Shanmukhapriya Explained

Shanmukhapriya

Shanmukhapriya is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 56th melakarta rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Chāmaram in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1] [2] It is said to be borrowed into Hindustani music from Carnatic music. Many compositions on Lord Murugan and Lord Shiva are based on this raaga.

Structure and Lakshana

It is the 2nd rāgam in the 10th chakra Disi. The mnemonic name is Disi-Sri. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gi mi pa dha ni. Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

This scale uses the swaras chatushruti rishabham, sadharana gandharam, prati madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatam and kaisiki nishadam. As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the prati madhyamam equivalent of Natabhairavi, which is the 20th melakarta scale.

Janya rāgams

Shanmukhapriya has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of janya rāgams for scales associated with Shanmukhapriya.

Compositions

Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to Shanmukhapriya.

The compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar, namely, Siddhi Vinayakam, Mahasuram Ketumaham,sadashraye and Ekamreshanayakim have their school's rāgam name Chāmaram mudra in them.

A composition later set to Shanmukapriya

Film Songs

SongMovieComposerSinger
Nenjil KudiyirukkumIrumbu ThiraiS. V. VenkatramanT. M. Soundararajan, P. Leela
Arivukku Virunthaagum ThirukuraleArivaaliT. M. Soundararajan
Ninaindhu Ninaindhu Nenjam UrugudheSadhaaramG. Ramanathan
Muthai TharuArunagirinatharT. R. Papa
MaraindhirundhuThillana MohanambalK. V. MahadevanP. Susheela
Pazham NeeyappaThiruvilaiyadalK. B. Sundarambal
Pirandha Naal Mannan Pirandha NaalTenali RamanViswanathan–RamamoorthyP. Bhanumathi
Vellum peyar than velavanKandhar AlangaramKunnakudi VaidyanathanS.Janaki
Kannukkul NooruVedham PudhithuDevendranS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Nadakattum leelaiDevi Sri KarumariammanShankar–GaneshT.M.Soundarajan
Thamthananam ThanaPuthiya VaarpugalIllayarajaJency Anthony,Sulochana
Thakita ThadimiSalangai OliS. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Kadhal KasukuthaiyaAan PaavamIllayaraja
Sollaayo VaaithiranthuMogamulM. G. Sreekumar, S. Janaki
Ooruvittu OoruvanthuKarakattakkaranMalaysia Vasudevan, Gangai Amaran
Rajathi RajaMannanS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Vanampadi Paadum NeramSir...I Love YouK. S. Chithra
Kannanai Thedi VanthenKarpanaiSanthosh Jayaraj
Poonthendralil Oru ChandramathiRaja PriyanS. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Abirami Neril VanthaalVaanamChandilyanVani Jairam
Saravanabava Ennum ThirumanthiramMettukudiSirpyMano
Kodi Malligai Konjuthu KonjuthuSenthazhampooveAdithyanMano, Swarnalatha
Mudhal KanaveMajunuHarris JayarajHarish Raghavendra, Bombay Jayashri,O.S.Arun
Silukku MaramePaayum PuliD. ImmanDivya Kumar,Shashaa Tirupati, Sharanya Gopinath
Thappu ThandaVillainVidyasagarShankar Mahadevan,Sujatha Mohan
Dailamo Dailamo (loosely based)DishyumVijay AntonyVijay Antony, Sangeetha Rajeshwaran

Ascending:S G2 M2 P N2 S

Descending:S N2 P M2 G2 S

SongMovieComposerSinger
Antha Maanai ParungalAndaman KadhaliM. S. ViswanathanKJ Yesudas, Vani Jayaram
Oru Naal IravuKaaviya ThalaiviP. Suseela
Naan Paadiya PaataiVazhkai VazhvatharkeP. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela
Vaazhandhal UnnoduSavithiri (1980 film)Vani Jairam
Parvai Ondre Pothume(reused Hindi tune)Yaar Nee?VedhaT. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Edho NinaivugalAgal VilakkuIlaiyaraajaKJ Yesudas, S. P. Sailaja
Kaala Kaalamaaga Vaazhum (Loosely Based)Punnagai MannanS P Balasubramaniam, K S Chitra
Kannamma Kaadhalenum KavidhaiVanna Vanna PookkalIlaiyaraaja, S. Janaki
Nalam VaazhaMarupadiyumS. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Sangathamizh Kaviye(Ragamalika:Abheri, Bageshri,Sumanesa Ranjani)Manathil Uruthi VendumK. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra
Jal Jal Jal Salangai KulungaPonnuketha PurushanP. Jayachandran, Swarnalatha
Puthu Kaveri KaraiPudhiya SwarangalS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Vaalvellam Inbam InbamPoongatru PuthithanathuMS Geethan
Alaikadal(only A section)A. R. RahmanAntara Nandy
Vinmeengalai Thaandi Vaazhum Kadhal BGM

(has a tint of Chandrakauns as well, using Graha Bhedam)

UyireSukhwinder Singh & Palakkad Sriram
Oru Kelvi UnnaiPriyamVidyasagarP. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan
Vannanilavae VannanilavaeNinaithen VandhaiDevaHariharan
Unai Ninaithu Naan Enai(Reused Tune)S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra, Sujatha Mohan
Sollaikulla KaatukullaDharma ChakkaramS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha Mohan
Adikkira Kai AnaikkumaNatpukkagaHarini
Chum ChumEnakkoru Magan PirappanKarthik RajaBhavatharini, Karthik Raja
Vaan NilavudhaanPugaippadamGangai AmaranVijay Yesudas
Azhagu Kutti ChellamSatham PodatheyYuvan Shankar RajaShankar Mahadevan
Kanna Nee EnnaiIrumbukkottai Murattu SingamG. V. Prakash KumarBombay Jayashri,Naveen Iyer,D.A. Srinivas
Lazy SongOh Manapenne!Vishal ChandrashekharSinduri Vishal, Lady Kash

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Shanmukhapriya's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other major melakarta rāgams, namely, Shoolini, Dhenuka and Chitrambari. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Shanmukhapriya.

Shanmukhapriya corresponds to Hungarian Gypsy scale in Western music.

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
  3. News: A Raga's Journey – Sacred Shanmukhapriya. The Hindu. 2 September 2011.