Keeravani

For the music director, see M. M. Keeravani.

Keeravani (pronounced keeravāṇi) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 21st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. The 21st melakarta rāgam as per Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music is Kiraṇāval̥i.

Keeravani

Arohanam	S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₃ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₃ D₁ P M₁ G₂ R₂ S
Equivalent	Harmonic minor scale

This rāgam is a popular scale in western music as well. The Western equivalent is the Harmonic minor scale.^[1][2] It is said to be borrowed into Hindustani music from Carnatic music.

Structure and Lakshana

Keeravani scale with shadjam at C

L. Ramakrishnan: instrumental (Veena) improvisation – Alapana and tAnam – in the rAga kIravANI, recorded at Lars Nesbakken's home studio in Portland, Oregon, on Jan 1, 2004.

It is the 3rd rāgam in the 4th chakra Veda. The mnemonic name is Veda-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gi ma pa dha nu.^[1] 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 R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₃ Ṡ^[a]
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₃ D₁ P M₁ G₂ R₂ S^[b]

The notes used in this scale are chathusruthi rishabha, sadharana gandhara, suddha madhyama, panchama, suddha dhaivatha, kakali nishadha.

As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Simhendramadhyamam, which is the 57th melakarta.

Janya Rāgams

Keeravani has many janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. Kalyāna vasantam is a popular janya of Keeravani. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Keeravani. Other popular janya ragams include Chandrakouns, Sāmapriya and Vasantamanohari.

Compositions

Many composers have composed songs in Keeravani. A few of them are listed here.

• Pancha Bhoota Kiranaavalim by Muthuswamy Dikshithar (Sanskrit)
• Kaligiyunte by Thyagaraja (Telugu) in Keeravani
• Eti Yochanalu and Paraku Neekelara by Thyagaraja (Telugu) in Kiranavali
• Ambavani nannu by Muthiah Bhagavatar (Telugu)
• Balasarasa Murali by Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi (Sanskrit)
• Bhavaye Saarasanabham by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (Sanskrit)
• Devi neeye thunai by Papanasam Sivan (Tamil)
• nA puNyamu gAdA IshA by Muthiah Bhagavatar (Telugu)
• Sarvaparadhava By Purandara Dasaru (Kannada)
• nijamuga rAma nI pAdamula nitya nammina nnau brOvumu by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar (Telugu)
• varamulosagi brOcuTa nI karudA jagadAdhara by Patnam Subramania Iyer (Telugu)
• Innamum Sandeha Padalamo by Gopalakrishna Bharathi (Tamil)
• Vinayagane vinaitheerpavane by Ulundhoorpettai Shanmugam (Tamil)
• nI caraNAmbujamunu neranammiti nIrajAkSi by G. N. Balasubramaniam (Telugu)
• Karunakarane Shivashankarane by Papanasam Sivan (Tamil)
• Mahadeshwara Ashtadashanama by Mahesh Mahadev (Sanskrit)
• Sri Dakshinamurthim by M. Balamuralikrishna (Sanskrit)
• Bhavaye Saadaram by Thulaseevanam(R. Ramachandran Nair) (Sanskrit)
• Vaananai mathi soodiya by Appar (Tamil)
• Unnai nambinen aiya by Muthu Thandavar (Tamil)

Tamil Film Songs

Song	Movie	Year	Composer	Singer
Paattu Padava	Then Nilavu	1961	A. M. Rajah	A. M. Rajah
Oho Endhan Baby				A. M. Rajah, S. Janaki
Samarasam Ulaavum Idame	Rambaiyin Kaadhal	1956	T. R. Pappa	Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Kunguma Poove Konjum Puraave	Maragatham	1959	S. M. Subbaiah Naidu	J. P. Chandrababu, K. Jamuna Rani
Oh Rasikkum Seemane	Parasakthi	1952	R. Sudarsanam	M. S. Rajeswari
Buddhiyulla Manitharellam	Annai	1962		J. P. Chandrababu
Aasaiyae Alaipolae	Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum	1958	K. V. Mahadevan	Thiruchi Loganathan
Seettu Kattu Raja	Vettaikkaran	1964		L. R. Eswari, A. L. Raghavan
Avala Sonnal	Selvam	1966		T. M. Soundararajan
Kannale Pesi Pesi Kolladhe	Adutha Veettu Penn	1960	Adi Narayana Rao	P. B. Sreenivas
Ninaipadhellam	Nenjil Or Aalayam	1962	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Yaar Sirithal Enna	Idhayathil Nee	1963
Manavane Azhalaama	Karpagam	1963		P. Susheela
Kangal Irandum Unnai	Mannadhi Mannan	1960
Avala Ivala				L. R. Eswari, L. R. Anjali
Anubhavam Pudhumai	Kadhalikka Neramillai	1964		P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela
Kannirendum Minna Minna	Aandavan Kattalai	1964		P. B. Sreenivas, L. R. Eswari
Velli Kinnamthan	Uyarndha Manithan	1968	M. S. Viswanathan	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Thaayir Chirandha	Agathiyar	1972	Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan	T. K. Kala
Thanga Sangili	Thooral Ninnu Pochchu	1982	Illayaraja	Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Ada Machamulla	Chinna Veedu	1985		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki, S. P. Sailaja, T. V. Gopalakrishnan
Oorai Therinchikitten	Padikkadavan	1985		K. J. Yesudas
Raja Raja Chozhan	Rettai Vaal Kuruvi	1987
Kaatril Endhan Geedham	Johnny	1980		S. Janaki
Kodiyile Malliyapoo	Kadalora Kavithaigal	1986		P. Jayachandran, S. Janaki
Raasathi Manasule	Raasave Unnai Nambi	1988		Mano, P. Susheela
Oh Papa Lali	Idhayathai Thirudathe	1989		Mano
Poovoma Oorgolam	Chinna Thambi	1991		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Neethaane Naaldhorum	Paattu Vaathiyar	1995		K.J. Yesudas, Swarnalatha
Ennai Thalaata	Kadhalukku Mariyadhai	1997		Hariharan
Khajiraho Kanavilor	Oru Naal Oru Kanavu	2005		Hariharan, Shreya Ghoshal
Keeravani Iraviley	Padum Paravaigal	1988		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Nenjukulle Innaarunnu	Ponnumani	1993
Intha Maamanoda	Uthama Raasa
Thendral Kaatre	Kumbakarai Thangaiah	1991		Mano, S. Janaki
Ilavenil Ithu Vaikasi Matham	Kadhal Rojavae	2000		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Chinna Mani Kuyilae	Amman Kovil Kizhakale	1986		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Mannil Indha	Keladi Kanmani	1990
Poongodithan Poothathamma	Idhayam	1991
Malaiyoram Veesum Kaatthu	Paadu Nilave	1987
Vanaththai Parthen	Manithan		Chandrabose
Putham Pudhu Malare	Amaravathi	1993	Bala Bharathi
Unnai Thotta Thendral	Thalaivasal	1992		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Kaadhal Kaadhal Kaadhal	Poochudava	1997	Sirpy
Poomedaiyo	Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum	1986	V. S. Narasimhan	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Kannalanae Yenathu	Bombay	1995	A. R. Rahman	K. S. Chithra
Ennai Kaanavillayae Nettrodu	Kadhal Desam	1996		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, O. S. Arun, Rafee
Vennilavae Vennilavae	Minsara Kanavu	1997		Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam
Kadhal Niagara	En Swasa Kaatre	1999		Palakkad Sreeram, Harini, Anupama
Vetri Kodi Kattu	Padayappa	1999		Malaysia Vasudevan, Palakkad Sreeram
Evano Oruvan	Alaipayuthey	2000		Swarnalatha
Manasukkul Oru Puyal	Star	2001		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sadhana Sargam
Machhakkari Machhakkari	Sillunu Oru Kaadhal	2006		Shankar Mahadevan, Vasundhara Das
Arima Arima	Enthiran	2010		Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam, Benny Dayal, Naresh Iyer
Neethanae	Mersal	2017		A. R. Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal
Adangaatha Asuran	Raayan	2024		A. R. Rahman, Dhanush
Vaannum Mannum	Kaadhal Mannan	1998	Bharadwaj	Hariharan, K. S. Chithra
Anbae Anbae	Uyirodu Uyiraga	1998	Vidyasagar
Adam Evaal	Priyam	1996		Mano, Devi
Malai Kattru Vandhu (Ragam Darbarikaanada touches)	Vedham	2001		Hariharan, Mahalakshmi Iyer
Kadhal Arimugama	Kadhal Kisu Kisu	2003		Vijay Prakash, Sujatha
Oru Kaditham	Deva	1995	Deva	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Enakenna Perandhava	Kizhakku Karai	1991
O Ranganatha	Nesam	1997
Muthu Nagaye	Samundi	1992		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Chanda o Chanda	Kannedhirey Thondrinal	1998		Harini
Taj Mahal Ondru	Kannodu Kanbathellam	1999		Hariharan
Anbe En Anbe	Nenjinile
Innisai Paadivarum	Thullatha Manamum Thullum	1999	S. A. Rajkumar	P. Unni Krishnan, K. S. Chithra
Ennavo Ennavo	Priyamaanavale	2000		Hariharan, Mahalakshmi Iyer
Enna Idhuvo	Aanandham	2001		Hariharan
Rangola Ola	Ghajini	2005	Harris Jayaraj	Shankar Mahadevan, Sujatha, Ranjith
Un Sirippinil	Pachaikili Muthucharam	2007		Sowmya Rao, Robby
Thodu Vaanam	Anegan	2015		Hariharan, Durga, Shakthisree Gopalan
Thirumba Thirumba	Paarvai Ondre Pothume	2001	Bharani	Harini, P. Unnikrishnan
Engengo Kaalgal Sellum	Nandhaa		Yuvan Shankar Raja	Ilaiyaraaja
Paravaiye Engu Irukkiraai	Kattradhu Thamizh	2007
Theendi Theendi	Bala	2002		P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan
En Anbae En Anbae	Mounam Pesiyadhe			Shankar Mahadevan
Anbe Peranbe	NGK	2019		Sid Sriram, Shreya Ghoshal
Azhagaai Pookkuthey	Ninaithale Inikkum	2009	Vijay Antony	Janaki Iyer, Prasanna
Kavithaikal Sollava	Ullam Kollai Poguthae	2001	Karthik Raja	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha, Hariharan (Pathos)
Oru Murai Piranthen	Nenjirukkum Varai	2006	Srikanth Deva	Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam
Adiye Enna Raagam	Rummy	2014	D. Imman	Abhay Jodhpurkar, Poornima Satish
Yedho Ninaikiren	Thalai Nagaram	2006		Manjari, Devan
Ammadi Ammadi	Desingu Raja	2013		Shreya Ghoshal
Kannamma Kannamma	Rekka	2016		Nandini Srikar
Velicha Poove	Ethir Neechal	2013	Anirudh Ravichander	Mohit Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal
Manasula Soora Kaathey	Cuckoo	2014	Santhosh Narayanan	Sean Roldan, Divya Ramani
En Nadanam	Tamilzh Padam 2	2018	Kannan	Sharreth, Vijay Prakash
Nenjil Mamazhai	Nimir		B. Ajaneesh Loknath	Haricharan, Shweta Mohan
Uyir Uruvaatha	Iravukku Aayiram Kangal		Sam C. S.	Sathyaprakash, Chinmayi

Janya Ragam:Rishipriya

Song	Movie	Year	Composer	Singer
Udhayam Neeye	Ennarukil Nee Irunthal	1991	Illayaraja	S. Janaki

Tamil Non Film Songs

Song	Album	Year	Composer	Singer	Source
Anbe Yen Maruththaai	Azhagiya Kaadhal	2023	Ramana	Ramana	Anbe Yen Maruththaai on YouTube
Gnyaabaga Alaigal (Instrumental)				-	Gnyaabaga Alaigal (Instrumental) on YouTube

Related rāgams

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

Keeravani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other major melakarta rāgams, namely, Hemavati, Vakulabharanam and Kosalam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Keeravani.

Notes

1. Alternate notations:

   • Hindustani: S R G̱ M P Ḏ N Ṡ
   • Western: C D E♭ F G A♭ B C
2. Alternate notations:

   • Hindustani: Ṡ N Ḏ P M G̱ R S
   • Western: C B A♭ G F E♭ D C