Hindolam and chandrakauns

A Raga is a unique combination of notes sa,ri,ga,ma,pa,da,ni with more variations in ri,ga,ma,da,ni. To understand what a variation means, let us consider two legendary film music compositions - One that of Maestro Isaignani Illayaraja's 'Naan thedum sevandhi poo idhu' and the other of MSVs 'Maalaipozhidin mayakkathile'. Both the song have the same notes - sa,ga,ma,da,ni,sa. However just listen to songs just once before reading further and you will see that they feel totally different. Reason is very simple both are different ragas. I have sung the arohanam (ascending notes) and avarohanam (descending notes) of the two ragas to begin with. 

Former is of Raga 'Hindolam' my favourite and the latter is 'Chandrakauns'. Interestingly both the ragas just differ in the single note 'ni'. So generally Hindolam is given the notes - S G2 M1 D1 N2 S and Chandrakauns - S G2 M1 D1 N3 S.  So the wisdom behind composing a song in Hindolam or Chandrakauns should strictly hit on the note 'N3' to uniquely identify the ragas. Now you can imagine the skills of composers of the music in a raga. One of the gems from Saint Sri. Annamayya delivered by Priya Sisters is here for the appreciation of the raga Hindolam. If you feel that its too 'carnaticish', listen to this beauty from A.R.Rahman 'Margazhi Poove' which is again the raga Hindolam. Listening to songs in Hindolam generally brightens my day and hope it brightened yours too. Yet another master piece in Hindolam from the legends "M S Viswanathan and Ramamurthi" - "Maname muruganin mayil vahanam" from the movie Motor sundaram pillai

Now lets dive to the other raga 'Chandrakauns'.  I personally haven't been fortunate enough till now to learn a carnatic song in 'Chandrakauns'. Lets listen a classic from the Maestro "Azhagu malar aada". In the first few seconds you can clearly hear the notes 'S G2 M1 D1 N2 S' where the Maestro stamps it with the signature of the raga Chandrakauns. Hearing Chandrakauns cures heart diseases.  Hear this beauty from the sisters "Rajani-Gayatri" delivering a Abhang . 

Quotes from my husband:
I love the song "Unnal mudium thambi thambi" which is also in the raga Hindolam. SPBs rendering of the swarams towards the end of the song helped me differentiate Hindolam better. Hats-off to the Maestro!