Revati (raga)

Revati is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an audava rāgam (or owdava rāgam, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes).

In Hindustani music a raga that closely resembles Revati is Bairagi Bhairav.[1] It is said to evoke Karuṇa rasa (pathos).[1] This scale has also been used in chanting Vedas.

Structure and Lakshana

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Revati is a symmetric rāgam that does not contain gāndhāram or dhaivatam. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam[1][2] in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning 'of 5'). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

(notes used in this scale are shuddha rishabham, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, kaisiki nishadham)

Revati is considered a janya rāgam of Ratnangi, the 2nd Melakarta rāgam, though it can be derived from other melakarta rāgams, Vanaspati, Hanumatodi, Natakapriya, Vakulabharanam or Chakravakam, by dropping both gāndhāram and dhaivatam.

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Revati rāgam lends itself for elaboration and exploration and has many compositions. Here are some popular kritis composed in Revati.

Film Songs

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Language:Tamil

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Song Movie Composer Singer
Illam Sangeetham Athil Avan Aval Adhu M. S. Viswanathan S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Mandhira Punnagai Manal Kayiru S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, B. S. Sasireka
Viral Meetaal Pennai Solli Kutramillai P. Susheela
Maragatha Megam Meegathukum Thaagam undu S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Ninaithaal Unaithan Unnidathil Naan (1986) Thayanban K.J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Anandha Thagam Vaa Indha Pakkam Shyam Deepan Chakravarthy, S. Janaki
Kanavu Ondru Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu Illayaraja S. Janaki
Sangeetha Jathimullai Kaadhal Oviyam S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Durga Durga Priyanka K. S. Chithra
Kaattu Vazhi Thunbam Illa Thandavakone Illayaraja
Adadaa Aghangaara Arakka Kaigalil Pithamagan K.J. Yesudas
Ennai Peththavalae Melmaruvathur Arpudhangal K. V. Mahadevan
Kannurangu Ponmayile Idhu Namma Aalu K. Bhagyaraj
Enakkum Unakkum Inimel Enna Kurai Puthiya Sangamam Gangai Amaran S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,S. Janaki
Bhuvaneswari Arul Thaye Neeye Thunai Raveendran K.J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra
Vizhigal Meydaiyam Imaigal Kilinjalgal Vijaya T. Rajendar Kalyan, S. Janaki
Thodhuvala Elai Thaai Manasu Deva Mano, S. Janaki
Chandiranum Sooriyanum Watchman Vadivel S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Ennai Thottu Vittu Poomaname Vaa Sirpy
Chinna Chinna Pavada Shenbaga Thottam Mano, K. S. Chithra
Kaakha Kaakha Naan Avanillai Vijay Antony Vijay Antony, Charulatha Mani, Megha, Vinaya, Maya
Dhavam Ondru ABCD D. Imman Nithyasree Mahadevan, Balram
Oh Nenje Nenje Yamuna Elakkiyan Haricharan

Tamil Devotional Songs

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Song Album Composer Singer
Guru Bhagavane Saranam Sri Guru Bhagavan Veeramani Kannan S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
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This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

In Japanese/Western music Revati corresponds to Insen scale

Graha bhedam

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Revati's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 other pentatonic rāgams, namely, Shivaranjani and Sunadavinodini. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. See Graha bhedam on Shivaranjani for more details and an illustration.

Scale similarities

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  • Madhyamāvati is a rāgam which has the chathusruthi rishabham in place of the shuddha rishabham. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 M1 P N2 S : S N2 P M1 R2 S

Notes

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

References

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