Mohanam

Mohanam is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an audava rāga (or owdava rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is usually described as a janya rāga of Harikamboji (28th Melakartha Raga). However, alternate opinions suggest that Mechakalyani may be a more appropriate classification based on the lakshana of the raga.

Mohanam
ArohanamS R₂ G₃ P D₂ Ṡ
AvarohanamṠ D₂ P G₃ R₂ S
Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style Tambura
Concepts
Compositions
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇa
Veṇu
Nāgasvaraṃ
Gottuvadhyam (Citra Vīṇa)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghatam
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box

The equivalent of Mohanam in Hindustani music is Bhoop[1] (or Bhopali[2]).

It is one of the common pentatonic scales across the world[1] and is very popular in East Asian and South-east Asian music, including China and Japan.

Structure and Lakshana
Mohanam scale with shadjam at C

Mohanam is a symmetric rāga that does not contain madhyamam or nishādham. It is a symmetric pentatonic scale (audava-audava raga[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):

(the notes used in this scale are shadjam, chathusruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham)

Mohanam is usually classified as a janya rāga of Harikambhoji, the 28th Melakarta rāga, though alternate opinions exist that prefer classifying it as a janya raga of Kalyani based on its lakshana. The Hindustani equivalent Bhoop is associated with Kalyan thaat (equivalent of Kalyani).

One of the first scales employed by the ancient Tamils was the Mullaippann (3BCE), a pentatonic scale composed of the notes sa ri ga pa da equivalent to C, D, E, G and A in the western notations. These fully harmonic scales, constitutes the raga Mohanam in the Carnatic music style.

Mohanam rāga lends itself for extensive elaboration and exploration and has many compositions in both classical music and film music.

Kritis

The geetham Varavina mridupani is one of the first short songs taught to beginners in Carnatic music. Ninnukori composed by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar is a popular Varnam in this scale. Here are some popular kritis composed in Mohanam.

  • Cheri Yasodaku Sisuvithadu by Annamacharya
  • Ranga Nayaka Raajeeva Lochana by Purandaradasa
  • Mohana rama, Nannu palimpa,Darayani, Rama ninnu nammina, Evarura ninnuvina and Bhavanutha by Thyagaraja
  • Narasimha Agaccha,Kadambari priyayaih ,Gopika manoharam by Muthuswamy Dikshitar
  • Kapaali, karunai and Narayana divyanamam by Papanasam Sivan
  • Rara Rajiva lochana by Mysore Vasudevachar
  • En palli kondeer aiyya by Arunachala Kavi
  • Kshemam kuru by Narayana Teertha
  • Swagatam Krishna by Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi
  • Pari pahimam Nruhara by Swati Thirunal
  • Sada palaya sarasakshi by G N Balasubramaniam
  • Mohanam tavavapurai by Swathi Thirunal
  • Ninnukkori Varnam by Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar

Telugu Film Songs
Song Movie Author Composer Singer
Mounamga Manasu Padina Gundamma Katha Pingali Nagendrarao S. Rajaswara Rao Ghantasala
Seelamu Galavari Chinavada Palnati Yudhham Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry S. Rajaswara Rao Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna, P. Susheela
Echatanunchi Veecheno Ee Challanigaali Appu Chesi Pappukudu Pingali Nagendrarao Pendyala Nageswarrao Ghantasala, P. Susheela
Manasu Parimalinchene Tanuvu Paravasinchene Srikrishnarjuna Yuddham Pingali Nagendrarao Pendyala Nageswarrao Ghantasala, P. Susheela
Mohanraga Maha Murthymanthamaye Mahamantri Timmarasu Pingali Nagendrarao Pendyala Nageswarrao Ghantasala, P. Susheela
Lahirilo Lahirilo Mayabazaar Pingali Nagendrarao S. Rajaswara Rao Ghantasala, P. Leela
Madhilo Veenalu Mroge Atmeeyulu Dasarathi S. Rajeswara Rao P. Susheela
Padavela Radhika Pranayasudha Geethika Iddaru Mitrulu SriSri S. Rajeswara Rao Ghantasala, P. Susheela
Nemalaki Nerpian Nadakalivi Saptapadi Veturi Sundarrammurthy K. V. Mahadevan S. Janaki
Akasamlo Asala Harivillu Swarnakamalam Sirivennela Seetarammurthy Ilayaraja S. Janaki
Ninu Kori Varnam Sarisari Gharshana Rajasree Ilayaraja Chitra, Vani Jayaram
Maaterani Chinnadhani O Papa Lali Rajasree Ilayaraja S. P. Balasubramanyam
Chinnadana Osi Chinnadana Premalekha Bhuvanachandra Deva Krishnaraj
Raave Naa Cheliya Jeans Siva Ganesh A R Rahman Sonu Nigam, Harini
Ye shwasalo Cherithe Nenunnanu Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry MM keeravani Chitra

Tamil Film Songs
Song Movie Author Composer Singer
Giridhara Gopala Meera S. V. Venkatraman M. S. Subbulakshmi
Aarumugamana Porul Kandhan Karunai Kannadasan K. V. Mahadevan S. Janaki,Rajalakshmi
Malargal Nanaindhana Idhaya Kamalam Kannadasan P. Susheela
Velli Mani Oosaiyil Iru Malargal Vaali M. S. Viswanathan
Chittukuruvikenna Saavale Samali Kannadasan
Iraivan Varuvan Shanthi Nilayam
Yaumuna Nadhi Inge Gowaravam S. P. Balasubramaniam, P. Susheela
Sangey Mozhangu Kalangarai Vilakam Bharathidasan P. Susheela,Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Thanga Thoniyile Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban Vaali K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela
Bansaye T. M. Soundarajan, L. R. Easwari
Kadaloram Vaangiya Kaatru Rickshawkaaran T. M. Soundarajan
Vanda naal mudhal Paavamannippu Kannadasan
Ninu Kori Varnam Isaithida Agni Natchatram Ilayaraja Chitra
Ullasa Poongatre Kolangal
Kanmaniye Kadhal Enbadhu Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai S. P. Balasubhramaniam, S. Janaki
Nilavu thoongum Kungumachimizh
Vaan Pole Vannam Salangai Oli S. P. Balasubhramaniam, S. P. Sailaja
Oru Thanga Rathathil Dharma Yutham Malaysia Vasudevan
Kannan Oru kaikulanthai Bhadrakali KJ Yesudas,P Susheela
Poovil Vandu Kaadhal Oviyam S. P. Balasubhramaniam
Geetham Sangeetham Kokarako Gangai Amaran
Ravi varman oviyamo Puthu vayal Aravinth
Sivappu Lolaku Kaadhal Kottai Deva
Priya Priya Kattabomman (film) S. P. Balasubhramaniam,K.S.Chitra
Nepala Malaiyoram Thaikulame Thaikulame S. P. Balasubhramaniam,Swarnalatha
Vellarika Kadhal Kottai Krishnaraj
Thoonganakuruvi Jallikattu kalai S. P. Balasubhramaniam,K.S.Chitra
Maname Thottal Thottachinungi Phillip Jerry Hariharan,K.S.Chitra
Kadhal Kaditham Cheran Pandiyan Soundaryan Soundaryan S.A. Rajkumar, Swarnalatha
Porale Ponnuthayi Karuthamma A. R. Rahman Swarnalatha
Pakkada Pakkade Gentleman Minmini
Varayo Thozhi Jeans Sonu Nigam,Harini
Boom Boom Boys Adnan Sami,Sadhana Sargam
Samba Samba Lovebirds Aslam Mustafa
Mainaave Mainaave Thithikudhe Vidyasagar P. Unnikrishnan, Sadhana Sargam
Eera Nila Aravindhan Yuvan Shankar Raja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,'Mahanadhi' Shobana

Graha bhedam

Mohanam's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 4 other major pentatonic rāgas, namely, Hindolam, Shuddha Saveri, Udayaravichandrika (also known as Shuddha Dhanyasi) and Madhyamavati. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāga. For more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Mohanam.

Scale similarities
  • Mohanakalyani is a rāga which has the ascending scale of Mohanam and descending scale of Kalyani. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G3 P D2 S : S N3 D2 P M2 G3 R2 S
  • Bilahari is a rāga which has the ascending scale of Mohanam and descending scale of Sankarabharanam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G3 P D2 S : S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
  • Garudadhvani is a rāga which has the ascending scale of Sankarabharanam and descending scale of Mohanam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S : S D2 P G3 R2 S
  • Shivaranjani rāga differs from Mohanam only by the gāndhāram. It uses sadharana gāndhāram instead of antara gāndhāram and its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G2 P D2 S : S D2 P G2 R2 S
  • Hamsadhvani rāga uses nishadam in place of dhaivatam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G3 P N3 S : S N3 P G3 R2 S
  • Vaasanthi rāga differs from Mohanam only by the daivatham. It uses shudda daivatham instead of chatushruti daivatham and its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G3 P D1 S : S D1 P G3 R2 S
  • Niroshta rāga uses nishadam in place of panchamam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G3 D2 N3 S : S N3 D2 G3 R2 S

Notes
  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S R G P D Ṡ
    • Western: C D E G A C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: Ṡ D P G R S
    • Western: C A G E D C

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