#andolika

                                            The name Andolika translates to 'swing'. Though it may not always be accurate as it depends upon the context. This raaga has been haunting me for quite a while now so thought I'd make a blog post and share it with you guys.

 It is an asymmetric auduva raaga whose parent scale is 22nd Kharaharapriya. I will just link this Wiki page which you can use if you want more technical details. I realized how tricky singing this raaga can get when I learnt it. Say you are singing in the upper octave and you reach "Pa". You have no choice but to reach "Ni" and only then descend. Hence this raaga has to be carefully handled is what I think. 

Moving on, here is a relevant anecdote that I'm quoting as it is from @hamsanandi's blog.

"

When a young G N Balasubramaniam started with a rAga AlApane at a concert in Tanjavoor, some of the vidwans in the concert hall walked out appalled at the vocalist who ‘did not even sing Madyamavati phrases correctly’.

But still captivated by his voice, they could not help themselves hanging around outside the hall to hear the vocalist start off a hitherto unknown (for them) composition starting with the words – rAgasudhArasa .

If you were thinking about the composition of Tyagaraja, in rAga Andolika ( sometimes called Mayura Dhwani), you are right on the dot. At that time, it was still not very well known even among musicians. It is one of what is generally termed as a “apUrva rAga kriti” of Tyagaraja.

Tyagaraja was the first to compose in this rAga – as he did in several scores of other melodies unheard of till his time.

"

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1. Raagasudharasa:

Undoubtedly the most popular kruthi in this raaga. Composed by St Tyagaraja, this kruthi was familiarized by GNB. Listen to a recording from 1965 Kallidaikkurichi concert here.

2. Sevikka Vendum Ayya:

Another popular kruthi in this raaga is by Sri Muthu Tandavar (tuned by someone else perhaps). You can listen to Madurai Mani Iyer's rendition of it here.

3. Nee daya rada (Varnam):

The third item on the list is a varna in raaga Andolika composed by GNB. You can listen to D K Jayaraman's rendition here.

4. Karanamemi:

One more beautiful composition by GNB in Andolika. Listen to S Kalyanaraman's rendition of this kruthi here.

5. RTP - TVS:

A crisp rendition of a raaga, taana, pallavi in Andolika by T V Shankaranarayanan. Pallavi is set to Trishra-Triputa in ateeta graha (Starts before the beat). Listen to it here.

6. RTP - MLV:

Saving the best for the last, this is a splendid rendition of a raaga, taana, pallavi by Dr M L Vasantakumari. Pallavi is set to Mishra Chapu and starts 8 aksharas after (or 6 aksharas before) the beat, which I think makes it a tricky once. She also concludes the pallavi with raga malike of some of the uncommon raagas. Truly one of the best pallavi renditions I've listened to. You can listen to it here.

Ragasudharasa:

Here is my translation of Tyagaraja's composition in Raga Andolika - Ragasudharasa, sung by Sri Ragavan Manaian, at a thematic concert in Fremont, CA in 2010, on the occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava.

Original Sahitya:

Pallavi: rāga sudhā rasa pānamu jēsi rañjillavē ō manasā

Anupallavi: yāga yōga tyāga bhōga phalamosaṅgē (rāga)

Charanam: sadāśiva mayamagu nādōṅkāra swara vidulu jīvanmuktulani tyāgarāju teliyu (rāga)

Here is my translation in Kannada:

ರಾಗ ಸುಧಾರಸವನ್ನೇ ಸವಿಯುತ ನಲಿಯುತಲಿರು ಓ ಮನವೇ! ||ರಾಗ ಸುಧಾರಸ||

ಯಾಗ ಯೋಗ ತ್ಯಾಗ ಭೋಗಗಳ ಫಲವೀವ || ರಾಗ ಸುಧಾರಸ ||