Structure of a Keerthanai

A typical Carnatic music song is composed of three parts:

1. Pallavi - the thematic line of the song.

2. Anupallavi - the second portion ellaborating the mood of Pallavi.

3. Charanam - the concluding portion of the song. A song may have one or more charanams.

Normally a carnatic concert starts with a varnamam followed by many Krithis ending with a thillana.