Lalitha is a

raga A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...

Carnatic music Carnatic music (known as or in the Dravidian languages) is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and southern Odisha. It is o ...

(musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a ''

janya ''Janya'' is a term meaning "derive". In Carnatic (South Indian) music a ''janya raga'' is one derived from one of the 72 '' melakarta'' ragas (fundamental melodic structures). ''Janya'' ragas are classified into various types based on a vari ...

'' raga of ''

Mayamalavagowla Mayamalavagowla (pronounced ) is a raga of Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is classified as 15th '' melakarta'' raga under Venkatamakhin's '' melakarta'' system. Originally known as ''malavagowla'', "maya" was p ...

'', the 15th ''

Melakarta Mēḷakartā is a collection of fundamental musical scales ( ragas) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). ''Mēḷakartā'' ragas are parent ragas (hence known as ''janaka'' ragas) from which other ragas may be derived. A ''melaka ...

'' raga. It is closely related to ''Vasantha'', as the two share many characteristic ''prayogas'' and have similar scales. Lalitha is often used In Tamil film songs, especially by Ilayaraja who has composed five film songs based on this ragam.

Structure

''Lalitha'' is an asymmetric scale that does not contain ''panchamam''. It is called a ''shadava'' raga structure is as follows (see ''swaras'' in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms): * ārohaṇa : * avarohaṇa : This scale uses the notes ''shadjam, shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham'' and ''kakali nishadam''.

Popular compositions

''Lalitha'' has ample scope for '' alapana''. This scale has been used by many composers for compositions in classical music. Here are some popular compositions in ''Lalitha''. *''Hiranmayim Lakshmim'' and ''Agastiswaram'' by

Muthuswami Dikshitar Muthuswami Dikshitar (Mudduswamy Dikshitar) (, 24 March 1776 – 21 October 1835), mononymously Dikshitar, was a South Indian poet, singer, veena player, and a prolific composer of Indian classical music. He was the youngest member of what is re ...

. Dikshitar also uses it in the ragamalika Sri Vishwanatham Bhaje. *''Nannu Brovu Lalitha'' by

Syama Sastri Syama Sastri (Telugu language, Telugu : శ్యామ శాస్త్రి; ; 26 April 1762 – 1827) or Shyama Shastri was a musician and composer of Carnatic music. He was the oldest among the Trinity of Carnatic music, Tyagaraja and Mu ...

*''Seetamma Mayamma'' by Thyagaraja (popularly sung in Vasantha, though originally in Lalitha. R Vedavalli and others sing it in Lalitha. R Vedavalli also claims that prior to 1960, it used to be sung in Lalitha alone and all books prior to 1960 also classify it as Lalitha. Some claim that Vasantha itself had only D1 and not D2 originally.). *''Natanala Brahmayaku'' by ''

Annamacharya Tallapaka Annamacharya () (09 May 1408 – 23 February 1503), also popularly known as Annamayya, was a Telugu musician, composer, and a Hindu saint. He is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called '' samkirtanas.'' His devoti ...

'' *''Sri Rajarajeshwareem'' by ''

Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar (18 July 1919 – 23 September 1974), sometimes simply Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, was the twenty-fifth and last ruling Maharaja of Mysore, reigning from 1940 to 1950, who later served as the governor of Mysore until 1964 an ...

Film Songs

Language:
Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

Notes

References