The raga next in our discussion is 'Thodi', I am sure many of you have already guessed that! Thodi is the 8th Melakartha raga, having a very majestic appeal and offers limitless scope for elaboration. I would say it is also a difficult raga for beginners since all the swaras are heavily gamaka laden. The raga is full of karuna rasam and evokes a feeling of instant bhakthi. Being a ghana raga, it occupies a special place in any concert platform either as a main item or in the RTP segment.
The jeeve swaras are 'Ga', 'Ma', 'Da' and the nyasa swaras are 'Ga', 'Ma', 'Pa', 'Da', 'Ni'. The speciality of thodi lies in the fact that almost all its swaras are soaked with gamakam which is also the reason for that haunting and lingering feel of the raga. The beauty of the raga is further enhanced by jantai prayogas and Sadjama - Panchama varja prayogas. (Listen to prayogas in Thodi)
Some popular janya ragas from Thodi are Asaveri, Suddha Seemandhini, Dhanyasi, Bhupalam and Punnagavarali.
Some famous compositions in Thodi -
Thyagaraja's Kaddanuvariki, Koluvamare gada, Koti natulu, Enthuku daya radhu ra, Aragimpave, Emi jesithe, Dasukovalena, Karuna judavamma, Jesinathella
Dikshitar's Shri Krishnam Bhaja Manasa, Kamalambike, Mahaganapathim, Ramachandraya namaste
Syama Sastry's Ninne namminanu sada, Nannu Brochutaku, Rave himagirikumari
Papanasam Sivan's Karthikeya Gangeya, Tamasam yen swamy, Tanigai valar saravana bhava, Kundram kudikonda, Sarasijanabha murare of Swati Thirunal, Thaye Yasodha of Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi and so on...
Will be back with another raga, until then... its 'Thodi time'!
Musically yours,
Uma.
