For the Hindustani thaat of the same name, see
Kafi (thaat) .
Kafi (IAST : Kāfi ) is a raga in Hindustani classical music . It corresponds to Kharaharapriya in Carnatic music and Dorian mode in Western music
Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande classified most ragas into ten Thaats . Kafi Thaat is one of them. The raga Kafi is the principal raga of its Thaat . According to Bhatkhande, its name first appears in the Raga Tarangini of Lochana Pandit, who lived in the Mithila district around the 15th century CE.
Kafi has a direct lineage with the folk music of India. Folk music in Tappa , Hori , Dadra , Kirtan and Bhajans from different parts of India have been composed in this raga .
Many variations of Kafi exist. Contamination with vivadi swaras is common. This mixing has given rise to Mishra Kafi. Hence, a pure form of Kafi is seldom heard.
Description [ edit ] Kafi is a sampoorna-sampoorna or heptatonic raga , with komal (half a note down) Gandhar (ga) and Nishad (ni). This is also referred to as the Bhairavi of night. Both Shuddha Nishad & Gandhar are occasionally used. The atmosphere created is most suitable for both types of Shringar (Separation & Union) and hence many Thumri & Hori compositions are sung in this Raag.
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Ṡa
(Ga and Ni are komal swaras ). Dot above signifies the high octave, dot below signifies the low octave.
Ṡa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa
(Ga and Ni are komal swaras).
Vadi and Samavadi [ edit ] Pancham (Pa) is the vadi swara and Sadaj (Sa) is the samavadi swara .
A typical improvisation of Kafi starts as M P D P M g R, g R S, n. D. S
The phrases below and termination in R are characteristic.
S R g M P D n
S, R g M P, M P D (M) g
The typical chalan can be illustrated as:
S S R R g g M M P - - D M P g R R n D n P D M P S n D P M G R S.
M P D D n S - S R g R S N D S - S R S n D n D P M P D P g - R - R n D n P D M P S n D P M g R S
Variants [ edit ] Shuddha Kafi Sindhura Kafi Zilaf Kafi Kafi Kanada Organization and relationships [ edit ] Various ragas , such as Bhimpalasi , Bageshree , Kafi Kanada, Bahar , and Brindabani Sarang are associated with this raga . Important tributaries of this raga include Sindhura , Barwa , Deshi, Neelambari and Pilu .
In Western Classical Music, Kafi corresponds to the modern Dorian Mode .
Behavior [ edit ] Samay (Time)[ edit ] Raat ka dvitiya prahar or evening 9-12
Seasonality [ edit ] The raga is performed during any season.
The principal rasa for this raga is sringara .
Important recordings [ edit ] Ulhas Kashalkar , Raga Kafi (Concert) , 2001; Shobha Gurtu , Thumri, Raga Kafi , 1987; Siddheshwari Devi , Thumri, Raga Kafi , 1983; Debashish Bhattacharya , Raga Mishra Kafi , 1996; Ustad Bahadur Khan , Raga Kafi , 1987; Film Songs [ edit ] Note that the following songs are composed in Kharaharapriya , the equivalent of raga Kafi in Carnatic music .
Song Movie Composer Singer Enna Seidhaalum Irumbu Thirai S. V. Venkatraman Radha Jayalakshmi Ariyaa Paruvamadaa Missiamma S. Rajeshwara Rao P. Susheela Maayavalaiyil Gulebakavali Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy T. M. Soundararajan Annan Kaatiya Vazhiyamma Padithal Mattum Podhuma Maharajan Karnan T. M. Soundararajan , P. Susheela Aagaya Pandhalile Ponnunjal M. S. Viswanathan Madhavi Pon Mayilaal Iru Malargal T. M. Soundararajan Ponmagal Vandhaal Sorgam Attamenna Solladi (I will sing for you) Manidharil Manikkam Malligai En Mannan Dheerga Sumangali Vani Jayaram Aayiram Nilave Vaa Adimai Penn K. V. Mahadevan S. P. Balasubrahmanyam , P. Susheela Isaiyai Thamizhai Agathiyar Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Sirkazhi Govindarajan , T. R. Mahalingam Poo Malarinthida Tik Tik Tik Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas , Jency Anthony Thaana Vantha Santhaname Ooru Vittu Ooru Vanthu S. P. Balasubrahmanyam , S. Janaki Vaazhavaikum Kaathalukku Jey Apoorva Sagodharargal Adukku Malli Yeduthu Aavarampoo Pattu Onna Kumbakarai Thangaiah Mappillaikku Netrikkan Malaysia Vasudevan , P. Susheela Kannukkulle Yaaro Kai Kodukkum Kai S. P. Sailaja , P. Susheela Maalai Karukkalil Neethiyin Marupakkam K. J. Yesudas , S. Janaki Roja Poo Adivanthathu Agni Natchathiram S. Janaki Karutha Machan Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu Iravu Nilavu Anjali Kaala kaalamaaga Vaazhum Punnagai Mannan S. P. Balasubrahmanyam , K.S. Chitra Aethamayya Aetham Ninaive Oru Sangeetham Malaysia Vasudevan , K.S. Chitra Ilam Vayasu Ponna Paandi Nattu Thangam Nethu Oruthara Oruthara Puthu Paatu Ilaiyaraaja , K.S. Chitra Poongatru Thirumbuma Muthal Mariyathai Malaysia Vasudevan , S. Janaki Katti Vechukko Enthan Anbu Manasu En Jeevan Paduthu Anandham Pongida Pongida Sirai Paravai K. J. Yesudas ,Sunanda Thooliyile Ada Vantha Chinna Thambi Mano , K.S. Chitra Unnai Vaazhtha Vanthen Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren K. J. Yesudas Elangaathu Veesudhey Pithamagan Sriram Parthasarathy , Shreya Ghoshal Kai Veesi Nandalala Vijay Yesudas , Swetha Mohan , Madhu Balakrishnan ,Raagul,Chandrasekar Ilavenirkala Panjami Manam Virumbuthe Unnai Hariharan Aanenna Pennena Dharma Durai S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Neela Vana Odayil Vazhvey Maayam Gangai Amaran Indralogathu Sundari Uyirullavarai Usha T. Rajendar Atho Vanile Nila Oorvalam Thandanai Chandrabose S. P. Balasubrahmanyam , S. Janaki Pachchai Nirame (Sakiye) Alaipayuthey A. R. Rahman Hariharan , Clinton Cerejo Urvasi Urvasi Kadhalan A. R. Rahman, Suresh Peters , Shahul Hameed Taxi Taxi Sakkarakatti A R Rahman , Javed Ali , Benny Dayal , Blaaze and Viviane Chaix Kilimanjaro Enthiran Javed Ali , Chinmayi Mayiliragae Mayiliragae Anbe Aaruyire Naresh Iyer , Madhushree Gulmohar Malare Majunu Harris Jayaraj Hariharan Mudhal Mazhai Bheemaa Hariharan , Mahathi , R. Prasanna Suttum Vizhi Ghajini Sriram Parthasarathy , Bombay Jayashree Yaaridamum Thotti Jaya Ramesh Vinayagam , Harini Uyirile Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu Mahalakshmi Iyer , Srinivas Meela Mudiyamal(Unreleased track) Vaaranam Aayiram Benny Dayal , Srimathumitha ,Rathika Sangeetha Swarangal Azhagan Maragathamani S. P. Balasubrahmanyam ,Sandhya Kamban Engu Jaathi Malli S. P. Balasubrahmanyam , K.S. Chitra Janaki Devi Samsaram Adhu Minsaram Shankar–Ganesh K.S. Chitra Rendu Kannam Santhana Kinnam Sivappu Malli K. J. Yesudas , P. Susheela Panivilum Paruvanila Paneer Nadhigal K. J. Yesudas Rosappu Chinna Rosappu Suryavamsam S. A. Rajkumar Hariharan (vers 1), Sujatha Mohan (vers 2) Edho Oru Paattu Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen Kanava Ninaiva Aasal Bharadwaj V. V. Prasanna, Manjari Santhikkadha Kangalil Inbangal 180 Sharreth Unni Menon , K.S. Chitra , S. Sowmya En Raasi Enakkoru Magan Pirappan Karthik Raja Sujatha Mohan , P. Unni Krishnan Inni Naanum Naanilai Yai! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke! Srinivas Srinivas , Sujatha Mohan , Sunitha Sarathy Yamini Yamini Arvind-Shankar Harish Raghavendra Aathadi Manasudhan Kazhugu Yuvan Shankar Raja Priya Himesh , Karthik Raja Ayyayyo Paruthiveeran Shreya Ghoshal ,Krishnaraj, Manikka Vinayagam , Yuvan Shankar Raja (Humming) Dheivangal Ellam Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga Vijay Yesudas Kadhal Vaithu Deepavali Un Mela Oru Kannu Rajinimurugan D. Imman Jithin Raj , Mahalakshmi Iyer Muzhumadhi Muzhumadhi Kanimozhi Satish Chakravarthy Vijay Yesudas , Bela Shende Ithanai Dhooram Koottam James Vasanthan Haricharan , Shweta Mohan Vinmeen Vithaiyil Thegidi Nivas K. Prasanna Abhay Jodhpurkar , Saindhavi
References [ edit ]
Morning Afternoon Evening Night Anytime Season
See also [ edit ]