Lesson 7

Pentatonic Scales in Film Music - 2 

               

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[Audio Samples Courtesy:  RaajaNGAHM.com ]
 

This is  the second in the series of articles that discusses the Maestro's use of Pentatonic ragas in film music. The emphasis is on the Maestro's association of ragas to a particular film song situation.

Sivaranjani raga is known to evoke the moods of romance, and sorrow.

The Maestro has explained the usage of this raga in a number of instances. A perfect example of the usage would be the song "Kuyil Paatu Oh…Vandadhaena Ilam Manae" (tamil - film unknown; the telugu version goes like this: "Koilara Oh….."). The song is based on a village backdrop and is supposed to symbolize the life of a village girl. The shift in the notes from tune to tune in this song is amazing, and shows the novelty in sound, that could be created with such a simple pentatonic scale. The composer presents a happy and pathos moods.

The Maestro has explained the usage of Sivaranjani in a romantic situation, in the song "Enanna Pada Padutharan…" from the film Andan Adimai.

Listen to this song.

Though the composer steps out of the raga at certain places (by using the higher ga), the song is a gem in Sivaranjani with its creative tunes (especially in the charanam) and a magnificent orchestration. The use of phrases with ga and ri in the higher octave, evoke the emotions related to the song situation. This feature is also found in other compositions of the Maestro in Sivaranjani.

The duet song "Valli Valli Ena Vandan…" (dhaiva vakku - tamil) is an excellent blend of Sivaranjani and Mohana ragas. The pallavi is set in Sivaranjani while the charanam is set in Mohana.

The Hamsanadham (s r2 m2 p n3) raga has been used by the Maestro in joyful and romantic situations. The Maestro's usage of this raga (in the song Om namaha…) has been discussed in lesson 2. 

The detailed structure of this raga can be learnt from the song "Isaiyil Thodungudhama…" from the film Heyram (hindi, tamil,telugu).

Valachi (s g3 p d2 n2) is a comparatively rare pentatonic scale in carnatic classical music. Interestingly, Maestro Ilayaraja has used this raga for an equally rare situation in film music. The song "Siva Pujaku…." (Swaranakamalam - telugu) is based on this raga.

Listen to this song.

This song is strongly entangled with the story of the film. The female character in this song is a classical dancer but is more attracted towards leading a sophisticated life. The male character tries to explain to her, the sanctity of classical dance and the transience of the pleasures of a sophisticated life style.

Maestros' amazing use of a simple pentatonic scale to explain such a unique situation, is a perfect example of the depth in such scales. Note the shift in the percussions backing up the male and female voices, dragging the song closer to the underlying situation.

 Thanks to Maestro Ilayaraja for teaching us these interesting ragas.
 

Author: R.S.Balaji

 
[Sorry for transliteration errors] 

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