Rekindling the 7/8 memory - 'Kai Veenaiyai'

'Kai Veenaiyai' is an ethereal classically laced number soaked in divinity. This used to be a preferred choice of listen during my night time traverse in the bus between Chennai to Bangalore. I've always gotten a pleasant feeling listening to this scintillating number. The raga for this song is Hameer Kalyani which is derived out of the 65th Melakarta ragam 'Kalyani'. This one however uses both the Madhyamams in patches and gives a real divine feeling and when Ilaiyaraaja handles it, you can be rest assured that it will be elevated to majestic levels. The song has been rendered beautifully by Bombay Jayashree.

One thing however which I never realised despite my numerous listens to this song is the rhythm portion. I kind of surmised that it was in the normal 4/4 cycle only to give it a deeper keen ear and then figuring out that it actually follows the 7 beat cycle making this song appear more awesome than what it already was. Just took a small stab at attempting the Swaram with the Tala pattern highlighting on the Misra Thalam (7/8). With Raaja you always discover new things :)

Swaram : Sa Ri2 Ga3 Ma1 Ma2 Pa Da2 Ni3
Ragam : Hameer Kalyani
Thalam : Adi Thalam Misra Nadai 

Lyrics -   Kai             Veenai
Swara -   Sa Ga Ri | Ri Ma1 Ga ~
Thalam - Ta Ki Ta | Ta Ka Di Mi

Lyrics -   Yai            Yenthum
Swara -   Ga Pa ~ | Ma2 Pa Ma2 Pa
Thalam - Ta Ki Ta | Ta Ka Di Mi

Lyrics -   Kalai           Vaani
Swara -   Ga Ma1 Ri | Ri Ga Ma1 Ga
Thalam - Ta Ki Ta | Ta Ka Di Mi

Lyrics -   Yai            sustain
Swara -   Ga ~ ~ | Ri ~ Sa ~
Thalam - Ta Ki Ta | Ta Ka Di Mi

The same lines keeps repeating again.

In effect 1 Avartana of Adi Thalam consists of 8 Aksharas
1 Akshara = Ta Ki Ta Ta Ka Di Mi
(For eg Kai Veenai is one Akshara , Yai Yendhum is another Akshara)

Each of these Aksharas is divided into 7 Maatras which is the Misra Nadai (Ta Ki Ta Ta Ka Di Mi = 7)

To illustrate on the Tala Pattern:

Kai Veenai = 1 Akshara = 7 Maatras
Yai Yendhum = 1 Akshara = 7 Maatras
Kalai Vaani = 1 Akshara = 7 Maatras
Yai sustain = 1 Akshara = 7 Maatras 

Repeating the same portion below: 

Kai Veenai = 1 Akshara = 7 Maatras
Yai Yendhum = 1 Akshara = 7 Maatras
Kalai Vaani = 1 Akshara = 7 Maatras
Yai sustain = 1 Akshara = 7 Maatras 

So totally when we add up everything, we have 8 Aksharas and 56 Maatras resulting in Adi Thalam Misra Nadai (8*7)

Thus, 1 Avartana (Cycle) = 8 Aksharas (Adi Thalam) = 56 Maatras (Misra Nadai).
Rhythmically Beautiful!

Sharing this beautiful composition to enhance the listening experience
Song: Kai Veenai Yendhum
Movie: Vietnam Colony
Year: 1994