Chalanata

Chalanata (pronounced chalanāta) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 36th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is one of the few rāgams referred by the same name in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1]

Chalanata

Arohanam	S R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₃ N₃ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₃ D₃ P M₁ G₃ R₃ S

Structure and Lakshana

Chalanata scale with Shadjam at C

It is the 6th rāgam in the 6th chakra Rutu. The mnemonic name is Rutu-Sha. The mnemonic phrase is sa ru gu ma pa dhu nu.[2] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

• ārohaṇa: S R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₃ N₃ Ṡ[lower-alpha 1]
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₃ D₃ P M₁ G₃ R₃ S[lower-alpha 2]

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, shatsruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, shatsruthi dhaivatham and kakali nishadham. As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampurna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Rasikapriya, which is the 72nd (last) melakarta.

Janya Rāgams

Chalanāta (also pronounced Chalanāttai) has two popular janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, namely Nāta (Nāttai) and Ghambheeranāta (Gambheeranāttai). Nāta ragam compositions are sung often in concerts and it overshadows Chalanāta.[3] See List of Janya Rāgams for list of janya rāgams associated with Chalanāta.

Compositions

A few compositions set to Chalanāta are:

• Rājadhirāja (varnam) by Baluswami Dikshitar
• Nagātmajā Manōharam by Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna
• Margazhi Thingal by Andal
• Madhava Panchakam by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi
• Edayya Gathi by Koteeswara Iyer

Film Songs

Language: Tamil

Song	Movie	Composer	Singer
Ventriduven Unnai(Ragamalika opening portion only)	Agathiyar	Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan	T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Maanikkka Theril Maragatha	Thedi Vandha Mappillai	M. S. Viswanathan	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Mahaganapathim	Sindhu Bhairavi	Illayaraja	K.J. Yesudas
Mettioli Katrodu	Metti		Illayaraja, S. Janaki(Humming only)
Kavithai Kelungal(Ragamalika)	Punnagai Mannan		Vani Jairam
Aala Asathum	Kanni Rasi		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Isai Paadu Nee	Isai Paadum Thendral		S. Janaki
Oh Oh Oh Kaalai Kuyilgale	Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren
Holi Holi	Raasukutti		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Innum Ennai (Gambeeranattai with Tilang)	Singaravelan
Podu Thanthanathom	Nalla Naal
Panivizhum Malar Vanam (in Chalanattai)	Ninaivellam Nithya		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Nan Deva devi	Thangakkili		Mano, Swarnalatha
Oru Pattampochi	Kadhalukku Mariyadhai		K.J. Yesudas, Sujatha
Naan Ondru Kettal	Ilayaragam		Arunmozhi, K.S. Chitra
Peigaley Nambathey	Mahanadi		Kamal Haasan, Shanmugasundari
Sandhosha Kannire	Uyire	A. R. Rahman	A. R. Rahman
Spiderman	New		Kunal Ganjawala, Sadhana Sargam
Narumugaiye Narumugaiye	Iruvar		P. Unnikrishnan, Bombay Jayashree
Vennila Vennila			Asha Bhosle
Thom Thom	Alli Thandha Vaanam	Vidyasagar	Hariharan, K.S. Chitra
Thangamagan Indru	Baashha	Deva	K.J. Yesudas, K.S. Chitra
Devi Devi	Santharpam		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Uma Ramanan
Irupathu Kodi Nilavugal	Thulladha Manamum Thullum	S. A. Rajkumar	Hariharan
Mudhalam Santhippil	Charlie Chaplin	Bharani	P. Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha
Solaigal Ellam	Pookalai Pareekatheergal	T. Rajendar	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chitra
Uyire Uyire	Vaanam Vasappadum	Mahesh Mahadevan	Hariharan, Ganga
Iyengaru Veetu Azhagey	Anniyan	Harris Jayaraj	Hariharan, Harini
Chennai Senthamizh (inspired from Mahaganapathim)	M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi	Srikanth Deva	Harish Raghavendra
Jingunamani	Jilla	D. Imman	Ranjith, Sunidhi Chauhan
Ammukuttiye	Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli Raajanum		Pradeep Kumar

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Chalanata's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields a major Melakarta rāgam Shubhapantuvarali. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Chalanata.

Notes

1. Alternate notations:
   • Hindustani: S G̱ G M P Ṉ N Ṡ
   • Western: C D♯ E F G A♯ B C
2. Alternate notations:
   • Hindustani: Ṡ N Ṉ P M G G̱ S
   • Western: C B A♯ G F E D♯ C

References

1. Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar Keertanaigal by Vidwan A Sundaram Iyer, Pub. 1989, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai
2. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
3. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras