Nadasurabhi Cultural Association located in Koramangala, Bangalore is in the forefront of promoting Classical Carnatic Music. Nadasurabhi conducts the highest quality music concerts every month and a week-long Annual Festival in November, free of charge to all rasikas. Our other events include a youth festival, Thyagaraja and Purandaradasa Aradhana, and music competitions for children.
Written by Smt.Harini Raghavan. Published in Ananya Abhivyakti journal in 2006.
Article Index |
---|
Manipravalam |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
All Pages |
What could have triggered his interest in Manipravalam is, his proficiency in many languages, the already prevailing Manipravalam works in Kerala before his time and the influence of Manipravalam compositions of his contemporary – Muthuswamy Dikshitar.
Out of the compositions of Swathi Tirunal that are available, the following are the compositions in Manipravalam style:
Compositions | Ragam | Talam |
Alarsara | Surat | Chapu |
Andolikavahane | Anandabhairavi | Jhampa |
Hante Jeevanayaka | Nilambari | Jhampa |
Hanta Inanendu | Gauri | Rupakam |
Hanta na ninnu | Pantuvarali | Ata |
Indirapati Vilangum | Navaroj | Rupakam |
Jaajabandu | Surati | Chapu |
Kanakamayamaayidum | Huseni | Rupakam |
Kantanodu Cennu | Nilambari | Rupakam |
Kintu Ceyvu naan | Kalyani | Rupakam |
Kulirmati Vadane | Dhanyasi | Triputa |
Manasi Dussaham | Ahiri | Chapu |
Manasi Madana Tapam | Surati | Adi |
Nagasayananaam | Pantuvarli | Adi |
Pankajaksanam | Todi | Rupakam |
Pankajanabhotsava | Mohanam | Chapu |
Pancasayakajanakan | Nilambari | Adi |
Sarasijanabhanin | Saurashtram | Chapu |
Sundarange Kanta | Todi | Rupakam |
Syananduresan | Kurinji | Adi |
Tellupolum Kripa | Kurinji | Chapu |
Valayunniha | Varali | Jhampa |
He has composed many Group Kritis. Among them the ‘Utsava Prabhandam’ kritis, consisting of 12 songs and 42 verses are in Manipravalam. These songs are prefixed and suffixed by a good number of ‘Slokams’ in Manipravalam. Most of his Manipravalam compositions employ a combination of Malayalam and Sanskrit for the lyrics. Perhaps he is the only known composer to have composed so many songs in Manipravalam. Some of his poetical works are also in Manipravalam.
Another popular composer of recent times who has employed Manipravalam in some of his compositons is Vidwan M.D. Ramanathan. Some of his Manippravalam kritis known to us are: Innamum I Chalame (Begada Ragam, Adi Talam), ‘Kanda Unakkinda’(Todi Ragam,Adi Talam) and ‘Palayamam’ (Begada Ragam, Rupaka Talam).
There could be more composers who have employed Manipravalam style and hence the list is not exhaustive. However there is no doubt that it would be greatly rewarding to unearth those compositions to bring to light the beauty and uniqueness of this special work.
Entry is free for all Nadasurabhi Programmes.
Donations to Nadasurabhi are entitled for exemption under Section 80G of I.T.Act.