7. Raja raagam

I was refreshing myself with the ragas list of Ilaiyaraaja’s songs here. Going into the nitty-gritty’s of ragas is always bewildering for me. But, Raja has used many ‘light’ ragas which are very easy to identify. For anybody to start with raga identification, this study would be interesting and easy to follow.

Ragas like Arabhi, Amruthavarshini, Ananda Bhairavi, Chandrakouns, Desh, Darbari Kaanada, Hamsanadham, Hamsadhwani, Hindolam, Madhyamavathi, Mayamalava Gowlai, Reethi Gowlai, etc are very easy identify. We have few songs of Maestro in each of these ragas. Let us get to know some Hamsanadham songs.

Though this raga sounds serious in other Raja songs like Isayil thodanguthamma (Hey Ram), Minnaram manathu (Guru – Malayalam) and Guna theme BGM tracks, he has used it for duets and lighter situations like Sorgame endralum.

First clipping Zindabad prema is from a Telugu movie – Stuartpuram Police Station (I think 1988). Though it’s a duet, the orchestration is full of fun and frolic (reminded me of Mamavukku kuduma – Punnagai Mannan).

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Second song Kanni ponnu is from Ninaivellam Nithya. The situation is a wedding function which is prevalent in tribal groups which has some peculiar moments. Its amazing to see how Maestro has blended the tribal kind of beats and chorus in this hardcore song in Hamsanadham. He has also used some unique wind instruments.

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