Mohanam Explained

Mohanam is a raga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an audava rāga (or owdava rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is usually described as a janya rāga of Harikamboji (28th Melakartha Raga). However, alternate opinions suggest that Mechakalyani or even Shankarabharanam may be a more appropriate classification based on the lakshana of the raga.

The equivalent of Mohanam in Hindustani music is Bhoop^[1] (or Bhopali^[2]).

It is one of the most common pentatonic scales across the world and is very popular in East Asian and Southeast Asian music, including China and Japan.

Structure and Lakshana

Mohanam is a symmetric rāga that does not contain madhyamam and nishādham. It is a symmetric pentatonic scale (audava-audava raga in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning 'of 5'). Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

• :
• :

(the notes used in this scale are shadjam, chathusruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham)

Mohanam is usually classified as a janya rāga of Harikambhoji, the 28th Melakarta rāga, though alternate opinions exist that prefer classifying it as a janya raga of Kalyani based on its lakshana. The Hindustani equivalent Bhoop is associated with Kalyan thaat (the equivalent of Kalyani alias Mechakalyani).

One of the first scales employed by the ancient Tamils was the Mullaippann (3 BCE), a pentatonic scale composed of the notes sa ri ga pa da equivalent to C, D, E, G, and A in the western notations. These fully harmonic scales, constitutes the raga Mohanam in the Carnatic music style.

Popular compositions

Mohanam rāga lends itself to extensive elaboration and exploration and has many classical music and film music compositions.

Kritis

The geetham Varavina mridupani is one of the first short songs taught to beginners in Carnatic music. Ninnukori composed by Ramanathapuram 'Poochi' Srinivasa Iyengar is a popular Varnam in this scale. Here are some popular kritis composed in Mohanam.

• Preenayamo Vasudevam By Madhwacharya
• Cheri Yasodaku Sisuvithadu, Podagantimayya by Annamacharya
• Madhva nama By Sripadaraja
• Kolalanooduva Chaduranyare By Vyasatirtha
• Raja Beediyolaginda, Narayanana Nene Manave, Dashavatara Stuti, Ava reethiyinda By Vadiraja Tirtha
• Ranga Nayaka Raajeeva Lochana, Mella mellane bandane, Pillangoviya Cheluva, Bandalu Mahalakshmi, Bide Ninna Padava, Vaidya Banda Nodi, Yaaru Olidarenu, En Savi En Savi by Purandaradasa
• Sundari Rangana Tandu Tora By Kanaka Dasa
• Intha Prabhuva, Rama Rama Emberadakshara, By Vijaya Dasa
• Barayyya Ba ba By Gopala Dasa
• Eddu Baruthare By Jagannatha Dasa
• Hakkiya Hegaleri By Prasanna Venkata Dasa
• Mohana rama, Nannu palimpa, Dayarani, Rama ninnu nammina, Evarura ninnuvina and Bhavanutha by Tyagaraja
• Narasimha Agaccha, Kadambari Priyayaih, Gopika Manoharam by Muthuswamy Dikshitar
• Kapaali karunai and Narayana divyanamam by Papanasam Sivan
• Rara Rajiva lochana by Mysore Vasudevachar
• En Palli Kondeer Aiyya by Arunachala Kavi
• Kshemam Kuru by Narayana Teertha
• Swagatam Krishna by Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi
• Pari pahimam Nruhara by Swati Thirunal
• Sada Palaya Sarasakshi by G N Balasubramaniam
• Mohanam Tavavapurai by Swathi Thirunal
• Ninnukkori Varnam by Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar
• Nagalingam by Muttayya Bhagavatar

Tamil movie songs in Mohanam

Song	Movie	Year	Lyricist	Composer	Singer
Giridhara Gopala	Meera	1945		S. V. Venkatraman	M. S. Subbulakshmi
Thillai Ambala Nadaraajaa	Soubhagyavathi	1957	Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram	Pendyala Nageswara Rao	T. M. Soundararajan
Nilavum Malarum	Thennilavu	1961	Kannadasan	A. M. Rajah	A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela
Aarumugamana Porul	Kandhan Karunai	1967		K. V. Mahadevan	S. Janaki, Rajalakshmi
Om Namasivaya	Thiruvilaiyadal	1965			Sirkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela
Malargal Nanaindhana	Idhaya Kamalam	1965			P. Susheela
Velli Mani Oosaiyil	Iru Malargal	1967	Vaali	M. S. Viswanathan
Chittukuruvikenna	Saavale Samali	1971	Kannadasan
Iraivan Varuvan	Shanthi Nilayam	1969
Yaumuna Nadhi Inge	Gauravam	1973			S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Gangai Yamunai	Imayam	1979			K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Sangey Mozhangu	Kalangarai Vilakam	1965	Bharathidasan		P. Susheela, Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Thanga Thoniyile	Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban	1973	Vaali		K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela
Bansaye					T. M. Soundarajan, L. R. Eswari
Kadaloram Vaangiya Kaatru	Rickshawkaaran	1971			T. M. Soundarajan
Maiyendhum Vizhiyodu	Poojaikku Vandha Malar	1965		Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	P. Susheela, P. B. Sreenivas
Vanda naal mudhal	Paava Mannippu	1961	Kannadasan		T. M. Soundarajan, G.K.Venkatesh(Background Version)
Thiruchendoorin Kadalorathil Senthilnaathan	Dheivam	1972		Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan	T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Neelakkadalin Oratthil	Annai Velankanni	1971		G. Devarajan
Oru Kadhal Samrajyam	Nandha En Nila	1977		V. Dakshinamoorthy
Ninu Kori Varnam Isaithida	Agni Natchatram	1987	Vaali	Ilaiyaraaja	K. S. Chithra
Vanthathe Oh Kungumam	Kizhakku Vaasal	1990	R. V. Udayakumar
Anniya Kaattu Annaney	Nandhavana Theru	1995			Srilekha, Mano, Swarnalatha
Kanmaniye Kadhal Enbadhu	Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai	1979			S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Nilavu thoongum	Kunguma Chimil	1985
Iru Paravaigal	Niram Maratha Pookal	1979			Jency
Meenkodi Theril	Karumbu Vil	1980	M. G. Vallabhan		K. J. Yesudas, Jency Anthony
Vaan Pole Vannam	Salangai Oli	1983	Vairamuthu		S. P. Balasubhramaniam, S. P. Sailaja
Oru Thanga Rathathil	Dharma Yutham	1979			Malaysia Vasudevan
Kannan Oru kaikulanthai	Bhadrakali	1976			KJ Yesudas, P Susheela
Kaathirunthen Thaniye	Rasa Magan	1994			Chandrasekar, Srilekha
Oru Kolakili Sonnathey	Pon Vilangu	1993	Kamakodiyan		P. Jayachandran, Sunandha
Sreeramane Unnai	Kangalin Vaarthaigal	1998			K. S. Chithra, Ilaiyaraaja
Naan Thanga Roja	Time	1999	Palani Bharathi		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Oru Raagam	Ananda Ragam	1982	Gangai Amaran		K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Geetham Sangeetham	Kokarakko	1983			S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Poovil Vandu	Kadhal Oviyam	1982	Vairamuthu
Ravi varman oviyamo	Puthu Vayal	1992		Aravinth
Sivappu Lolaku	Kadhal Kottai	1996		Deva
Vellarika					Krishnaraj
Nepala Malaiyoram	Thaikulame Thaikulame	1995			S. P. Balasubhramaniam, Swarnalatha
Solai Kuyil	Anantha Poongatre	1999	Vairamuthu		Hariharan, Sujatha Mohan
Vanthalaappa Vanthalaappa	Seethanam	1995	R. Sundarrajan		Mano, K. S. Chithra
Priya Priya	Kattabomman	1993			S. P. Balasubhramaniam, K.S.Chitra
Thoonganakuruvi	Jallikattu kalai	1994
Malaiya Kodainju Pathaya Amaichen	Pudhu Padagan	1990	S. Thanu
Unnai Ninachi	Avathara Purushan	1996		Sirpy
Mudhal Mudhalai	Varushamellam Vasantham	2002			P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha
Pottu Mela Pottu	Janakiraman	1997			S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Anuradha Sriram
Kadhal Kaditham	Cheran Pandian	1991	Soundaryan		Lobson Rajkumar, Swarnalatha
Boom Boom	Boys	2003	Kabilan	A. R. Rahman	Adnan Sami, Sadhana Sargam
Ennodu Nee Irundhaal	I	2015			Sid Sriram, Sunitha Sarathy
Endrendrum Punnagai		2000	Pravin Mani		Clinton Cerejo, Srinivas, Shankar Mahadevan, A. R. Rahman
Porale Ponnuthayi	Karuthamma	1994	Vairamuthu		Unni Menon, Sujatha Mohan, Swarnalatha(Pathos)(Won National Award)
Madrasai Suthi(Ragamalika:Mohanam, Punnagavarali)	May Maadham	1994			Shahul Hameed, Swarnalatha, G. V. Prakash & Manorama
Pakkada Pakkade	Gentleman	1993			Minmini
Varayo Thozhi	Jeans	1998			Sonu Nigam, Harini
Samba Samba	Love Birds	1996			Aslam Mustafa
Smayiyai	Kandukondain Kandukondain	2000			Devan Ekambaram, Clinton Cerejo, Dominique Cerejo
Kannai Katti Kollathey	Iruvar	1997			Hariharan
Poi Solla Poren	Thiruttu Payale	2006		Bharadwaj	KK, Kanmani
Oru Kathal Enpathu	Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi	1987		Gangai Amaran	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Chinnapattam Poochi	Sugamana Sumaigal	1992		Chandrabose	K. S. Chithra, Mano
Kaalai Neeye	Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye	1988	Vaali	Devendran	S. Janaki
Mainaave Mainaave	Thithikudhe	2003		Vidyasagar	P. Unnikrishnan, Sadhana Sargam
Rosave Rosave	Ellaichami	1992	Pulamaipithan	S. A. Rajkumar	Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Maname Thottal	Thotta Chinungi	1995		Phillip Jerry	Hariharan, K. S. Chithra
Kadhalithal Anandham	Style	2002		Bharani
Uchi Mudhal	Sukran	2005	Vijay Antony		Timmy, Gayathri
Engeyum Kadhal	Engeyum Kadhal	2011	Thamarai	Harris Jayaraj	Aalap Raju, Devan Ekambaram, Ranina Reddy
Yaar Arindhadho	Thalaikoothal	2023	Yugabharathi	Kannan	Pradeep Kumar

Kannada Film Songs

Song	Movie	Lyricist	Composer	Singer
Jenina Holeyo	Chalisuva Modagalu	Chi. Udayashankar	Rajan-Nagendra	Dr. Rajkumar
Baanallu Neene	Bayalu Daari	Chi. Udayashankar	Rajan-Nagendra	S. Janaki

Malayalam Film songs in Mohanam (Selected)

Malayalam movie songs in Mohanam (Selected)

Song	Movie	Lyricist	Composer	singer(s)
Malini nadiyil	Sakunthala	Vayalar Ramavarma	G Devarajan	KJ Yesudas, P Suseela
Manjalayil mungi thorthi	Kalithozhan	P Bhaskaran	G Devarajan	P Jayachandran
Manjani Poonilaav	Nagarame Nandi	P Bhaskaran	K Raghavan	S Janaki
Suprabhatham (neelagiriyude)	Panitheeratha Veedu	Vayalar Ramavarma	MS Viswanathan	P Jayachandran
Chandrikayilaliyunnu	Bharyamar Sookshikkuka	Sreekumaran Thampi	V Dakshinamoorthy	KJ Yesudas, P Leela, AM Raja
Pournami Chandrika	Rest House	Sreekumaran Thampi	MK Arjunan	KJ Yesudas
Madhuchandrikayude	Anachadanam	Vayalar Ramavarma	G Devarajan	P Jayachandran
Swargaputhri Navarathri	Nizhalattam	Vayalar Ramavarma	G Devarajan	KJ Yesudas
Guruvayurambala Nadayil	Othenante makan	Vayalar Ramavarma	G Devarajan	KJ Yesudas
Ezharapponnana purath	Akkarappacha	Vayalar Ramavarma	G Devarajan	P Madhuri
Nin maniyarayile	CID Nazir	Sreekumaran Thampi	MK Arjunan	P Jayachandran
Arivin Nilave	Rajashilpi	ONV Kurup	Raveendran	KS Chithra
Etho nidrathan	Ayal Katha Ezhuthukayanu	Kaithapram	Raveendran	KJ Yesudas
Maarikkuliril neela thulasi	Kouravar	Kaithapram	SP Venkitesh	KJ Yesudas, KS Chithra
Chandanalepa Sugandham	Oru vadakkan veeragatha	K Jayakumar	Ravi Bombay	KJ Yesudas
Aareyum Bhava gayakan aakkum	Nakhakshathangal	ONV Kurup	Ravi Bombay	KJ Yesudas
Maayaponmane	Thalayanamanthram	Kaithapram	Johnson	KS Chithra
Ponnambili	Golantharavarthakal	ONV Kurupp	Johnson	KS Chithra
Manje vaa madhuvidhu vela	Thusharam	Yousuf Ali Kechery	Shyam	KJ Yesudas, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Thaara noopuram chaarthi	Sopanam	Kaithapram	SP Venkitesh	KJ Yesudas, Manju Menon
Mouliyil mayilpeeli	Nandanam	Gireesh Puthenchery	Raveendran	KS Chithra
Ponkasavu njoriyum	joker	Yousuf Ali Kechery	Mohan Sithara	P Jayachandran, KS Chithra
Parvanendu mukhi	Parinayam	Yousuf Ali Kechery	Ravi Bombay	KS Chithra
Kaliveedurangiyallo	Deshadanam	Kaithapram	Kaithapram	KJ Yesudas
Aakasha neelima	Kayyum thalayum purathidaruth	Mullanezhi	Raveendran	KJ Yesudas
Nee en sarga soundaryame	Kathodu kathoram	ONV kurupp	Ouseppachan	KJ Yesudas, Lathika
Anuragathin Velayil	Thattathin Marayath	Vineeth Sreenivasan	Shaan Rahman	Vineeth Sreenivasan

Telugu Film Songs

Song	Movie	Lyricist	Composer	Singer
Mounamga Manasu Padina	Gundamma Katha	Pingali Nagendrarao	S. Rajaswara Rao	Ghantasala
Seelamu Galavari Chinavada	Palnati Yudhham	Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry	S. Rajaswara Rao	Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna, P. Susheela
Echatanunchi Veecheno Ee Challanigaali	Appu Chesi Pappukudu	Pingali Nagendrarao	Pendyala Nageswarrao	Ghantasala, P. Susheela
Manasu Parimalinchene Tanuvu Paravasinchene	Srikrishnarjuna Yuddham	Pingali Nagendrarao	Pendyala Nageswarrao	Ghantasala, P. Susheela
Mohanraga Maha Murthymanthamaye	Mahamantri Timmarasu	Pingali Nagendrarao	Pendyala Nageswarrao	Ghantasala, P. Susheela
Lahirilo Lahirilo	Mayabazaar	Pingali Nagendrarao	S. Rajaswara Rao	Ghantasala, P. Leela
Madhilo Veenalu Mroge	Atmeeyulu	Dasarathi	S. Rajeswara Rao	P. Susheela
Padavela Radhika Pranayasudha Geethika	Iddaru Mitrulu	SriSri	S. Rajeswara Rao	Ghantasala, P. Susheela
Siva Siva Sankara	Bhakta Kannappa	Veturi Sundarrammurthy	Sathyam	V. Ramakrishna
Palikinadi Pilichinadi	Seetaaraamulu	Atreya	Sathyam	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Suseela
Nemalaki Nerpian Nadakalivi	Saptapadi	Veturi Sundarrammurthy	K. V. Mahadevan	S. Janaki
Akasamlo Asala Harivillu	Swarnakamalam	Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry	Ilaiyaraaja	S. Janaki
Ninu Kori Varnam Sarisari	Gharshana	Rajasree	Ilaiyaraaja	Chitra, Vani Jayaram
Maaterani Chinnadhani	O Papa Lali	Rajasree	Ilaiyaraaja	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Chinnadana Osi Chinnadana	Premalekha	Bhuvanachandra	Deva	Krishnaraj
Raave Naa Cheliya	Jeans	Siva Ganesh	A R Rahman	Sonu Nigam, Harini
Ye shwasalo Cherithe	Nenunnanu	Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry	MM keeravani	Chitra

Kannada

• "Malgudi Days Theme Music"
• "Mohana Muraliya Naada Leelege"
• "Olave Jeevana Saakshaatkaara"
• "Bellane Belagayitu"
• "Aashaadha Maasa Bandeetavva"
• "Belliya Raja Baaro Kullara Raja Baa"
• "Uttunga Naadininda Ondu Hudugi (Folk)"
• "Nigi Ningee Ningi Ningee"
• "Hottito Hottitu Kannadada Deepa"
• "Udayavaagali Namma Cheluva Kannada Naadu"
• "Bayaside Ninnanu Bhaavada Melake"
• "Ellaadaru Iru, Entaadaru Iru"
• "Karunaalu Baa Belake"
• "Tungaa Teeradi Ninta Suyativara"
• "Teraa Yeri Ambaradaage"
• "Tunturu Alli Neera Haadu"
• "Sarasada Ee Prati Nimisha"
• "Amara Madhura Prema"
• "Malli Malli Minchulli"
• "Nanna Aase Hannaagi Nanna Baala Kannaade"
• "Innu Hattiraa Hattiraa Baruveya"
• "Radha Madhava Vinoda Haasa"
• "Yaava Janmada Maitri"
• "Kogile O Kogile"
• "Naliyutaa Hrudaya Haadanu Haadide"
• "Kogileye Kshemave"
• "Santasa Araluva Samaya"
• "Doni Sagali Munde Hogali"
• "Mudala Maneya Muttina Neerina"
• "Appaa I Love You Paa"
• "Jenina Holeyo Haalina Maleyo"
• "Naavaaduva Nudiye"
• "Om Karadi Kande"
• "Neela Megha Gaali Beesi"
• "Ee Hasiru Siriyali Manavu Mereyali"
• "Ee Sambhaashane"
• "Baanallu Neene Bhuviyallu Neene"
• "Yogi Manege Bandaa"
• "Mella Mellane Bandane"
• "Jayatu Jaya Viththala"
• "O Pandu Ranga Prabho Viththala"
• "Avatarisu Baa Narayana"
• "Pillangoviya"

Related rāgas

Graha bhedam

Mohanam's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 4 other major pentatonic rāgas, namely, Hindolam, Shuddha Saveri, Udayaravichandrika (also known as Shuddha Dhanyasi) and Madhyamavati. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāga. For more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Mohanam.

Scale similarities

• Mohanakalyani is a rāga which has the ascending scale of Mohanam and descending scale of Kalyani. Its structure is S R2 G3 P D2 S : S N3 D2 P M2 G3 R2 S
• Bilahari is a rāga which has the ascending scale of Mohanam and descending scale of Sankarabharanam. Its structure is S R2 G3 P D2 S : S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
• Garudadhvani is a rāga which has the ascending scale of Sankarabharanam and descending scale of Mohanam. Its structure is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S : S D2 P G3 R2 S
• Shivaranjani rāga differs from Mohanam only by the gāndhāram. It uses sadharana gāndhāram instead of antara gāndhāram and its structure is S R2 G2 P D2 S : S D2 P G2 R2 S
• Hamsadhvani rāga uses nishadam in place of dhaivatam. Its structure is S R2 G3 P N3 S : S N3 P G3 R2 S
• Vaasantha rāga differs from Mohanam only by the daivatham. It uses shudda Daivatham instead of Chatushruti Daivatham and its structure is S R2 G3 P D1 S : S D1 P G3 R2 S

Vasantha used Shudda Rishabham and not Shudda Daivatham

• Niroshta rāga uses nishadam in place of panchamam. Its structure is S R2 G3 D2 N3 S : S N3 D2 G3 R2 S

Notes and References

1. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
2. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras