My 2nd cover of a classical based number from Morning Raaga after Maathey This is one of the most popular invocations on Swami Ganesha set in the raagam Naattai, a very pleasing and chirpy raagam, almost considered a standard in many if not all classical concerts.
The one by Bombay Jayashree in the movie is a little short… so I rearranged the track a little, and added my own stuff to it. And, for the first time- have done harmonies in a totally classical composition and introduced a mild western influence here and there.
So, Classical purists—please excuse :)
Krithi: Mahaaganapathim
Raagam: Naattai
Thaalam: Adi
Original composer: Sri Muthuswami Dikshithar
Movie: Morning Raaga
Lead, Backing vocals, Harmonies and Mix by: Meera Manohar
There’s also a short explanation of the lyrics that I found somewhere. Makes an interesting read:
Pallavi:
Mahaganapathim Manasa Smaraami
Vashista Vaamadevaadhi Vandhitha
Anupallavi/Charanam:
Mahadevasutham Guruguhanutham
Maarakoti Prakaasham Shaantham
Madhyamakala Sahithyam:
Mahakaavya Naatakadhi priyam
Mooshika vaahana modhaka priyam
Swaram:
P P M G M R S
R S N S P M G M
P , D N *S *R *G *M
*M *R *S N *S N P M
*S N P M G M
N P M R G M R R S
*R , *S *S , N P , M G , M N S G M
Pallavi:
Dikshithar starts off with a very small pallavi singing “I medidate and recite(‘Smaraami’) with my whole heart(‘Manasa’) on the supreme Lord Ganapathy, he who is worshipped by(‘Vandhitha’) sage Vashista, Vaamadeva and others(‘aadhi’)”. Very simple but extremely open-ended for improvisation and I have heard so many different versions of the pallavi alone which once again is because of the flexibility characteristic of all dikshithar krithis. The entire scale and important phrases of the raga are brilliantly captured in the opening lines itself. Moving on to the samaashti charanam now
Anupallavi/Charanam:
Dikshithar continues describing Lord Ganesha as “He is the son(‘sutham’) of Lord Mahadeva, adored(‘nutham’) by Guruguha. He shines(‘Prakaasham’) like crores(‘koti’) of cupids(‘maara’) put together. He is the peaceful one(‘Shaantham’) and loves(‘priyam’) literary epics(‘Mahakaavya’) and other arts like Drama(‘Naataka’). He uses a mouse(‘mooshika’) as his vehicle(‘vaahana’) and loves modhakam(a popular sweet).” Not much to explain in the charanam except for the beautiful inclusion of the raga mudhra ingeniously incorporated in the word ‘Naataka’ referring to drama. On the whole, a simple composition.(With all due respect to Lord Ganesha), maybe Dikshithar composed this while he was asleep or something :). The characteristic ‘Sa Ri3’ phrase embellishes this composition.
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