Recent Raga Sightings

I noticed some raga usages in recent tamil film songs. Here are the songs and the ragas.
SongMovieComposerRaag
Paadhi KadhalModhi VilayaduHariharan-LeslieBrindavan Saranga
Unnai Enakku
Azhagar MalaiIlaiyaraajaHamsadhwani
Enna Senjalum
Azhagar Malai
Ilaiyaraaja
Mayamalavagowlai

Paadhi Kadhal is a nice song from Modhi Vilayaadu. It is set in the Brindavan Saranga raga. You will find similarities between this song and the "Indian Rain" song from Colonial Cousins in the usage of the raga and the instruments (guitar and trumpet). Interesting aspect about this song is the contrast between the 2 lead vocals. Bombay Jayashree sings in the indian classical style while Sunitha Sarathy sings almost the same tune in western style.

Unnai Enakku from Azhagar Malai is set in Raag Hansdhwani/Hamsadhwani. Ilaiyaraaja has composed only a handful of songs in Hamsadhwani when compared with other raagas that he has used. There is lot of classical touches in the way this song has been sung. In recent times, he has composed another song in Hamsadhwani from the film "Oru Naal Oru Kanavu". It is called "Enna paatu vennum unakku" sung by Sonu Nigam. That is yet another good song. Refer this wiki page for some songs in this raga.

Enna Senjalum from Azhagar Malai is set in Raag Mayamalavagowlai. Ilayaraaja has done lot of classic songs in this Raga. But somehow this song doesn't impress.

2 comments:

  1. recent azhagai pookudhe from ninaithale inikkum is based on keeravani you can add that too

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  2. Thanks for the info Ashwin. Have just heard it on the trailers. Will listen to it more.

    ReplyDelete