Raga Charukeshi / Charukesi
Raga Charukeshi is a very melodious raga. This ragr is relatively new as it is adopted from Carnatic Music into Hindustani style of singing.
Charukesi is a raga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 26th Melakarta ragam in the 72 melakarta ragam system of Carnatic music. It is called Tarangini in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.
Charukesi is known to incite feelings of pathos and devotion in the listener.
This raga can be rendered without any restrictions in all the three octaves. Pancham is skipped occasionally in Aaroh as well as Avroh like G m d P or P d n d m G R. One can find shades of many ragas in Charukeshi like: S R G m shows Nut Ang, G m d P shows Bhairav Ang, n S' R' S' d ; d n R' S' shows Darbari shade, R G m R S shows Nut-Bhairav Ang, which combined together gives this raga a unique and independent character.
It is the 2nd ragam in the 5th chakra Bana. The mnemonic name is Bana-Sri. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gu ma pa dha ni. (chathusruthi rishabham, anthara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham, kaisiki nishadham)
There are only a few minor janya ragams (derived scales) associated with Charukesi.
Thaat : Not Defined
Jati : Sampurna - Sampurna
Arohanam : S R2 G3 M1 P D1 N2 S'
Avarohanam : S' N2 D1 P M1 G3 R2 S
Vishranti Sthan : R; G; m; P; d;
Mukhya Ang : ,d ,n S R G m G R ; R G m d P ; R G m R S
Swaras : Dhaivat and Nishad Komal. Rest all Shuddha Swaras.
Time : 2nd Prahar of the day (9AM to 12 PM)
Equivalent : Aeolian dominant scale
Songs in Raga Charukeshi
1) Akele Hain Chale Ao - Film - Raaz
2) Bainya Na Dharo - Film - Dastak (Old)
3) Bedardi Balama - Film - Arzoo
4) Bekhudi Mein Sanam - Film - Haseena Maan Jayegi
5) Chalo Sajna Jahaan Tak - Film - Mere Humdam Mere Dost
6) Chhod De Saari Duniya Kisi Ke Liye - Film - Saraswati Chandra
7) Jaan-E-Jaana Jab Jab Teri Surat Dekhun - Film - Jaan Baaz
8) Kisi Raha Men Kisi Mod Par (a.k.a Mere Hamsafar) - Film - Mere Hamsafar
9) Koi Jab Tumhara Hriday Tood De - Film - Purab Aur Paschim
10) Megha Re Megha Re - Film - Pyaasa Saawan
11) Mohabbat Ke Suhane Din, Javani Ki Hansi Raaten - Film - Maryada
12) Shyam Teri Bansi Pukare Radha Naam - Film - Geet Gata Chal
13) Teri Ummid Tera Intzaar Karte Hai - Film - Diwanaa
14) Ek Tu Jo Mila - Film - Himalay Ki God Mein
15) Aisa Lagta Hai Zindagi Tum Ho - Non-film song
Popular compositions
Adamodi Galade by Thyagaraja, 'Karunai Varuumo' by Papanasam Sivan and Kripaya palaya saure by Swati Tirunal are popular kritis (compositions) set in Charukesi. Lalgudi Jayaraman, the acclaimed violinist and composer, has composed a very popular varnam in Charukesi called Innum En Manam. This varnam was a favorite of Maharajapuram Santhanam, who began a large chunk of his concerts with this song. Palayamam Parameswari, a composition of Sri. Muthuswami Dikshadar in Raga Tarangini is a fine example of charukesi of today. So too is the song, 'Maye tvam yahi', again a composition by Dikshithar.
Many compositions exist amongst modern adaptations of Charukesi, especially in Indian movies, in film songs. Examples are the songs Ammamma kelladi thozhi from Karuppu panam by M.S.Viswanathan Dhaandiya Aattam from the movie Kadhalar Dhinam, Vasanta mullai poalae from the movie Sarangadara, Edho Edho Ondru from the movie Enakku Iruvathu, Unakku Padhinettu, 'Aadal Kalaye' from Sri Raghavendra and Udaya Udaya from another Udhaya. In Hindi movies Ahista Ahista from the movie Swades, Teri Umeed Tera Intezar from the movie Deewana, Aye Kash Kavi Aisa Hota from the movie Mohra, are in Charukesi. Another composition in this raaga is the song Bombe Aatavaiyya from the Rajkumar starrer Kannada movie Shruthi Seridaaga. Arguably the best rendition of Charukesi in a Hindi movie is Baiyya Na Dharo sung by Lata Mangeshkar and composed by Madan Mohan from the movie Dastak. Charukesi is also popular in Hindustani music.
Bhavgeet He Surano Chandra Vha composed by Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki and ghazal Main Hosh Mein Tha performed by Mehdi Hassan are other well known examples of Charukesi.
In Malayalam, one of the all-time greatest songs is in Charukesi: 'Akale akale neelaakaasam' (from the movie 'Midumidukki', 1968). This was composed by Baburaj and sung by Yesudas and S. Janaki. There are claims that this raga is actually a very rare janya raga of Charukesi, Ushaabharanam (s g m d p m d n s / s n d p m g r g m r s). There are other great Charukesi compositions in Malayalam Films like Krishna Kripa Saagaram from Sargam sung by Yesudas and Chitra. Yaathrayai from Aayiram Para by Yesudas, Pooja Bimbam Mizhi from Harikrishnans by Yesudas and Chitra and Swapnam Thejichal from Rakshasa Raajavau by Yesudas to mention a few.
In the 2012 release of his devotional album on Lord Ayyappan Sabarimalai Va Charanam Solli Va, ace singer P. Unni Krishnan renders a song on Raga Charukesi, Uthirathil Udhithavane Sol, signifying the Lord's birth star UTHIRAM. This album was composed and released by Manachanallur Giridharan, a noted music director from Tamil Nadu.
In western music, charukesi like structures are encountered in Franz Schubert's famous Impromptu C Minor Allegro molto moderato and also in Russian Composer Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov's 'Procession of the Sardar' from his Orchestral Suite, Caucasian Sketches.
Credits:
http://www.tanarang.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/