Swathi Thirunaal

Swathi Thirunal Maharaja

Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (April 16, 1813 – December 25, 1846)  was the Maharaja of the state of Travancore. . In 1829 he turned major and assumed full powers of ruler and ruled Travancore till his demise in 1846.

Besides being an able ruler, he was a patron of music and a musician himself. He encouraged both broad systems of Indian music, Hindustani and Carnatic music, though he was essentially a connoisseur of the Carnatic music tradition. He is credited with composing over 400 compositions in Carnatic music as well as Hindustani music. Some of his favorite compositions are Padmanabha Pahi, Deva Deva, Sarasijanabha and Sree Ramana Vibho. The king was fluent in a number of languages such as Malayalam, Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada,Bengali, Tamil, Oriya and English.

The Astronomical Observatory in Thiruvananthapuram, the Museum & Zoo, the Government Press, Trivandrum Public Library (now State Central Library), the Oriental Manuscript Library, etc. were started by Swathi Thirunal. The Maharajah was also an honorary member of the Royal Asiatic Society from 1843

Pithamaha

Puranthara Dasar is considered as The Sangeetha Pithamaha

Purandara Dasa, who lived in 16th Centuty AD ,  systematized the method of teaching Carnatic music which is followed to the present day. He introduced the raga Mayamalavagowla as the basic scale for music instruction and fashioned series of graded lessons such as swaravalis, janta swaras, alankaras, lakshana geetas, prabandhas, ugabhogas, daatu varase, geeta, sooladis and kritis.

 Another of his important contributions was the fusion of bhava, raga, and laya in his compositions. Purandara Dasa was the first composer to include comments on ordinary daily life in song compositions. He used elements of colloquial language for his lyrics. He introduced folk ragas into the mainstream, setting his lyrics to tunes/ragas of his day so that even a common man could learn and sing them. He also composed a large number of lakshya and lakshana geetas, many of which are sung to this day. His sooladis are musical masterpieces and are the standard for raga lakshana.

Scholars attribute the standardization of varna mettus entirely to Purandara Dasa.

Purandara Dasa was a vaggeyakara (performer), a lakshanakara (musicologist), and the founder of musical pedagogy.

 For all these reasons and the enormous influence that he had on Carnatic music, musicologists call him the "Sangeeta Pitamaha" (grandfather) of Carnatic music.

Thrimoorthies of Karnatic Music

Thyagaraja Swamikal, Muthu Swami Deekshithar, Shyama Shasthrikal

Thyagaraja Swamikal

Thyaga Raja Swamikal ( May 1767 –  January  1847 , was one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music

He was a prolific composer and highly influential in the development of the South Indian classical music tradition. Tyagaraja composed thousands of devotional compositions, most of them in praise of Lord Rama  most of which remain very popular even today.

 Of special mention are five of his compositions called the Pancharatna Krithis (English: 'five gems') Of Ragas Natta,Varaali,Arabhi,Gowla and Sree ragam,  which are often sung in programs in his honor.The Kriti Endaro Mahanabavulu in the ragam sri which was composed by Thyagaraja after meeting Shadkala Govinda Marar from Kerala is considered to be his greatest composition.

Muthu Swami Deekshithar

Muthuswami Deekshithar ( March 1775 – October 1835 ) a great composer and is one of the Musical Trinity of Carnatic music. His compositions, of which around 500 are commonly known, are noted for their contemplative nature and for capturing the essence of the raga forms through the vainika (veena) style that emphasises gamakas.

 They are typically in a slower speed (chowka kala). He is also known by his signature name of Guruguha.
 His compositions are widely sung and played in classical concerts of Carnatic music.

On Deepavali day, in 1835, Dikshithar performed puja as usual and asked his students to sing the song "Meenakshi Me Mudam" in the raga Poorvikalyani.As his students sang the lines "Meena lochani pasa mochani" he raised his hands and saying "Sive Pahi" and left the world.

His Samathi is at Ettaya puram ( Mahakavi Bharathi's Birth Place), between Koilpatti (14 km) and Tuticorin.

Shyama Shasthrikal

Shyama Shastri  (1762-1827) is one of the most renowned composers of Carnatic music. He is the oldest among the Trinity of Carnatic Music.

Syama Sastri was born in Tiruvarur in Thiruvarur district, into a scholarly and priestly Tamil speaking Brahmin,Iyer Vadama family.

Although Syama Sastri did not compose as many kriti-s as his two prolific contemporaries, his compositions are equally well known. It is said that he composed about three hundred pieces in all.

 He composed in Telugu , Sanskrit and Tamil , mostly on goddess Kamakshi. He composed kritis, varnams and svarajatis with the ankita or mudra (signature) 'Syama Krishna'. He was probably the first to compose in a new form of the svarajati musical genre. Prior to this the svarajati was primarily a dance form, and was close in structure to the dance varnam (padavarNam).

His set of three famous svarajatis are intended to be sung in concert rather than danced, and are sometimes referred to as "ratna traya" (three jewels). They are in ragas Bhairavi, Yadukulakamboji and Todi, and are called Kamakshi Anudhinamu, Kamakshi Padhayugame, and Raave Himagiri Kumari, respectively. The former two are set to Mishra Chapu Tala, while the third is set to Adi Tala. He was renowned for his ability to compose in the most complex of Talas. He was as adept in composing in rare ragas as he was in composing with the popular ones.

He was widely revered for his voice and singing ability during his time.

Sudha Dhanyasi

Sudha Dhanyasi

Janya Raga of  Kharahara Priya ,22nd Melakartha Raga. This raga is also known as Udayaravi Chandrika

Famous Works in Sudhadhanyasi

*. Himagirithanaye             - Muthayya Bagavathar
* Entanerchina                   - Thyagaraja Swamikal
* Samodam Chinthayame  - Muthuswami deekshithar

      
 Malayalam Film Songs Based on Sudha Dhanyasi

   

Enthinu Veroru               -    Raveendran                    Film    -         Mazhayethum Munpe

Souparnikamrutha          -    Raveendran                    Film    -         Kizhakkunarum Pakshi
Priyasakhi Gange            -  G.Devarajan                   Film    -         Kumara sambhavam
Sangamam Sangamam    -   G.Devarajan                   Film    -         Thriveni
Kevala Martya Bhasha   -   Bombay Ravi                  Film    -         Nakha Kshathangal
Swararaga Ganga           -   Bombay Ravi                  Film    -         Sargam
Saagarangale Paadi        -   Bombay Ravi                  Film    -         Panchagni
Shyamameghame Nee    -   Shyam                            Film    -         Adhipan
Tharum Thalirum            -  Ouseppachan                   Film    -        Chilambu
Mandara Cheppundo      - Johnson                           Film    -        Dasharadam
Karineela Kannazhaki    -  Kaithapram Viswanathan  Film    -        Kannaki

Ragam and Light Music

While Composing a song, usually, Music directors chooses an appropriate Raga, which is apt for the situation .

 All our eminent Malayalam Film Music Directors have created memorable melodies using many Raagas , both Karnatic and Hindusthani.

But, there is no such law, that , a song must be based on a particular Ragam. There are music directors who are less proficient in classical music, but creates beautiful melodies.