Where:
Shirdi Sai Center Auditorium
1221 California Circle
Milpitas, CA 95035 USA

Hosted by:
Dhanya Subramanian & Students»

Accompanied by:
Violin: Sundararajan»
Mirudangam: GT»
Keyboard: Arun»
Jalra: Vani»

Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

ārohaṇa : S G2 M1 P N2 S
avarohaṇa : S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S

(Chathusruthi Rishabham, Sadharana Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Chathusruthi Dhaivatham, Kaisiki Nishadham)

In addition to these swaras, there are gamakas which also form part of Abheri, like any other raga in Carnatic music.

The ascending scale is same as that of Udayaravichandrika raga (also known as Shuddha Dhanyasi), while the descending scale is that of Kharaharapriya raga.

There are some differing views on swaras in the scale of Abheri. It is considered a Bhashanga raga (scale has an anya swara, that is, a note which is not in the parent melakarta raga, in this case Kharaharapriya raga), with introduction of Suddha Dhiavatham (D1) in some phrases of the raga. A different view is that this raga is a janya of Natabhairavi (which has D1, suddha dhaivatham, in place of D2), with D2 being the anya swara (external note).

Bhimpalasi (or Bheemplas) of Hindustani music sounds pretty close to Abheri.

(Source: wikipedia – abheri | bhimpalasi)

Songs List
A short list of film songs that are predominantly in Ragam Abheri / Raag Bhimpalasi (click on the images below to view the songs):

Beena Madhur Madhur Kachhu Bol (Hindi)
Film: Ram Rajya
Language: Hindi
Singer(s): Saraswati Rane
Music Director: Shankar Rao Vyas
Year: 1943

Vaaraai Nee Vaarai (Tamil)
Film: Mandiri Kumari
Language: Tamil
Singer(s): Thiruchi Loganadan, Jikki
Music Director: G.Ramanathan
Year: 1950

Aye ri Main to Prem Diwani (Hindi)
Film: Nau Bahar
Language: Hindi
Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: Roshan Lal
Year: 1952

Aa Neele Gagan Tale (Hindi)
Film: Badshah
Language: Hindi
Singer(s): Hemant Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: Shankar Jaikishan
Year: 1954

Tere Sadke Balam (Hindi)
Film: Amar
Language: Hindi
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: Naushad Ali
Year: 1954

Ravoyi Chandamama (Telugu)
Film: Missamma
Language: Telugu
Singer(s): A.M.Raja, P.Leela
Music Director: Saluri Rajeswara Rao
Year: 1955

Poova Maramum Poothadu (Tamil)
Film: Naan Petra Selvam
Language: Tamil
Singer(s): T.M.Soundararajan, Jikki
Music Director: G.Ramanathan
Year: 1956

Neevena Nanu Pilachinadi (Telugu)
Film: Mayabazar
Language: Telugu
Singer(s): Ghantasala, P.Leela
Music Director(s): Ghantasala, Saluri Rajeswara Rao
Year: 1957

Kannile Irupathenna (Tamil)
Film: Ambikapathi
Language: Tamil
Singer: P.Bhanumathi
Music Director: G.Ramanathan
Year: 1957

Kannile Irupathenna (Tamil)
Film: Ambikapathi
Language: Tamil
Singer: T.M.Soundararajan
Music Director: G.Ramanathan
Year: 1957

Prema Yatralaku (Telugu)
Film: Gundamma Katha
Language: Telugu
Singer(s): Ghantasala, P.Susheela
Music Director: Ghantasala
Year: 1962

Singara Velane Deva (Tamil)
Film: Konjum Salangai
Language: Tamil
Singer: S.Janaki
Nadhaswaram: Karukkurichi P Arunachalam
Music Director: S.M.Subbaiah Naidu
Year: 1964

Chinnanchiru Vayadhil (Tamil)
Film: Meendum Kokila
Language: Tamil
Singer(s): K.J.Yesudas, S.P.Shailaja
Music Director: I.Ilaiyaraja
Year: 1980

Raagangal Pathinaaru (Tamil)
Film: Thillu Mullu
Language: Tamil
Singer: S.P.Balasubrahmanyam
Music Director: I.Ilaiyaraja
Year: 1981

Megham Karukkudhu (Tamil)
Film: Ananda Ragam
Language: Tamil
Singer(s): K.J.Yesudas, S.Janaki, I.Ilaiyaraja
Music Director: I.Ilaiyaraja
Year: 1981

Nagumomu Kanaleni (Carnatic/Telugu song from Malayalam movie)
Film: Chithram
Language: Malayalam
Singer(s): M.G.Sreekumar, Neyyattinkara Vasudevan
Composer: Tyagaraja
Music Director: Kannur Rajan
Year: 1988

Nagumomu Kanaleni (Carnatic/Telugu song from Telugu movie)
Film: Alludugaru
Language: Telugu
Singer(s): K.J.Yesudas, Poorna Chandar
Composer: Tyagaraja
Music Director: K.V.Mahadevan
Year: 1990

Mindathathenthe Kili Penne (Malayalam)
Film: Vishnulokam
Language: Malayalam
Singer: M.G.Sreekumar
Music Director: M.Raveendran
Year: 1991

Samay Dheere Chalo (Hindi)
Film: Rudaali
Language: Hindi
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Music Director: Bhupen Hazarika
Year: 1993

Prema Yatralaku (Telugu)
Film: Detective Narada
Language: Telugu
Singer(s): S.P.Balasubrahmanyam, K.S.Chithra
Music Director: I.Ilaiyaraja
Year: 1993

Telusa Manasa (Telugu)
Film: Criminal
Language: Telugu
Singer(s): S.P.Balasubrahmanyam, K.S.Chithra
Music Director: M.M.Keeravani
Year: 1994

Tu Mile Dil Khile (Hindi)
Film: Criminal
Language: Hindi
Singer(s): Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik
Music Director: M.M.Keeravani
Year: 1994

Swaragaminnente (Malayalam)
Film: Sagaram Sakshi
Language: Malayalam
Singer: K.J.Yesudas
Music Director: S.Sharreth
Year: 1994

Enthinu Veroru Sooryodayam (Malayalam)
Film: Mazhayethum Munpe
Language: Malayalam
Singer(s): K.J.Yesudas, K.S.Chithra
Music Director(s): M.Raveendran, S.P.Venkatesh, Anand
Year: 1995

Paathira Pullunarnnu (Malayalam)
Film: Ee Puzhayum Kadannu
Language: Malayalam
Singer: K.J.Yesudas
Music Director: Johnson
Year: 1996

Pooththirukkum Manamae (Tamil)
Film: Pudhayal
Language: Tamil
Singer(s): Hariharan, K.S.Chithra
Music Director: Vidyasagar
Year: 1997

Maane Malaramban (Malayalam)
Film: Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu
Language: Malayalam
Singer: K.J.Yesudas
Music Director: M.Raveendran
Year: 1998

Kannodu Kanbathellam (Tamil)
Film: Jeans
Language: Tamil
Singer: Nithyasree Mahadevan
Music Director: A.R.Rahman
Year: 1998

Aavani Ponnunjal (Malayalam)
Film: Kottaaram Veettile Apputtan
Language: Malayalam
Singer: M.G.Sreekumar
Music Director: Berny Ignatious
Year: 1998

Kismet Se Tum (Hindi)
Film: Pukar
Language: Hindi
Singer: Anuradha Paudwal, Sonu Nigam
Music Director: A.R.Rahman
Year: 2000

Ye Aaine Se (Hindi)
Film: Kaash (non-filmi album)
Language: Hindi
Singer: Hariharan
Music Director: Hariharan
Year: 2000

Kanaa Kandaenadi (Tamil)
Film: Parthiban Kanavu
Language: Tamil
Singer: Madhu Balakrishnan
Music Director: Vidyasagar
Year: 2003

Kanaa Kaangiraen (Tamil)
Film: Ananda Tandavam
Language: Tamil
Singer(s): Nithyasree Mahadevan, Shubha Mudgal, Vinithra
Music Director: G.V.Prakash Kumar
Year: 2009

Kunnathe Konnaykkum (Malayalam)
Film: Pazhassi Raja
Language: Malayalam
Singer: K.S.Chithra
Music Director: I.Ilaiyaraja
Year: 2009

Picha Vecha Naal (Malayalam)
Film: Puthiya Mukham
Language: Malayalam
Singer: Shankar Mahadevan
Music Director: Deepak Dev
Year: 2009

Hamsadhvani is also extensively used in Hindustani music and said to be borrowed into it from Carnatic music. It was created by the Carnatic composer Ramaswami Dikshitar (1735-1817) and brought into Hindustani music by Ustad Aman Ali Khan of the Bhendibazaar gharana.

Structure and Lakshana

Hamsadhvani does not contain madhyamam or dhaivatam. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning ‘of 5′). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:

ārohaṇa : S R2 G3 P N3 S
avarohaṇa : S N3 P G3 R2 S

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chathusruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, panchamam and kakali nishadam.

Hamsadhvani may be considered to be a janya rāgam of Shankarabharanam, the 29th Melakarta rāgam, although it can also be considered to be derived from other melakarta rāgams, Sarasangi, Kalyani or Latangi, by dropping both madhyamam and dhaivatam. It is an elusive question as to whether Hamsadhvani is a janya of this or that melakarta. In Hindustani music it is associated with Bilaval thaat (equivalent of Shankarabharanam).

(Source: wikipedia)

Songs List

A short list of film songs that are predominantly in Hamsadhvani (click on the images below to view the songs):

Ja Tose Nahin Boloon (Hindi)
Film: Parivar
Language: Hindi
Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey
Music Director: Salil Chowdhury
Year: 1956

O Chaand Jahaan Woh (Hindi)
Film: Sharda
Language: Hindi
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: C.Ramchandra
Year: 1957

Karam Ki Gati Nyari (Hindi)
Film: Meera Bhajan
Language: Hindi
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: Hridayanath Mangeshkar
Year: 1974

Ragangale Mohangale (Malayalam)
Film: Thaaraattu
Language: Malayalam
Singer(s): K.J.Yesudas, S.Janaki
Music Director: M.Raveendran
Year: 1981

Raavil Raaga Nilavil (Malayalam)
Film: Mazhanilaavu
Language: Malayalam
Singer: S.Janaki
Music Director: M.Raveendran
Year: 1983

Manathaaril Ennum (Malayalam)
Film: Kaliyil Alpam Karyam
Language: Malayalam
Singer: K.J.Yesudas
Music Director: M.Raveendran
Year: 1984

Naadangalay Nee Varoo (Malayalam)
Film: Ninnishtam Ennishtam
Language: Malayalam
Singer(s): P.Jayachandran, K.S.Chitra
Music Director: Kannur Rajan
Year: 1986

Hey Kurumbe (Malayalam)
Film: Geetham
Language: Malayalam
Singer: K.S.Chitra
Music Director: M.Raveendran
Year: 1986

Aa Raagam Madhumayamaam (Malayalam)
Film: Kshanakathu
Language: Malayalam
Singer: K.J.Yesudas
Music Director: S.Sharreth
Year: 1990

Sree Vinayakam (Malayalam)
Film: Bharatham
Language: Malayalam
Singer(s): K.J.Yesudas, M.Raveendran
Music Director: M.Raveendran
Year: 1991

Mayamanchalil (Malayalam)
Film: Ottayal Pattalam
Language: Malayalam
Singer(s): G.Venugopal, Radhika Thilak
Music Director: S.Sharreth
Year: 1991

Sree Ranga Ranga (Tamil)
Film: Mahanadi
Language: Tamil
Singer: S.P.Balasubramaniam
Music Director: I.Ilaiyaraja
Year: 1993

Pahi Paramporule (Malayalam)
Film: Vadakkumnathan
Language: Malayalam
Singer(s): Manjari, Sindhu Premkumar, M.Raveendran
Music Director: M.Raveendran
Year: 2006

Mallike Mallike (Malayalam)
Film: Uthara Swayamvaram
Language: Malayalam
Singer(s): Vijay Yesudas, Chinmayi
Music Director: M.Jayachandran
Year: 2009

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Background Song: Shakti Sahita Ganapathim (nOttuswara sAhityam)
rAgam: Shankarabharanam
tAlam: Adi, tisra nadai
Composer: Muthuswamy Dikshitar
Artist: “Guitar” R. Prasanna from the album Nata Bhairavi
Instrument: Electric Guitar

Artwork: Aruna Gopalan | kolathur kannamma on flickr

Program Handout | 2011 Sri Rama Navami Bhajan Recital | dhanyasy.org

Artwork: Aruna Gopalan | kolathur kannamma on flickr

2011 Sri Rama Navami Event, dhanyasy.org Trivia Questions

Vocals: Dhanya Subramanian and Students»

Violin: Aravind Sheshadri»
Jalra: Shankar Nair, Sarasvani Ramadoss»

Lyrics / Notation:

kausalyatmaja rama charan
vaidehi priya rama charan

maruthi sevitha rama charan
ahalyo dharaka rama charan

shanti niketana rama charan
prashantini ketana rama charan

rama charan sada bhajo
rama charan sada bhajo

Vocals: Dhanya Subramanian and Students»

Violin: Aravind Sheshadri»
Jalra: Shankar Nair, Sarasvani Ramadoss»

Lyrics / Notation:

pallavi

gata mOhA shrtapAlAdbhuta sItA ramaNa

caraNam 1

bhava sArasabhava mAnasa bhavanAmara vinuta

caraNam 2

bhava tAraka sava pAlana bhavadA cara haraNa

caraNam 3

vinatAjagamana rAghava muni pUjita caraNa

caraNam 4

shata kOTi carita mAnava mata bhEdaka damana

caraNam 5

kara shObhita shara pApa timira bhAskara suguNa

caraNam 6

shara jAnana karuNAkara varavAraNa sharaNa

caraNam 7

nata mAnasa hitakara pAlita tyAgarAja

(source: karnatik.com)

Vocals: Dhanya Subramanian and Students»

Violin: Aravind Sheshadri»
Jalra: Shankar Nair, Sarasvani Ramadoss»

Lyrics / Notation:

rAma janArdana rAvaNa mardhana rAmAnujAgraja rAjavibhO

pAmara mOcana pankajalOcana bhaktajanapriya pAlayamAm

bhUmijAnAyaka bhuktipradAyaka bhUsura pAlana bhUmipatE

shyAmaLa vigraha shAnta guruguha sannuta shrI rAmacandra prabhO

(source: karnatik.com)

Vocals: Dhanya Subramanian and Students»

Violin: Aravind Sheshadri»
Jalra: Shankar Nair, Sarasvani Ramadoss»

Lyrics / Notation:

atma nivasi ram
atma nivasi ram

dasharatha nandana
rama jaya jaya
janaki jeevana ram

ayodhya vasi ram
ayodhya vasi ram

dasharatha nandana
rama jaya jaya
janaki jeevana ram

aranya vasi ram
aranya vasi ram

dasharatha nandana
rama jaya jaya
janaki jeevana ram

dashamukha mardana ram
dashamukha mardana ram

dasharatha nandana
rama jaya jaya
janaki jeevana ram

seetha vallabha ram
seetha vallabha ram

dasharatha nandana
rama jaya jaya
janaki jeevana ram

Vocals: Dhanya Subramanian and Students»

Violin: Aravind Sheshadri»
Jalra: Shankar Nair, Sarasvani Ramadoss»

Lyrics / Notation:

rama namoh rama namoh
rama namoh sita rama namoh

krishna namoh krishna namoh
krishna namoh radha krishna namoh

dasaratha nandana rama namoh
vasudeva nandna krishna namoh

ravana mardana rama namoh
kamsa mardana krishna namoh

vaali mardana rama namoh
kaaliya nardana krishna namoh

seetha vallabha rama namoh
radha madhava krishna namoh

rama namoh rama namoh
rama namoh sita rama namoh

krishna namoh krishna namoh
krishna namoh radha krishna namoh