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Bilahari

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Bilahari
ArohanamS R₂ G₃ P D₂ 
Avarohanam N₂ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S

Bilahari is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale) from the 29th melakarta scale Sankarabharanam. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending scale. It is a combination of the pentatonic scale Mohanam and the sampurna raga scale Sankarabharanam.[1]

Structure and Lakshana

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Ascending scale with shadjam at C, which is same as Mohanam scale
Descending scale with shadjam at C, which is same as Sankarabharanam scale

Bilahari is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain madhyamam or nishādham in the ascending scale. It is an audava-sampurna rāgam (or owdava rāgam, meaning pentatonic ascending scale).[1][2] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:

  • ārohaṇa : S R₂ G₃ P D₂ [a] they are used in every song

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chathusruthi rishabham, antara gandhara, panchamam and chathusruthi dhaivatham in ascending scale, with kakali nishadham and shuddha madhyamam included in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music.

This rāgam also uses kaishiki nishadham (N2) as an external note (anya swara) in the descending scale. Hence it is considered a bhashanga rāgam, a scale with notes external to the parent scale.[1][2]

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There are many compositions set to Bilahari rāgam. Here are some popular kritis composed in Bilahari.

Film songs

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Language:Tamil

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Song Movie Composer Singer
Orumaiyudan Ninathu Thirumalaradi Konjum Salangai S. M. Subbaiah Naidu Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Unnaikkandu Naanada Kalyana Parisu A. M. Rajah P. Susheela
Aval Melai Sirithaal Pachhai Vilakku Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Alayamani Kathave Thalthiravai Thiruvarutchelvar K. V. Mahadevan T. M. Soundararajan, Master Maharajan
Kondaliley Megam Bala Nagamma Illayaraja K.J. Yesudas
Nee ondruthan Unnal Mudiyum Thambi
Maaman Veedu Ellam Inba Mayyam Malaysia Vasudevan
Thendrale Kadhal Desam A. R. Rahman Mano, Unni Krishnan
Omana Penne Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Benny Dayal, Kalyani Menon
Poo Pookum Osai Minsara Kanavu Sujatha Mohan
Pookkale Satru Oyevidungal I Haricharan, Shreya Ghoshal
Kummi Adi Sillunu Oru Kaadhal Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram, Swarnalatha, Naresh Iyer, Theni Kunjarammal, Vignesh, Chorus
Kadhal Anukkal Enthiran Vijay Prakash, Shreya Ghoshal
Vaanga Makka Vaanga Kaaviya Thalaivan Haricharan,Dr. Narayanan
Azhagiye Kaatru Veliyidai Arjun Chandy, Haricharan, Jonita Gandhi
Vaan Engum Nee Minna Endrendrum Punnagai Harris Jeyaraj Aalap Raju, Harini, Devan, Praveen
Then Kathu Gethu Haricharan, Shashaa Tirupati
Mun Andhi 7aum Arivu Karthik, Megha
Kalyana Sundari Yaro Oru Murai Adaikalam Sabesh–Murali Shankar Mahadevan,Anuradha Sriram
Kanna Nee Thoongadaa Baahubali 2: The Conclusion M. M. Keeravani Nayana Nair
Siru Thoduthalile Laadam Dharan Kumar Bombay Jayashree, Haricharan
Pularaadha Dear Comrade Justin Prabhakaran Sid Sriram, Aishwarya Ravichandran
Rasavachiye Aranmanai 3 C. Sathya Sid Sriram
Aradhya Kushi (2023 film) Hesham Abdul Wahab Sid Sriram, Chinmayi Sripada
Kaami Kaami Tughlaq Durbar Govind Vasantha Govind Vasantha, Swastika Swaminathan
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This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Scale similarities

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  • Mohanam has a symmetric pentatonic scale, with the notes same as the ascending scale of Bilahari. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G3 P D2 S : S D2 P G3 R2 S
  • Mohanakalyani is a rāgam which has the prati madhyamam in descending scale (descending scale of Kalyani) in place of the shuddha madhyamam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G3 P D2 S : S N3 D2 P M2 G3 R2 S
  • Garudadhvani is a rāgam which has the ascending and descending scales interchanged, in comparison with Bilahari. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S : S D2 P G3 R2 S

Desakshi is a raga which is similar to Bilahari. The arohana remains the same, while the sampoorna avarohana has Kaishiki Nishada in place of Kakali Nishada.

Notes

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  1. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S R G P D 
    • Western: C D E G A C
  2. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:  N D P M G R S
    • Western: C B A G F E D C

References

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  1. ^ a b c Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. ^ a b Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras