Shri ragam is an ancient ragam in the Carnatic tradition. It is also written as Sri or Sreerag.[1] This scale does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending scale.[1] Shree is the asampurna melakartha equivalent of Kharaharapriya, the 22nd Melakarta rāgam.[1][2] It is the last of the 5 Ghana rāgams of Carnatic music.[1] It is a popular rāgam that is considered to be highly auspicious.[2]

Shree ragam
ArohanamS R₂ M₁ P N₂ 
Avarohanam N₂ P M₁ R₂ G₂ R₂ S

Notably, Carnatic Shree takes the lower madhyamam being the asampurna scale equivalent of Kharaharapriya. It is not related to the Hindustani raga, Shree.

Structure and Lakshana

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Ascending scale is same as Madhyamavati scale, shown here with shadjam at C
 
Notes in descending scale is that of Kharaharapriya scale, shown here with shadjam at C

Shree is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain gāndhāram or dhaivatam in the ascending scale. It is a audava-vakra-sampurna rāgam (or owdava, meaning pentatonic in ascending scale),[1] where vakra indicates the zig-zag nature of jumping notes in descending scale. 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 M₁ P N₂ [a]
  • avarohaṇa:  N₂ P M₁ R₂ G₂ R₂ S[b] (or)  N₂ P D₂ N₂ P M₁ R₂ G₂ R₂ S[c]

This scale uses the notes chatushruti rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, chatushruti dhaivatam and kaisiki nishadam.

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Shree rāgam has been decorated with compositions by many composers. A few of the popular kritis are listed here.

Film Songs

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Language:Tamil

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Song Movie Year Composer Singer
Deviyar Iruvar Kalai Kovil 1964 Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy P. Susheela
Ulagin Mudalisai(Hindi lines in Ragam Pahadi) Thavapudhalavan 1972 M. S. Viswanathan T. M. Soundararajan, P. B. Srinivas
Sugamana Ragangale(Pallavi only) Miruthanga Chakravarthi 1983 Vani Jairam
Ninaivaale Andaman Kadhali 1978 K.J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Sugaraagame Yen(Ragam Manirangu) Kanni Rasi 1985 Ilayaraja Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
Solam Vidhakayile 16 Vayathinile 1977 Illayaraja
Saamakozhi Koovudhamma Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu Ilayaraja, S. P. Sailaja
Kandane Engum Kaatrinile Varum Geetham 1978 S. Janaki, Vani Jairam(Pathos)
Poovana Enna Thottu Ponmana Selvan 1989 Mano, Vani Jairam
Devi Durga Devi En Padal Unakaga Mano, K.S. Chitra
Nee Pogum Pathayil Gramatthu Minnal 1987 Malaysia Vasudevan, K.S. Chitra
Vaadi Yen Sengamalam Raasukutti 1992 Minmini
Perai Chollava Guru 1980 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Kondai Seval Koovum Enga Chinna Rasa 1987 Shankar–Ganesh
Thodu Vaanam Nijamalla Kavithai Paada Neramillai L. Vaidyanathan S. Janaki
Andhi Malai Kovil

(Inspired from Endaro mahanubhavulu By Thyagaraja)

Andhi Malai(Album song) 1992 Ouseppachan(Keyboard By AR Rahman)
Theendai Mei Theendai En Swasa Kaatre 1999 A. R. Rahman S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Selai Kattum Kodi Parakuthu 1988 Hamsalekha
Kaakai Chiraginile Purusha Lakshanam 1993 Deva
Pacha Marikozhundhu Veeram Vilanja Mannu 1998 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Anuradha Sriram
Manase Manase Nenjinile 1999 P. Unnikrishnan, K. S. Chitra
Cochin Madapura Unnudan 1998 P. Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha
Suttipoove Kaivantha Kalai 2006 Dhina Karthik, Sadhana Sargam
Sinthamani Sinthamani Aahaa Enna Porutham 1997 Vidyasagar Hariharan, S. Janaki
Thodu Thodu Vaa Mella Dharma Devathai 1986 Raveendran K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Ottiyaanam Senju Arul 2004 Harris Jayaraj Hariharan, Srimathumitha
Anbae Anbae Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal 2014 Harish Raghavendra, Harini
Pooncholai Kiliye Aran 2006 Joshua Sridhar Karthik, Asha G. Menon

Tamil Devotional Songs

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Song Album Composer Singer
Aadhaaram Neeyae Sri Guru Bhagavan Veeramani Kannan S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
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This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Scale similarities

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  • Madhyamavati is a rāgam which has a symmetric ascending and descending scale, which matches the ascending scale of Shree. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 M1 P N2 S : S N2 P M1 R2 S
  • Manirangu is a rāgam which has gāndhāram in the descending scale, while all other notes in both the ascending and descending scale are same as Madhyamavati. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 M1 P N2 S : S N2 P M1 G2 R2 S

Notes

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  1. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S R M P  
    • Western: C D F G B C
  2. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:   P M R  R S
    • Western: C B G F D E D C
  3. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:   P D  P M R  R S
    • Western: C B G A B G F D E D C

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. ^ a b Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras