FIFA fever kept me awake last night, for a very long time and I fell asleep after watching Spain’s tremendous playing. And this morning, I woke up anticipating another monotonous Sunday. Attending classes on a Sunday is not something which I look forward to; especially when I have to reach the class early to save the first few seats for my friends and myself! So, yes, very reluctantly, I managed to get ready, and boarded a bus by 7.30 AM! I was certain that I’d make it to class in time! :)
I was rather sleepy in the bus; just then, the one sitting next to me set the song ‘Athangara marame’ playing in her mobile. A.R Rahman’s one of my favourite music directors and this particular song of his, is a very cheerful one, set in a village ambience. Wow! There was something to buoy up my spirits at last! “Now,” I thought, “I’ve finally geared full throttle for the long day ahead.” :)
So what’s extraordinary about this song? Rahman has definitely given us better numbers, but this one had a special impact on me, at least today! I came home from class and played it a couple of times again. God, I got hooked onto this song! Sung by our very own Mano and Sujatha for the film ‘Kizhalukku Cheemayile,’ the number is clearly brilliant.
Now for a mild run-through of the musical technicalities, this song is set in ‘Harikhamboji’ raga. Harikhamboji, an ancient raga in Carnatic music, is a Melakartha raga (parent raga) with all the seven swaras (notes) in its ‘aarohanam’ (ascending scale) and ‘avarohanam’ (descending scale);
Arohanam: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N2 S
Avarohanam: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
Harikhamboji is best when presented in a slow pace; this particular Rahman’s number holds up the beauty of this raga nevertheless. Thyagaraja’s ‘enthara neethana’ kriti is one of my favourite compositions and is a classic example of how wonderful a raga, Harikhamboji is! ‘Nenjukkul peidhidum’ from the film Vaaranam aayiram, is another popular number set in this beautiful raga!
Well, whatever it is, one song made my day and held me in my spirits! Cheers! :)
wow a gud post re :) enjoyed while readin..wanna hear tat song :)
ReplyDeletewow! i used to seek refuge in illayaraja songs for my sunday labs at CEG.. esp while driving back on empty beach noon roads.. btw, what classes you have on sunday??
ReplyDeleteawesome song...and your post reminds me of my own reminiscences of music.....music (esp carnatic) is an ocean!! kudos to rahman to blend carnatic and produce such epic songs!!
ReplyDeleteHey , Thx for commenting on my blog! :) ARR is a legend! :)
ReplyDelete@subasree: Thanks girl! :)
ReplyDelete@santosh: ilayaraja and ARR are par excellence! cheers :)
@tejaswini: yeah! totally! :)
@sudharsan: do write in more posts on ragas! :) cheers! :)
there was a bit of trivia for me! :) i hadn't realised that nenjukkul peidhidum maamazhai had a harikhamboji base!
ReplyDeleteI differ a little on the Raga. It is very much " Jhinjhoti" , a hindusthani raga ( derived from Khamaj thaat ); can be also considered to be a derivative of Harikamboji.
ReplyDeleteNice writing style....keep writing
ReplyDeleteHarikhamboji is discuused by Ilango adigalar in Silapoathikaram, in aaychiyar kuravai(ஆய்ச்சியர் குரவை). In those days this raga was known as chembalai(செம்பாலை)..as you mentioned it is an ancient raga
Some one said
You could feel a rustic odour while hearing harikhamboji...