Reethigowlai raagam

3:45 PM Posted by Vijayasri

Reethigowlai is one of the common and beautiful carnatic raaga used in many tamil film songs.
Starting from Maestro Ilayaraja till the new music director james vasanth who made his debut in movie Subramaniapuram, all music directors have expertly handled this raaga.

Reethigowla is the janya of the 22nd melakartha Karaharapriya, and it has this convoluted aarohanam (ascending portion of the raga) S G2 R2 G2 M1 N2 N2 S. This unique aarohanam makes this ragA one of the more easily identifiable ones.

Ilayaraja's 'Chinna Kannan Azhaikiraan' was the first Ilayaraja's Reethigowlai. The stamp of the raaga is brought out in the first line of the pallavi - Chinna Kannan [S G2 R2 G2] Azhaikiraan [M1 N2 N2 S], with the notes conforming exactly to the aarohanam of the song. The flute bits in this song especially in the first interlude is amazing.
Another famous maestro song in RithigowlA was from the movie Oru Odai Nathi agirathu -the song 'Thalaiyai Kuniyum Thamaraiye' sung by SPB and some other vague singer called Maheswari.
A.R.Rahman has handled this raaga in 'azhagana ratchasiye' song in the movie Mudhalvan and Vidyasagar Sudum Nilavu song from the movie 'Thambi', both the songs were super hits.
Theenda Theenda' from the movie Thulluvatho Ilamai , 'Kadhal neruppin' from the movie Veyil and "mIttAdha oru vINai" from poondhottam are also set on Reethigowlai raagam.
'kangal irandal' song by James Vasanth in the latest tamil movie Subramaniapuram has also come out well and worth hearing the second time.

Watch the videos of some of the tamil cini songs in this raagam 'Reethigowlai'

1. 'Thalaiyai kuniyum thamaraye' from the movie "Oru odai nadhiyagiradhu" - Music by Ilayaraja.