazhai Thooral Poduthu En Mamanukku Nalla Manasu Sirpy S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Uma Ramanan
Megangal Ennai Thottu Amarkalam Bharadwaj S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

Language:Hindi edit

Song Movie Composer Singer
Gulaabi Aankhein The Train (1970 film) R D Burman Mohammad Rafi

Janya:Surya/Srothoswini Ragam edit

Ascending: S G3 M1 D1 N2 S

Descending:S N2 D1 M1 G3 S

Film Songs:Tamil edit

Song Movie Composer Singer
Gnaan Gnaan Paadanu Poonthalir Ilaiyaraaja Jency
Isai Arasi Ennalum Thaai Mookaambikai P. Susheela,S. Janaki,M. S. Rajeswari
Sindhiya Venmani Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran K. J. Yesudas,P. Susheela
Oh Vasantha Raaja Neengal Kettavai S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,S. Janaki
Poojaiketha Poovidhu Neethana Andha Kuyil Gangai Amaran,K. S. Chithra
Jai Chiranjeeva Thisai Kathal Devathai S. P. Sailaja
Kanava Nijama Sri Rama Rajyam Tippu
Raa Raa Sarasukku

(2nd charanam in Sudhadhanyasi)

Chandramukhi Vidyasagar Binny Krishnakumar, Tippu
Medhuva Medhuva Pirivom Santhippom Karthik,Harini

Related rāgams edit

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

Vakulabharanam's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 major melakarta rāgams, namely Keeravani and Hemavati along with 1 minor melakarta rāgam Kosalam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Keeravani.

Vakulabharanam corresponds to Phrygian dominant scale in Western music.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S  G M P   
    • Western: C D E F G A B C
  2. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:    P M G  S
    • Western: C B A G F E D C
  3. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S  G M P   
    • Western: C D E F G A B C
  4. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:    M G M P M G  S
    • Western: C B A F E F G F E D C

References edit

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar Keertanaigal by Vidwan A. Sundaram Iyer, Pub. 1989, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai, India
  4. ^ S, Aravind. "Vakulabharanam, Pathos bounding at just 14". Melakartha Melodies.
  5. ^ Shree Muthuswami Dikshitar Keerthanaigal, by A Sundaram Iyer, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai