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My favourite raga
Urmila Satyanarayanan: Nattai is special
For me it has to be ‘My favourite ragas.’ My preferences keep changing as I compose new pieces. For instance, if I am composing a varnam in Thodi it becomes my favourite at that point of time. That is may be because you are constantly thi
nking about the raga.
The list keep growing-Bhairavi, Dhanyasi, Ritigowla, Kapi, Desh, Nattakurunji, Purvikalyani and so on.
There is one raga that evokes a funny feeling in me, that is Nattai. It reminds me of the fear and tension one experiences before a recital. The alarippu is set in Nattai and you start the recital with it.
My fondness for Purvikalyani grew because of the beautiful violin prelude in the javali ‘Nee Matalu.’ So the liking for a raga depends on two factors, one, the way the composer has used it and the other, the lyrics of the composition.
Over the years of performing and listening you tend to associate certain compositions with certain ragas.
Mention Kapi, ‘Jagaddodarana’ instantly comes to the mind. It’s ‘Bhavayami’ in Dhanyasi and in Thodi, the Thanjavur Quartet’s navaragamalika varnam ‘Sami Ninne.’ You never get tired of hearing them. Such is the timeless beauty of ragas and lyrics.
CHITRA SWAMINATHAN
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
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