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The months of April, May and June got away from me! The last Raagam I sent was Kapi at the end of March. To make up, I am sending 3 recordings in the Raagam Khamach. An extremely, pleasing and melodius Raagam, Khamach, also called Kamas, is a Janya raagam from the 28th Melakarta, Harikamboji. The only change from Harikamboji is that in the Arohanam of Khamach, the rishabham or Ri is missing. It is a vakra, shadava( 6 notes in Arohanam in zig zag form) sampurna raagam( 7 notes in direct descending order in the Avarohanam)
Arohanam S M1 G2 M1 P D2N2 S
Avarohanam SN2D2PM1G3 R2 S
In some compositions, N3 – Kakali Nishadam is used as a special prayogam. 
It is a Raaga that is said to evoke Shringara Rasam.The  Dikshitar kriti, Thillana and jAvali bring out the beauty of the Raagam in different ways.Sri Swaminathaya Namaste- A composition of Muthuswami Dikshitar, one of the Trinity Composers, has composed this kritti on Lord Swaminatha in Swami Malai.In the Madhyamakala section of the Charanam, Kaakali Nishadam is used with Dikshitar’s mudra- Guruguha.
Thillana_ Thillanas are rhythmic musical pieces used in Carnatic Music and Bharatanatyam. In the pallavi and anupallavi, repetitive phrases are used and the lyrics are usually in thee charanam. This lilting Thillana by Patnam Subramiya Iyer also brings out the beauty of the Raagam
Javali- In the Javali, the Shringara Rasam is brought out beautifully. Usually, these are short pieces, sung in a speeedy tempo. Javali’s are performed at the end of a Classical Music or Dance recital. Some have only a Pallavi and Charanam, with the Anupallavi being skipped altogether.There are many lovely and famous compositions in Khamach. Hope your intereest is now kindled to look them up! 
Lakshmi
July 2019

Sri Swaminathaya Namaste

Tillana

Javali

See also
https://raagafl.org/2019/02/mohanam-january/
https://raagafl.org/2019/02/kedaram/
https://raagafl.org/2019/09/kapi/

This month’s Raagam is Kapi. It is a Janya of Karaharapriya, the 22nd Melakarta Raagam. There are 5 notes in the arohanam. The Avarohanam has all 7 notes but in a vakra form.
Arohanam- S R2 M1 P N3 S
Avarohanam- S N2 D2 N2 P M1 N2 P G2 R2 N2 S
Two notes have special use in this Raagam, making it a Bhashanga Raagam. They are Kakali Nishadam and Antara Gandharam. The use of two different Nishada swaras N2 and N3 and Antara Gandharam G3 give the Raagam a unique appeal. Shuddha daivatam is also used and conveys the emotion of bhakti very beautifully. The Raagam is equivalent to Pilu in Hindustani music.
There are many popular compositions in Kapi. Jagadodharana by Purandaradasa, Enna Thavam Seidanai- Papanasam Sivan,Maya Gopabala – KC Kesava Pillai and of course Saint Thyagaraja’s kritis- Mee Valla Gunadoshamu and Inta Sowkhya. Charanamule Nammiti- Bhadrachalam Ramdas, The attached recording is Saint Thyagaraja’s Inta Sowkhya Manine set to Adi Taalam. The medium to slow pace in which Kritis in Kapi raagam are rendered brings out the melody of the Raagam.
Enjoy this lovely Raagam!
Lakshmi

March 2019

Sowkhya Manine

See also
https://raagafl.org/2019/02/mohanam-january/
https://raagafl.org/2019/02/kedaram/

This month’s Raagam is KEDARAM. This is a Janyam of 29th Melakarta Sankarabharanam.
This is a vakra audava shhadava raagam.
Avarohanam-(also sung as S N3 P M1 G3 R2 S R2 G3 S). The missing swara is Dhaivatam.
The special Prayogam is S R2 G3 S.
The Raagam is considered to be Lord Shiva’s favorite Raagam. The composition I have sung is on Lord Shiva, composed by Muthuswami Dikshitar set to Mishra Chapu Taalam. Saint Thyagaraja, Papanasam Sivan, Annamacharya, Purandaradasa have composed in this Raagam. Saint Thyagaraja’s famous kriti is Rama Nee Pai. Hope you enjoy this beautiful composition!

Lakshmi Krishnan February 2019

See also https://raagafl.org/2019/02/mohanam-january/

January’s raagam is Mohanam. It is an AUDAVA raagam – 5 notes in the Arohanam and 5 in the Avarohanam.
The Raagam does not have Madhyamam or Nishadham.Mohanam is a Janya Raagam of Harikamoji(28th Melakarta Raagam). The Hindustani equivalent is Bhoop.
One of the first Geetams taught is Varavina in Mohana Raagam and the first Varnam taught is Ninnukori also in Mohanam. There are many famous and popular compositions in this Raagam. You may wish to research,recollect them.The attached recording is a composition of Mysore Vasudevacharya, who composed in Sanskrit and Telugu. There are many popular compositions of Mysore Vasudevacharya- Broche varevaru in Kamas, Mamavatu Sri Saraswati – in Hindolam, Bhaja re re Manasa in Abheri. Ra Ra Rajeeva Lochana is composed in Telugu and the kriti’s simplicity and lilting melody has made it very popular.
I hope to be able to send you one such raagam every month- the idea is to educate and kindle your interest just a little more!! Needless to say you can also look up movie songs in Mohanam!

Lakshmi Krishnan
January 2019