A compilation of many of the soulful Viruttams that MS has sung in various concerts.

Source: sangeethapriya.org

“MS is one of the most inspired interpreters of poetry, not in one language but many languages; her musical imagination was stirred by the words as well and therefore when she sang, the verse unfurled its hidden latent meanings like a bud opening its petals at the touch of the sun. In every language she sang, MS remained sensitive to the sound of the words as much to their sense. She also knew that meanings were never literal; they had connotations, implications even ambiguities.

Linguistic sensitivity not just perfect diction, that is the hallmark of the MS style and it is inimitable. ”  – Gowri Ramnarayan in the Tribute to MS titled ‘Star Trek’ at the Hindu Lit for Life 2016.

1. Petra Thai; Lyrics : Tiruvacakam by Manikkavacakar

Translation by Gowri Ramnarayan

”One of her signature vitruttams, which involved improvised ragas across an exquisite Tamil lyric goes :

Even if the mother forgets the child,

and the child forgets the mother who bore it, 

even if life forsakes the body, and the body forsakes the soul,

even if the heart abandons the art it had absorbed, and eyes fail to blink,

I shall not forget the lord who resides within pure souls

a) Petra Thai in ragam Nadanamakriya followed by Araar Asai Padaar

Concert at Mysore, 1960s

and decades later

b) Petra Thai in ragams Revati and Yamunakalyani followed by Shiva Panchaksharam – Youtube


2. Viruttams in Tamil Meera; Lyrics : Kalki Krishnamurthy 

a)  Chara Charam in ragam Hamsanandi 

b)  Udal Uruga 


3.  Paal Ninaindhuttum in ragams Centurity, Nadanamakriya ; Lyrics : Tiruvacakam by Manikkavacakar

Concert at Madras Music Academy, 1965


4. Ettanai Vidangal Thaan; Lyrics : Anandhamana param by Thayumanavar

    Translation by Seetha Ravi 

“All my knowledge and learning have not humbled me
My ego persists unchanged
The mind is transfixed with desire for everything it perceives
I have not known compassion and generosity in my entire life
Nobility of character and penance elude me even in my dreams
Untruth is all I speak and have not uttered even a sampling of truth
I helplessly indulge in endless discourse instead of dwelling in silence divine
Tell me, Have you even heard of or seen another as insolent ?
Oh blissful presence in whom the cosmos comes to rest and finds itself….!”

a) Ettanai Vidangal Thaan in ragams Dhanyasi, Charukesi, and Sivaranjani followed by Kurai Onrum Ilai

AIR Concert 1980s

b) Ettanai Vidangal Thaan  in ragams Kedaragowla, Varali, Mohanam and Kapi                                    

Concert in Bengaluru 1988


5.  Viruttam – Udum Atheen kuzhal in ragams Shanmukhapriya, Dhanyasi, Paras, Mohanam


6. Viruttam Oru Tharam Saravanabhava 

a)  Oru Tharam Saravanabhava in ragams Saveri, Dhanyasi,Shanmukhapriya,

Air Concert

 b) Oru Tharam Saravanabhava in ragams Begada, Shanmukhapriya, Kedaragowla, Chandrakauns, Mohanam

Concert at Narada Gana Sabha, 1969


7. Viruttam – Vakkundam in ragam Madyamavati; Lyrics : Avvaiyaar


8. Vedam Padiya Viruttam in ragam  Poorvikalyani followed by slokam Aruna Saroruha and Suryamurte in ragam Saurashtram

Concert at Asthika Samajam, 1969


9. Thiruve En Selvame in ragam Hari Kambodhi ; lyrics :  Tevaram written by Appar Tirunavukkarasar Nayanar 


10. Kulam Tharum in Ragam Mohanam followed by Narayana Divya Namam


11,Chediyaya valvinaigal theerkum in ragam Hamsanandi ; lyrics : Kulasekhara Alvar 

Concert at Madras Music Academy in 1960; Sung by Radha Viswanathan


12. Magic of MS Album (Sanskriti) includes Chelpattu Azhindhadhu 

13. Paddhati Brahma Gana Sabha Concert Album  (Charsur) includes Enba Kalandila Paaviyar Padum Tuyaram

14. Thamizhe Isaiyai Album (SaReGaMa)  includes Kuthagayai,  Thazh Sadaiyum and Ulagam Yaaviyum

A  compilation of some of the Ragam Tanam Pallavis that MS has sung in various concerts. 

We thank Smt. Kiranavali Vidyasankar for sharing additional insights about the Pallavis. 

Terms : Starting point of the line (eduppu),  landing point (arudi)

1.RTP in Ragam Begada   : Kailasapate, pasupate, umapate, namostute  

Adi tala (2-Kalai) ; Eduppu at 3/4ths of the first beat of the tala; arudi kaarvai of 5 counts

Concert at Madras Music Academy on Dec 26,1955
Accompaniments:
Smt Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
Sri Thiruvalangadu N.Sundaresa Iyer – Violin
Sri T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
Sri Umayalpuram N.Kodhandarama Aiyar – Ghatam

In the Hindu Frontline Article titled The MS phenomenon, Gowri Ramnarayan writes  “The Alathur brothers, known to be masters of laya and pallavi exposition, were to call on M.S. the next day and offer their congratulations. “We have no words to describe the beauty and balance of your presentation. What anchored every part firmly to a finished whole was the accent on the raga and the bhava you brought to it. This is what makes your music so enchanting, so durable. This is what the great Dakshinamurti Pillai found to be special in your singing years ago.”


2. RTP in Ragam Thodi  :  Ananda poorna bodhoham, shivoham sacchida (ananda)

Mishra jati Triputa tala (2-Kalai); Eduppu at 2/4ths (1/2) of the first beat; arudi karvai of 7 counts

Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer used to also sing this Pallavi.

Concert at Mumbai in 1959
Accompanists:
Sri R.S.Gopalakrishnan – Violin
Sri T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
Sri T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam

 

3. RTP in Ragam Sankarabaranam  : Saravana bhava guru guha shanmukha saminathane

Chaturashra jati Rupaka tala (4-Kalai); Eduppu at 2/4ths (1/2) of the first beat; arudi karvai of 3/4ths

Concert  at Madras Music Academy on 27th Dec,1964 
Accompanists :
Sri Tiruvalangadu N. Sundaresa Iyer (Violin)
Sri Tanjore T. K. Murthi (Mridangam)
Sri Umayalpuram N. Kodandarama Iyer (Ghatam)

Note : Saravana bhava guru guha shanmukha saminathane pallavi sung in Ragam Kharaharapriya in Concert at Madras Music Academy in 1960 (Paddhati CD by Charsur)


4. RTP in Ragam Keeravani : Ma Madura Meenakshi Maam Pahi 

Tishra jati Triputa tala, Khanda gati – Starting point of the line (eduppu) is 1/5ths of the first beat; landing point (arudi) kaarvai is 6 counts (basically it spills over to the second beat in the second half of the tala).

Ragam and Tanam

Pallavi

 Concert at Madras Music Academy On Dec 25,1965
Accompanists:
Smt Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
Sri V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
Sri T.K.Murti – Mridangam
Sri T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam


5. RTP in Ragam Kalyani : Un Darisanam Kidaikkumo Nataraja Dayanidhe 

Tishra jati Triputa (2-Kalai); Eduppu 1/2 of the last beat of the tala – this is called ateeta eduppu because it comes at the end of the tala cycle. Arudi is camouflaged by the fact that the word Raja lands there (total count of 7 for Raja, 4 for Ra and 3 for ja)

Concert at Chennai in 1967 

Same Pallavi in Ragam Dharmavati 

Concert in Bengaluru in 1975


6. RTP in Ragam Bhairavi : Amba Madura Meenakshi Maam Pahi Devi

Tishra jati Triputa tala 4-Kalai;Eduppu of 3/4ths at the last beat of the tala; arudi kaarvai is 3/4ths of the beat

Concert  at Madras Music Academy on  Dec 22, 1968  (Year that MS was awarded the Sangita Kalanidhi)
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam
Pudukottai S.Mahadevan – Morsing


7. RTP in Ragam Thodi : Chinthai Valar Senthil Velava Siva Mainda Enthan  

Khanda jati Triputa tala (2-Kalai); Eduppu is at 1/2 of the first beat; arudi kaarvai 7 counts

Concert at Madras Music Academy on Dec 25,1969
Accompanists
Smt Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
Sri V.V.Subrahmanyam-Violin
Sri T.K.Murti -Mridangam
Sri V.Nagarajan -Kanjira
Sri T.H.Vinayakaram-Ghatam


8. RTP in Ragam Shanmukapriya : Sharavanabhava Guhane Shanmukhane

Adi (2-Kalai);Eduppu at little finger; arudi kaarvai is 7 counts

Concert in 1969
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
V.Nagarajan – Khanjira
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam


9. RTP  in Ragam Bhairavi,  Daravidalita Kuvalayadala Neela

Chatusra jati Jhampa tala (4-kalai) or Tishra jati Triputa tala (4-Kalai);

Eduppu at 3/4ths of the first beat; arudi is camouflaged by the word “laya” (total of 6 counts; 3 for la and 3 for ya)

Concert at the Madras Music Academy on  Dec 25, 1970
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
V.Nagarajan – Khanjira
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam


10. RTP in Ragam Sankarabaranam : Dasharathe Karunapayonidhe Inakulatilaka 

Adi (4-Kalai); Eduppu at 1/2 of the first beat; arudi karvai is 3/4ths of the beat

Concert at Madras Music Academy on Dec 25,1971
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal
Kandadevi S.Azhagiriswami – Violin
T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
V.Nagarajan – Khanjira
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam

Note: MS has also sung this Pallavi in Ragam Thodi


11. RTP in Ragam Kambodhi, Parimala Rangapate Maampahi

Chaturashra Rupaka (4-Kalai); Eduppu at 3/4ths of the laghu; arudi karvai is 3/4ths of the beat

Concert at Madras Music Academy on Dec 24, 1973
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
Karaikkudi R.Mani – Mridangam
V.Nagarajan – Khanjira
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam


12. RTP in Ragam Dhanyasi : Varada Venkatasaila 

Tisra Triputa (1-Kalai) but spread over 2 Avartanams;  Very interesting and unusual 1-Kalai Pallavi but spread over 2 avartanams (2 rounds of tala).

Eduppu 6 counts; arudi 14 karvais

Concert at Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai on  Aug 16,1974
Accompanists:
Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
Kandadevi S.Azhagiriswami – Violin
T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
V.Nagarajan – Kanjira
T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam


13. RTP in Ragam Hemavati :Ninne Nammiti Nivegati Neerajadalanayana

Khanda jati Jhampa tala, Khada gati; Eduppu at 2/5ths the flip; Arudi karvai 3/5ths of a beat

Concert at  Shanmukhananda Fine Arts, Mumbai in 1976
Accompanists:
Smt Radha Viswanathan – Vocal Support
Sri V.V.Subrahmanyam – Violin
Sri T.K.Murthy – Mridangam
Sri V.Nagarajan – Kanjira
Sri T.H.Vinayakaram – Ghatam


14 A. RTP in Ragam Kharaharapriya : Mal Marugane Murugane Guhane Umayaal Magane Arul Thiru

Khanda jati Triputa tala (2-Kalai); Eduppu at 1/2 of the first beat; arudi karvai of 4 counts

Ragam and Tanam

Pallavi 

14 B. Mal Marugane Murugane Guhane Umayaal Magane Arul Thiru Pallavi  in Ragam Mayamalavagowla : 

Ragam and Tanam

Pallavi 


15A. RTP in  Ragam Simhendramadhyamam, Talam Adi (2 Kalai) : Nandagopala Mukunda Hare Govinda

Adi tala (2-Kalai);Eduppu at 3/4ths of the first beat; arudi karvai of 7 counts

15B.  Ragam Mohanam :Nandagopala Mukunda Hare Govinda

Chaturashra jati Rupaka tala (4-Kalai);Eduppu at 3/4ths of the first beat in the laghu; arudi karvai of 3 counts (3/4ths of beat in the dhrtam)

Concert at Indian Fine Arts, Chennai in 1975


16. RTP in Ragam Dharmavathi : Sundara Sakhi Sumangali Madura Meenakshi 

Adi (2-Kalai);Eduppu at 1/2 of the first beat; arudi karvai of 7 counts


17. RTP in Ragam Bhairavi : Velavane unadu padam thunaiye orarumugane arumugane

Khanda jati Jhampa tala (4-Kalai);Eduppu at 1/2 of the first beat; arudi karvai of 3/4ths of the dhrtam beat

Source : Sangeethapriya.org


18. RTP in Ragam Saveri : Orudharam Siva Chidambaramenru Uraithaal Podhum Podhum ; Talam : Adi (Tisra Gati)  – Tiruvadi Charanam  CD released by Charsur

19. RTP in Ragam Thodi : Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama ; Talam : Adi  (4 Kalai)  ; Concert at Madras Music Academy in 1957

20. RTP in Ragam Bhairavi : Govindanadi Mukundanadi Enakkavar Sondamadi 

Ragam and Tanam: 

Pallavi:

Source: Rasikas.org

1.Slokam followed by Hiranmayim Lakshmim in Ragam Lalitha composed by Muthuswami Dikshithar

2. Shri Varalakshmi in Ragam Shri composed  by Muthuswami Dikshithar