Dhenuka (Sanskrit: धेनुका, Kannada: ಧೇನುಕಾ, Telugu: ధేనుక, Tamil: தேனுக, English: A demon, slain by Balarama) is a rāgam (musical scale) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is the 9th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music.

It is called Dhunibinnashadjam^[1][2] in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.

Structure and Lakshana[link]

Dhenuka scale with Shadjam at C

It is the 3rd rāgam in the 2nd chakra Netra. The mnemonic name is Netra-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gi ma pa dha nu.^[1] 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 R1 G2 M1 P D1 N3 S
• avarohaṇa: S N3 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S

(Suddha Rishabham, Sadharana Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Suddha Dhaivatham, Kakali Nishadham)

As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the Suddha madhyamam equivalent of Shubhapantuvarali, which is the 45th melakarta.

Asampurna Melakarta[link]

Dhunibinnashadjam is the 9th Melakarta in the original list compiled by Venkatamakhin. The notes used in the scale are the same as Dhenuka.^[3]

Janya Rāgams[link]

Dhenuka has a few janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of Janya Rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Latangi.

Compositions[link]

There are a few common compositions set to Dhenuka, of which Teliyaledu rama composed by Tyagaraja is one of the most often rendered in concerts.

Related rāgams[link]

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Dhenuka's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other Melakarta rāgams, namely, Shanmukhapriya, Chitrambhari and Shoolini. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam.

References[link]

Ranjani and Gayatri are Carnatic concert vocalists and violinists.

Early life[link]

Ranjani and Gayatri were born to N. Balasubramanian^[1] and Meenakshi (a Carnatic vocalist as well). Born into a Palakkad Iyer family deeply involved in classical music, Ranjani and Gayatri's musical talents were discovered at a very early age.^[2] They started their violin training at the early age of nine and six respectively from Sangita Bhooshanam Prof. T.S. Krishnaswami at the Shanmukhananda Sangeeta Vidyalaya, Mumbai.^[3]

As violin duet artists[link]

Ranjani and Gayatri began their music career as violin duet artistes even before they reached their teens. Through their intense training from Sangita Bhooshanam Prof. T. S. Krishnaswami, they quickly established themselves as top-class violinists of international repute. The sisters achieved success as violin duet performers, and subsequently they also proved successful as violin accompanists. Both Ranjani and Gayatri have accompanied various artists on the violin, including D.K. Pattammal.

As vocal artists[link]

The sisters have given vocal concerts since 1997, after they became students of Padma Bhushan Sangeeta Kala Acharya P. S. Narayanaswamy.^[2] They have learnt quite a few Bhajans from vocalist Seetha Narayanan. Their chance meeting with an amateur Hindustani vocalist in Chennai, Vishwas Joshi, an official of the World Bank working in Washington, from whom they learnt a few abhangs and gavlis, paved way for further learning from Manek Bhide and Appasaheb Deshpande of Kolhapur.^[3]

Within barely three years, they won high praises from critics and music lovers all over the globe. Their music, imbued with a deep and abiding classicism, has been described as an exhilarating blend of vitality, melody and emotion. Ever since their debut in 1997, they have performed in all prominent sabhas in the December Music Festival in Chennai, and at premier institutions all over the country. They have to their credit several album releases, both violin and vocal. They give various world tours every year, touring many countries such as the United States, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, UK, Australia and many more.

As composers[link]

Apart from singing, Ranjani and Gayatri also have an interest for composing music. A few of the abhangs they sing at the end of their concerts have been tuned by them. They have also tuned many other thukkada pieces, including bhajans. Here is a list of some of the songs tuned by the sisters:

• Bolava Vitthala - Abhang (Sant Tukaram) - Tuned in raag Bhatiyar.
• Pagaivanukkarulvai (Subramanya Bharathi) - Ragamalika
• Naachke Aaye - Bhajan (Ambujam Krishna) - Tuned in raag Sohini
• Raam Naam Mhanata - Abhang (Tukaram) - Tuned in raag Jhenjhutti
• Sharana Sharana - Abhang (Sant Tukaram) - Tuned in raag Pilu.
• Dhanya Dhanya - Abhang (Sant Eknath) - Tuned in raag Durga.
• Sada Majzhe - Abhang (Sant Tukaram) - Tuned in raag Misra Malkauns.

Awards[link]

Ranjani and Gayatri have received multiple awards and recognitions throughout their career. In addition, various music personalities from all over India have recognized their talent. Most recently, the sitar player of North India, Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, was so impressed by their singing that he organized a concert of theirs in Delhi. Here is a list of the awards and recognitions received by the sisters:

• Sanskriti Awards, instituted by Sanskriti Foundation, New Delhi, (recognizing their contribution to the field of performing arts)^[3]
• Kalki Krishnamurthi Memorial Award (instituted by the Kalki trust in memory of the writer Sri. Kalki Krishnamurthy)^[2]
• Yogam Narayana Swamy Award
• National Eminence Award (by the Shanmukhananda Sabha, Mumbai)^[2]
• Title of "Isai Peroli" from the Kartik Fine Arts, Chennai in Dec 2005.
• Dr. M.L. Vasanthakumari Endowment Award, instituted by CMANA (The Carnatic Music Association of North America, Inc), USA awarded by Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai.
• Sarada Krishna Iyer Memorial Award for Outstanding Concert during December 2003 from the Music Academy, Chennai.
• T.S.Sabesa and Thanjavur Ponniah Pillai Award for Viruttam/Sloka singing from The Music Academy, Chennai.
• Performed their debut violin duet concert at the Indian Music Group Festival of Music when they were thirteen and ten years old respectively.
• Recipients of the Government of India Talent Search Scholarship from the age of ten.
• Winners of the First Prize in the All India Radio National Competition for Violin.
• Recipients of the title of "Sangeeta Shanmukha Mani' conferred by Shanmukhananada Fine Arts and Sangeeta Vidyalaya, Mumbai.
• Won The Outstanding Violinists Award for four consecutive years from the Music Academy, Chennai from 1994 to 1998. Won the Award for Best Kirtana Rendering for their vocal concert from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in 1999.

Albums[link]

Ranjani and Gayatri have various albums to their credit. Here is a list of some of the albums that have been released:

• Kurinji Malar (Live Concert)
• Anandam - Journey Into Bliss
• Un Thiruvadi Charanam (Live Concert)
• Paramaanandam
• Pravaaham
• Rama Bhakti
• December Season 2001 Kutcheri (Live Concert)
• Madrasil Margazhi 2003 (Live Concert)
• Madrasil Margazhi 2004 (Live Concert)
• Madrasil Margazhi 2005 (Live Concert)
• Madrasil Margazhi 2006 (Live Concert)
• Madhuryam - Violin Duet
• Dual Harmony
• The Awakening
• Thendral
• Samaanam
• Saravanabhava
• Ambujam - Krithis of Ambujam Krishna (Live Concert)
• Paadaravindam (Live Concert)
• Kshetradanam
• Kutcheri 2010 (Live Concert)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Artists' website