Karnaranjani – Ragapedia 14
Ragapedia is a series of posts I am writing, one Carnatic Raga per post, on my understanding of the ragam, carnatic compositions in that ragam and how it has been dealt within films. This post is about Karnaranjani, a ragam that is pleasant to the ears, just as its name signifies — ‘karna’ means ear and ‘ranjagam’ means pleasant sounding.
The ragam has been classified as a janyam of Kharaharapriya and its unique identifier phrase is “SRGMGP”. Hence the scale is:
Aarohanam: S R2 G2 M1 G2 P D2 S
Avarohanam: S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S
The ragam was a creation of Harikesanallur Muthiah Bagavathar. For a relatively newer ragam it has grown to be one with few but all popular compositions.
Carnatic Compositions
- Vanchathonuna by Harikesanallur Muthiah Bagavathar – and hence should be the first known composition in this ragam; and the chitta swara giving a complete picture about the ragam through its patterns
- Om Namo Narayana by Ambujam Krishna – however the song has been set to tune by Charumathi Ramachandran; the charanam ends in a kanta-nadai madhyama kalam (faster singing)
- Deena Sharanyane by Nila Ramamurthi, daughter of Papanasam Sivan
- Thillana in Karnaranjani by Lalgudi Jayaraman
Listen to…
Listen to a thillana composed by Sri Devanathan in Karnaranjani on Lord Dhanwanthari.
I found this interesting video of TN Seshagopalan singing a pasuram “Kulam Tharum” of Periyazhwar followed by Kamba Ramayanam verses in this raga, as a part of a 12 hour concert he did in January 2001 on Vaikunta Ekadesi in Ayodhya Mandapam (according to the below link). What is interesting is, even the group chanting at the end of this song is done in the raga.
Use in Movies
I was not able to find any tamizh movie song in Karnaranjani, but this Malayalam song “Harinakshi Janamoule” from the movie Kaliyachan is such a beautiful melody in the ragam.
I have my own doubts about “Theertha Karai Thanile” from Thai Pongal being Karnaranjani, because it doesn’t use “SRGMGP” as clearly as the above Malayalam song.
