Analysis

Alphabetical Distribution

How Many Charanams per Kriti?

Usually, when we hear Thyagaraja Kritis, there is Pallavi, Anupallavi (which is absent for some kritis) and typically one charanam. Of course, there are some notable exceptions, such as the Ghana Raga Pancharathnas, which have 8 to 10 charanams each. Of the rest, some are sung with more than one charanam. For example, several Utsava Sampradaya Kirtanas have multiple charanams. As another example, the famous kriti ‘Daarini Telusukonti’ in Suddha Saveri ragam is sometimes sung with the chranam “Amba Tri Jagadiswari” and sometimes with the other charanam “Rajitha Mani Ganabhushita”. So, I wanted to find out how many charanams each kriti has and see its distribution (that is, histogram). Here are the results. 

Click here to download the spreadsheet – PDF format or Excel format.

Compositions of Doubtful Authenticity

There are a number of compositions, which are believed be not compositions of Thyagaraja, but someone else! Why would some do that?! For stolen fame? Who were they?

Secondly, why are those compositions suspect, in the first place? Some say that the style is not like that of Thyagaraja’s compositions. Can someone make such statements more specific? Can some provide these details per each of the suspect kritis?

I would love to hear from you, if you could provide some light on these questions. I would be grateful if you could email me at chitrapu1955@gmail.com Many Thanks in advance.

Here is a list of suspect compositions taken from TK Govindarao’s book.
Source [TKG]
1. Abhimaanamennadu – Kunjari
2. Diname Sudinamu – Latangi
3. Elara Sri Krishna -Kambhoji
4. Evarunnaru- Malavasri
5. Ganamurthe- Ganamurthy
6. Garudagamana -Gowri Manohari
7. Kalasa Vaardhijam – Ratnangi
8. Maaravairi – Nasikabhushani
9. Nata Jana – Simhendramadhyamam
10. Ni Sarisaati – Hemavathi
11. Nidu Charanamule – Simhendramadhyamam
Apparently this is attributed to Srinivasa Iyengar.
Can someone provide a source for this information?
12. Paraamukhamelara – Surati
13. Paripurna Kama, Sarileni vada – Hamsabhramari
14. Rama Namamu – Atana
15. Ranganaayaka – Sankarabharanam
16. Rara Phanisayana – Harikambhoji
17. Sada Madim – Gambhiravani
18. Sandehamunu – Kalyani
19. Sarasa Netra – Sankarabharanam
20. Sarasiruha Nayane – Amritavarshini
21. Sri Gananatham – Kanakangi
22. Varijanayana Ni vadanu Nenu – Kedara Gowla
23. Vedalenu – Todi
24. Vinatasuta vahanidai vedalenu – Harikambhoji

Source [???]
1. Endu Bayara daya, Inakulathilaka daya – Dhanyasi
2. Ni Balama Nama Balama – Anandabhairavi
3. Parulanu vedanu – Balahamsa
4. Raghunayaka – Hamsadhwani
5. Tarama Ni Mahima – Kalyani
6. Vanaja Nayanudani – Kedara Gowla