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Roja Ondru (Oh Mane Mane)

Romantic Hamsadhwani :-
There are many Ragas where Raja sir has completely changed the “Raaga Lakshana” as defined in Carnatic and Hindusthani Music Books and popularly practiced by majority of the musicians. In my earlier posts I have written about two such Ragas namely Shanmukhapriya considered to evoke “Bhakthi” being used for a Seduction song and Subha Panthuvarali which is the Mother of Sorrow being used for a Love Song. 

However there are few Ragas where Raja sir has mostly stuck with one major “Bhava or “Emotion” being reflected in almost all his compositions. One such Ragam is “Hamsadhwani”. Right from the first time he used in “Malargale Nadhaswarangal – Kizakke Pogum Rayil” till the 2013 released Nandri Solla Vendum – Sitthiraiyil Nilachoru, Raja sir has used Hamsadhwani to evoke the feeling of Love or Romance barring very few exceptions. 

The song of this post is from the Malayalam film Onnanu Nammal which was released in 1984 January. It’s one of the all time hit songs in Malayalam Film Music. One would fall in love with Sri K.J.Yesudas straightaway even if one happens to listen to this song for the first time. The tune is well known to Tamil fans as it was re-used as Ther Kondu Sendravan in Enakkul Oruvan. Incidentally Enakkul Oruvan also was released in 1984 but it was in October. This version too was a Love song even though the situation was totally different and the treatment was completely Carnatic. Coming back to the Malayalam song “Vaalittezhudhiya”, I would suggest one to listen simultaneously to both this song as well as Ther Kondu Sendravan to feel the brilliance of Yesudas version. The style is “As cool as a cucumber”. 

Raja sir has fused two more Ragas into this song and before one realizes the change, it goes back to Hamsadhwani. 
Between 2:49 to 3:00 – It is Pushpalathika (Sa Ri2 Ga2 Ma1 Pa Ni2 Sa”   Sa” Ni2 Pa Ma1 Ga2 Ri2 Sa)
Between 3:01 to 3:05 – It is Kesara Naata  (Sa Ri2 Ga3 Ma1 Pa Ni3 Sa”   Sa” Ni3 Pa Ma1 Ga3 Ri2 Sa). A Janya Ragam of Sarasangi with just an addition of Ga3 to Hamsadhwani as defined in the “Raaga Pravaaham” book. That’s why it has been so smooth to knock of the Ga3 and go back to Hamsadhwani in just 5 seconds. 

Well it’s so easy to write all this but NOBODY ON EARTH HAS TRIED SUCH THINGS AND ACHIEVED PERFECTION AS RAJA SIR HAS DONE. 

List of all the Film songs in Hamsadhwani composed by Raja Sir:

1978 : Malargale Nadhaswarangal – Kizhakke Pogum Rayil, Tamil
1979: Mayile Mayile – Mudhal Iravu, Tamil
1984: Vaalittezhudhiya – Onnanu Nammal, Malayalam
1984: Ther Kondu – Enakkul Oruvan, Tamil
1988: Tharali Raadha – Rudra Veena, Telugu (This song is a slight exception which did not express the feeling of Love between a Male and a Female but overall this song also emoted Love towards fellow human beings)
1989: Iru Vizhiyin – Siva, Tamil
1989: Poomudithu – En Purushandhan Enakku Mattum Dhaan, Tamil
2005: Enna Paattu Vendum – Oru Naal Oru Kanavu, Tamil (This song is also a slight exception but here too the Lovable Teasing has been emoted)
2013: Nandri Solla Vendum – Sithiraiyil Nilachoru, Tamil

Please note that Nilavu Vandhadhu from Endrum Anbudan and Kalam Maralam from Vaazhkai belong to the Raga "Thaaralam" and not Hamsadhwani (The Pallavi of both these songs touch the notes of Hamsadhwani and in Interludes and Charanam they touch the Thaaralam notes. Again both are LOVE SONGS.) or Lathangi which they are frequently identified wrongly. Kindly go through my post on Raga Thaaralam too if required. One more song which has Hamsadhwani in Charanam alone is Sri Ranganathanin from Mahanadhi. Probably in this song alone, it's altogether a different feel of BHAKTHI which is nothing but Hamsadhwani's frequently used feel in Carnatic Music. 

HAMSADHWANI - Sa Ri2 Ga3 Pa Ni3 Sa"    Sa" Ni3 Pa Ga3 Ri2 Sa

Romantic Hamsadhwani

Another of Maestro's classic(s) and what an amazing prelude!!

Poonthalir Aada

Night Club Melody Song only by Illaiyaraja - Movie Poovizhi Vasalile

Paattenge - TamilWire.com

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Kodiyile Malligaipoo

Nee Thaane Enthan

Vocals: Mano & Chitra
Film: Priya Oh Priya ( 1990 )
Music: Illayaraja
Lyrics: Vali

Recorded from original source LP ( Tharangini )
Remastered By: Sashi
Digitally Remastered At: GreenHives Digital Lab ( Singapore )

Paniyil Naniyum - Remastered By Sashi

Film: sugamana ragangal 
Year: 1985
Singer: Maestro Ilayaraja
Music: Mellisai mannar M.S. Viswanathan
Actors: Saritha - sivakumar
Position in film: Title song

Remastered from a poor source MP3. 

Roja Ondru (Oh Mane Mane)

C.R. Madhusudhan

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