Author: Karthika
M.S. Subbulakshmi
M.S.Subbulakshmi, the legendary Carnatic Vocalist, also known as MS, was born on 16th September 1916 in Madurai, India, to Shanmukhavadivu and Subrahmanya Iyer. Her mother, Shanmukhavadivu was a well known Vainika & Shanmukhavadivu's mother i.e M.S.Subbulakshmi's grandmother was a Violinist. MS grew up in a musical atmosphere. She started her musical training at a very early age, under her mother. And later, under the tutelage of Srinivasa Iyegar, who gave her a good foundation. Unfortunately, this could not continue for long, as he passed away soon. She continued her music on her own, thereafter. She used to practice for long hours with great dedication. She was also trained in Hindustani Classical Music under Padit Narayan Rao Vyas. She gave her first public performance at the age of 10. Her father passed away around this time and they had to move to Madras after that. Her first recording was released in 1926, with her mother Shanmukhavadivu playing Veena. In 1940, she got married to T. Sadasivam.
Her rise to stardom was phenomenal. Very soon she became the greatest singer of the country. Also, a particular shade of blue, her favourite colour, came to be known as MS Blue. M.S.Subbulaksmi was the first musician ever to be awarded Bharat Ratna. In 1963, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams started broadcasting the album Venkatesha Suprabhatam sung by her, at the Temple. Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam is highly popular one in MS's voice. Several musicians have attempted recording this but MSS’s version remains as a masterpiece, which is irreplaceable. She acted in 4 movies, Sevasadanam, Sakuntalai, Savitri & Meera.
A quick glance on the awards and honours she has received:
- Padma Bhushan (1954)
- Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award (1956)
- Sangeetha Kalanidhi (considered the Nobel of Carnatic Music, 1968)
- Ramon Magsaysay Award (1974)
- Padma Vibhushan (1975)
- Sangeetha Kalasikhamani (1975)
- Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's Asthana Vidwan (1975)
- Kalidas Samman (1988)
- Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration (1990)
- Bharat Ratna (India's highest civilian honour, 1998)
Some of the popular kritis sung by MS:
- Bhajagovindam – Ragamalika in Adi talam composed by Shankaracharya
- Bhavayami Raghuramam – Ragamalika in Rupaka talam composed by Maharaja Sri Swati Tirunal
- Rangapura Vihaara – Brindavana Saranga ragam, Rupaka talam – Composed by Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Dolayam – Khamas ragam Tisra Adi talam – Composed by Sri Thallapakka Annamacharya
- Bhavayami Gopalabalam – Yamuna Kalyani ragam, Khanda Chapu talam – Composed by Sri Thallapakka Annamacharya
- Sriman Narayana – Bowli ragam, Adi talam – Composed by Sri Thallapakka Annamacharya
- Rama Nannu Brovara – Harikamboji ragam, Rupaka Talam – Composed by Sri Tyagaraja
- Maitreem Bhajatha – Ragamalika in Adi talam – Composed by Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, renowned as the Paramacharya of Kanchi.
MS's last public performance was in 1997. She had decided that she would stop all public performances after the demise of her husband Sadasivam. In November 1997, Sadasivam passed away at the age of 95.
M.S.Subbulakshmi was a naturally gifted musician, born to sing. Her voice will stay immortal. She passed away at the age of 88 (11th December 2004).
I am dedicating the following video to M.S.Subbulakshmi on her 100th Birthday today.
Mohanam
Mohanam is the Janya of 28th Melakarthā rāgam Harikāmboji. The Hindusthani equivalent of this rāgam is Bhoop / Bhupali.
Ārohanam – SRGPDS (Shadjam, Chatusruti Rishabham, Antara Gāndhāram, Panchamam, Chatusruti Dhaivatham, Shadjam)
Avarohanam – SDPGRS (Shadjam, Chatusruti Dhaivatham, Panchamam, Antara Gāndhāram, Chatusruti Rishabham, Shadjam)
Compositions
Geetham
Varaveena – Rupaka Tālam – Composed by Sri Appayya Dikshitar
Varnam
Ninnukori – Ādi Tālam – Composed by Sri Ramnad Sreenivasa Iyengar
Kritis
1) Nannu Pālimpa – Ādi Tālam – Composed by Sri Tyagaraja
2) Sadaa Paalaya – Ādi Tālam – Composed by Sri G.N.Balasubramaniam
Few movie songs composed in this rāgam
1) Swapnangalokkeyum (Movie: Kaanan Kothichu)
2) Neeraaduvan (Movie: Nakhakshathangal)
3) Ninnukori Varnam (Movie: Agni Nachathiram)
4) Aareyum Bhavagaayakanaakkum (Movie: Nakhakshathangal)
5) Nee en sarga soundaryame (Movie: Kaathodu Kaathoram)
Malahari
Malahari is the Janya (derivative) of 15th Melakarthā rāgam Māyāmālavagaula. This is a morning rāgam. Since this has an asymmetric scale, it is classified as an audava-shādava rāgam which means 5 notes in the ascending scale (Ārohanam) & 6 notes in the descending scale (Avarohanam).
Ārohanam – SRMPDS
(Shadjam, Suddha Rishabham, Suddha Madhyamam, Panchamam, Suddha Dhaivatham & Shadjam)
Avarohanam – SDPMGRS
(Shadjam, Suddha Dhaivatham, Panchamam, Suddha Madhyamam, Antara Gāndharam, Suddha Rishabham & Shadjam)
Compositions
Geetham
1) Sri Gananāthā – Rupaka Tālam – Composed by Sri Purandara Dasar
2) Kunda Gaura – Rupaka Tālam – Composed by Sri Purandara Dasar
3) Padumanabha – Triputa Tālam – Composed by Sri Purandara Dasar
Kritis
1) Pancha Māthanga Mukha – Rupaka Tālam – Composed by Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar
Māyāmālavagaula
This is the 15th Melakarthā Rāgām in the Venkatamakhi's 72 Melakarthā Scheme. It is a Sampoorna rāgam which means all the Sapthaswaras are present in both the Ārohanam & Avarohanam. This rāgam is symmetric and very easy to learn and that is the reason why the beginner's lessons in Carnatic Music are based in Māyāmālavagaula and its derivative (Janya) rāgas. It has nearly 90 derivative (Janya) rāgas, which includes Malahari, Sāveri, Bowli, Revagupti etc.
This is a morning rāgam which evokes harmony and peace. Best suitable for relaxation and meditation too!
The notes/Swaras used in this rāgam are Shadjam, Suddha Rishabham, Antara Gāndharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Panchamam, Suddha Dhaivatham, Kakali Nishadam & Shadjam
Ārohanam – S R G M P D N S
Avarohanam – S N D P M G R S
This rāgam corresponds to Bhairav Thāt of Hindusthani Music.
Compositions
Kritis
1) Deva Deva Kalayami – Rupaka Tālam – Composed by Maharaja Sri Swati Tirunal
2) Tulasi Dalamulache – Rupaka Tālam – Composed by Sri Tyagaraja
3) Merusamaana – Ādi Tālam – Composed by Sri Tyagaraja
4) Sri Nāthādi Guruguho Jayathi – Ādi Tālam – Composed by Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar (This is his very first composition)
Few movie songs composed in this rāgam
1) Madhura Marikkozhunthu Vaasam (Movie: Enga Ooru Paattukkaran)
2) Maariyamma Maariyamma (Movie: Karagaattakkaaran)
3) Pavanarachezhuthunnu (Movie: Vietnam Colony)
4) Dalamarmmaram (Movie: Varnam)
Sruti 6 Kattai ( ‘A’ Pitch)
Sruti 6 Kattai ( ‘A’ Pitch)
Bhāvayāmi Raghurāmam (Rāgamālika)
Bhāvayāmi Raghurāmam is a beautiful composition which conveys the entire story of Rāmāyanam in Sanskrit language. It was originally composed by Maharaja Sri Swāti Tirunāl in a single rāgam Sāveri., Rupaka tālam. It was later modified into a rāgamālika (i.e the current version) with built-in Chittaswaras for each Charanam by Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. The Pallavi & Anupallavi are in the rāgam Sāveri and there are six Charanās (stanzas) composed in 6 different rāgas as given below:
Nāttakurinji
Dhanyāsi
Mohanam
Mukhāri
Purvikalyāni &
Madhyamāvathi.
Each of this six Charanams describes one Kāndam (section) of the Epic Rāmāyana. They are Bāla Kāndam, Ayodhyā Kāndam, Aaranya Kāndam, Kishkindā Kāndam, Sundara Kāndam and Yuddha Kāndam.
Rāgam – Sāveri (Janya of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Ārohanam: SRMPDS
Avarohanam: SNDPMGRS
Pallavi
Bhāvayāmi Raghurāmam
Bhavya sugunārāmam
Anupallavi
Bhāvuka vitharanaparāpāngaleelā lasitham
Rāgam – Nāttakurinji (Janya of 28th Melakartha Rāgam Harikāmboji)
Ārohanam: SMGMNDNPDNS
Avarohanam: SNDMGMPGRS
Charanam 1 (Describes Bāla Kāndam)
Dinakarānvaya tilakam Divyagādisutasavanaa
Vanarachithasubāumukhavadhamahalyaapāvanam
Anaghameeshachāpabhangam Janakasuthaprānesham
Ghanakupithabhrugurāmagarvaharamitha sāketham
Rāgam – Dhanyāsi (Janya of 8th Melakartha Rāgam Hanumathodi)
Ārohanam: SGMPNS
Avarohanam: SNDPMGRS
Charanam 2 (Describes Ayodhyā Kāndam)
Vihithābhishekamathavipinagathamāryavacha
Sahithaseethāsoumitrim Shāntatamasheelam
Guhanilayagathamchitrakootāgathabharathadatta
Mahitharatnamayapādukām Madanasundarāngam
Rāgam – Mohanam (Janya of 28th Melakartha Rāgam Harikāmboji)
Ārohanam: SRGPDS
Avarohanam: SDPGRS
Charanam 3 (Describes Aaranya Kāndam)
Vitatadandakāranyakagathavirādhadalanam
Sucharithaghathajadathānupamithavaishnavāsam
Patagavarajatāyunutham Panchavadivihithāvasam
Atighorashoorpanakhāvachanāgathakharādhiharam
Rāgam – Mukhāri (Janya of 22nd Melakartha Rāgam Kharaharapriya)
Ārohanam: SRMPNDS
Avarohanam: SNDPMGRS
Charanam 4 (Describes Kishkindā Kāndam)
Kanakamrugaroopadhara Kharamāreechahalāmiha
Sujana vimatha dashāsyahruthajanakajānweshanam
Anaghapampaateerasangathānjaneya nabhomani
Tanujasakhyakāram vālitanudalanameesham
Rāgam – Purvikalyāni (Janya of 53rd Melakartha Rāgam Gamanasrama)
Ārohanam: SRGMPDPS
Avarohanam: SNDPMGRS
Charanam 5 (Describes Sundara Kāndam)
Vānarothamasahitha Vāyusoonukarārpitha
Bhānusatha Bhāsvara Bhavyarathnānguleeyam
Tena punarāneethānyoonachoodāmani Darshanam
Sreenidhim Udadhiteerasrutha vibheeshanamilitham
Rāgam – Madhyamāvathi (Janya of 22nd Melakartha Rāgam Kharaharapriya)
Ārohanam: SRMPNS
Avarohanam: SNPMRS
Charanam 6 (Describes Yuddha Kāndam)
Kalithavarasethubandham Khalanisseemapishitāshana
Dalanamurudashakantavidāram athideeram
Jwalanapoothajanakasuthāsahithamyātasāketham
Vilasithapattābhishekam Vishwapālam Padmanābham
Bhavayami Raghuramam
Geetham In Second Kālam/Speed
Requested by Kartheek.G.
Geetham 1 – Sri Gananātha (In praise of Lord Ganesha)
Rāgam– Malahari (Janya Of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Tālam – Rupakam (Chaturasra Jāthi)
Composer – Purandara Dāsa
Ārohanam – SRMPDS
Avarohanam – SDPMGRS
Geetham 2 – KundaGaura
Rāgam – Malahari (Janya Of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Tālam – Rupakam (Chaturasra Jāthi)
Composer – Purandara Dāsa
Ārohanam – SRMPDS
Avarohanam – SDPMGRS
Geetham 3 – KereyaNeeranu
Rāgam – Malahari (Janya Of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Tālam – Triputa (Tisra Jāthi)
Composer – Purandara Dāsa
Ārohanam – SRMPDS
Avarohanam – SDPMGRS
Geetham 4 – Padumanabha (In Praise Of Lord Padmanabha)
Rāgam – Malahari (Janya Of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Tālam – Triputa (Tisra Jāthi)
Composer – Purandara Dāsa
Ārohanam – SRMPDS
Avarohanam – SDPMGRS
Geetham 5 – Varaveena (In praise of Goddess Saraswathi)
Rāgam – Mohanam (Janya Of 28th Melakartha Rāgam Harikāmboji)
Tālam – Rupakam (Chaturasra Jāthi)
Composer – Appayya Dikshitar
Ārohanam – SRGPDS
Avarohanam – SDPGRS
Geetham 6 – Kamalajādala
Rāgam – Kalyāni / Mechakalyāni (65th Melakartha Rāgam)
Tālam – Triputa (Tisra Jāthi)
Composer – Purandara Dāsa
Ārohanam – SRGMPDNS
Avarohanam – SNDPMGS
Geetham 7 – Janakasutha
Rāgam – Sāveri (Janya Of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Tālam – Rupakam (Chaturasra Jāthi)
Ārohanam – SRMPDS
Avarohanam – SNDPMGRS
Geetham 8 – Rere Sri Ramachandra
Rāgam – Arabhi (Janya Of 29th Melakartha Rāgam Sankarābharanam/Dheera Sankarābharanam)
Tālam – Triputa (Tisra Jāthi)
Ārohanam – SRMPDS
Avarohanam – SNDPMGRS
Clips On Demand
I get adhoc requests for specific clips/lessons. This category covers such clips. I am currently working on publishing lessons in the order of learning. Please feel free to request adhoc clips and I will be happy to post them.
Geetham
Geetham is the most simplest musical form in Carnatic Music. The music of geetham is very simple and sāhityam is usually composed in praise of deities. Practising varisas make the students to get thorough with the swaras (notes) and as the next step, Geethams are learnt. So, in the track, it can be said that Geethams are the first form of music with sāhityam that a student would actually learn.
Geetham 1 – Sri Gananātha (In praise of Lord Ganesha)
Rāgam– Malahari (Janya Of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Tālam – Rupakam (Chaturasra Jāthi)
Composer – Purandara Dāsa
Ārohanam – SRMPDS (Shadjam, Suddha Rishabham, Suddha Madhyamam, Panchamam, Suddha Dhaivatham & Shadjam)
Avarohanam – SDPMGRS (Shadjam, Suddha Rishabham, Panchamam, Suddha
Madhyamam, Antara Gāndharam, Suddha Rishabham & Shadjam)
Sri Gananātha (Swaram & Sāhityam)
Sri Gananātha (Sāhityam)
Geetham 2 – KundaGaura
Rāgam – Malahari (Janya Of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Tālam – Rupakam (Chaturasra Jāthi)
Composer – Purandara Dāsa
Ārohanam – SRMPDS
Avarohanam – SDPMGRS
Kundagaura (Swaram & Sāhityam)
Kundagaura (Sāhityam)
Geetham 3 – KereyaNeeranu
Rāgam – Malahari (Janya Of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Tālam – Triputa (Tisra Jāthi)
Composer – Purandara Dāsa
Ārohanam – SRMPDS
Avarohanam – SDPMGRS
Kereya Neeranu (Swaram & Sāhityam)
Kereya Neeranu (Sāhityam)
Geetham 4 – Padumanabha (In Praise Of Lord Padmanabha)
Rāgam – Malahari (Janya Of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Tālam – Triputa(Tisra Jāthi)
Composer – Purandara Dāsa
Ārohanam – SRMPDS
Avarohanam – SDPMGRS
Padumanabha (Swaram & Sāhityam)
Padumanabha (Sāhityam)
Geetham 5 – Varaveena (In praise of Goddess Saraswathi)
Rāgam – Mohanam (Janya Of 28th Melakartha Rāgam Harikāmboji)
Tālam – Rupakam (Chaturasra Jāthi)
Composer – Appayya Dikshitar
Ārohanam – SRGPDS (Shadjam, Chatusruti Rishabham, Antara Gāndhāram, Panchamam, Chatusruti Dhaivatham, Shadjam)
Avarohanam – SDPGRS (Shadjam, Chatusruti Dhaivatham, Panchamam, Antara Gāndhāram, Chatusruti Rishabham, Shadjam)
Varaveena (Swaram & Sāhityam)
Varaveena (Sāhityam)
Geetham 6 – Kamalajādala
Rāgam – Kalyāni / Mechakalyāni (65th Melakartha Rāgam)
Tālam – Triputa (Tisra Jāthi)
Composer – Purandara Dāsa
Ārohanam – SRGMPDNS (Shadjam, Chatusruti Rishabham, Antara Gāndhāram, Prati Madhyamam, Panchamam, Chatusruti Dhaivatham, Kākali Nishādam, Shadjam)
Avarohanam – SNDPMGRS (Shadjam, Kākali Nishādam, Chatusruti Dhaivatham, Panchamam, Prati Madhyamam, Antara Gāndhāram, Chatusruti Rishabham, Shadjam)
Kamalajādala (Swaram & Sāhityam)
Kamalajādala (Sāhityam)
Geetham 7 – Janakasutha
Rāgam – Sāveri (Janya Of 15th Melakartha Rāgam Māyāmālavagaula)
Tālam – Rupakam (Chaturasra Jāthi)
Ārohanam – SRMPDS (Shadjam, Suddha Rishabham, Suddha Madhyamam, Panchamam, Suddha Dhaivatham, Shadjam)
Avarohanam – SNDPMGRS (Shadjam, Kākali Nishādam, Suddha Dhaivatham, Panchamam, Suddha Madhyamam, Antara Gāndhāram, Suddha Rishabham, Shadjam)
Janakasutha (Swaram & Sāhityam)
Janakasutha (Sāhityam)
Geetham 8 – Rere Sri Rāmachandra
Rāgam – Arabhi (Janya Of 29th Melakartha Rāgam Sankarābharanam/Dheera Sankarābharanam)
Tālam – Triputa (Tisra Jāthi)
Ārohanam – SRMPDS (Shadjam, Chatusruti Rishabham, Suddha Madhyamam, Panchamam, Chatusruti Dhaivatham, Shadjam)
Avarohanam – SNDPMGRS (Shadjam, Kākali Nishādam, Chatusruti Rishabham, Panchamam, Suddha Madhyamam, Antara Gāndhāram, Charusruti Rishabham, Shadjam)
Rere Sri Rāmachandra (Swaram & Sāhityam)
Rere Sri Rāmachandra (Sāhityam)