Ranjani

A Janya raga of Carnatic music

Ranjani
ArohanamS R₂ G₂ M₂ D₂ 
Avarohanam N₃ D₂ M₂ G₂ S
Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style tambura
Concepts
  • Śruti
  • Svara
  • Rāga
  • Tāḷa
  • Mēḷakarta
  • Asaṃpūrṇa Mēḷakarta
Compositions
  • Gītaṃ
  • Svarajati
  • Varṇaṃ
  • Kr̥ti
  • Kīrtana
  • Rāgaṃ Tānaṃ Pallavi
  • Tillana
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇā
Veṇu
Nādasvaraṃ
Goṭṭuvādyaṃ (Citra Vīṇā)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghaṭaṃ
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box
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Ranjani is a Carnatic raga, which is also sometimes written as Ranjini. This raga is a janya of the 59th Melakarta raga Dharmavati.[1][2]

It is an asymmetric pentatonic scale, which is pleasing and has been more popular in last 50 years.[1] It figures in ragamalikas, slokams, vrittams and light popular songs, as it is a pleasing scale.[2]

Ascending scale with C as Shadjam (tonic note)

Structure and Lakshana

Descending scale has N3 in place of R2

This ragam is an asymmetric scale and is classified as an audava-audava ragam (five notes in the ascending and descending scale).[1][2]

  • ārohaṇa: S R₂ G₂ M₂ D₂ [a]
  • avarohaṇa:  N₃ D₂ M₂ G₂ S[b]

The notes in this scale are chathushruthi rishabham, sadharana gandharam, prati madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatam in arohana and additional kakli nishadham in avarohanam, in place of sadharna rishabham (see pictures). From Dharmavati scale (59th melakarta), the panchamam is removed in this scale and the rest are used in asymmetrical manner which gives the pleasing aspect to this ragam.

S R2 G2 S, S N3. D2. S - is a catch phrase that is unique to ragam Ranjani (where N3. and D2. denotes lower octave).

Select compositions

Film songs

Tamil

Song Movie Composer Singer
"Ranjani Ranjani Ranjaniye" Veettai Paaru Naattai Paaru Deva Sunandha

Notes

  1. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S R   D 
    • Western: C D E F A C
  2. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:  N D   S
    • Western: C B A F E C

References

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

See also

There are many ragams that end with Ranjani.

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