(NOTE: This quiz is now over. See below for quiz winners and answers)
Week 875 Special Quiz Winners
Dear Rasikas,
We are happy to share the results of the week 875 special quiz.
This quiz was intended to probe the swara identification aspect which is part of the weekly DIY challenge and to connect them to phrases from actual songs. Uma Akka, in her swara sthana simplified series with Ram, used to show how these abstract swaras formed the building blocks of actual songs. This quiz tried to capture the essence of that SSS with Ram series.
We were extremely happy to receive the responses from our Ragasurabhi rasikas. Each and every one are proof points of what Uma Akka intended when starting Ragasurabhi - to democratise the fundamental understanding of carnatic music, to make learning fun and interesting and to make carnatic music accessible to every one.
Coming to the quiz itself, there were some intentional red herrings included in the answers (like 8 Vs 15) but most of you showed your keen understanding to identify the right answers. Everyone who sent in the responses passed the quiz with flying colours, showing how strong, thriving and knowledgeable the Ragasurabhi rasikas are. Kudos to all you!! 🙂❤️
Winners
» Perfect Scorers: Sarath Ravikumar, Lalitha Shyamsundar
» Just Missed: Vasuki, Geetha Nagarajan, Nagarajan N, Raveendranathan R M
» Strong Attempt: Sarayu Satish, Priyadarshini M.R, S Vasudevan
Scroll down for answers (Click here for Special Quiz 875 answers)
Dear Rasikas,
Following the footsteps of what my dear Uma Akka used to do, here is a special quiz to celebrate 875 weeks of Ragasurabhi.
Each question presents a short phrase — sung or played on the flute. These are the opening phrases of a Pallavi, Anupallavi, or Charanam from songs that Uma Akka has sung.
Please note that the shruti of the phrase may differ from Uma Akka's shruti. Sounds quite overwhelming I think, No? Don't worry. More details below!
The quiz is divided into three levels of increasing difficulty. The aim of the quiz remains the same irrespective of the levels.
How to answer each question — two tasks:
Task 1 — Swara Match: Listen to the Phrase and pick the correct swara pattern from the three Swara Options (a, b, c) shown with each question.
Task 2 — Song Match: Identify which song this phrase belongs to by picking the right video number from Uma Akka's Song List below (of course it will be sung as lyrics in the song). There are 25 songs in the list — 15 are correct answers (one per question) and 10 are decoys. Choose carefully!
Your answer for each question: Swaras = [a/b/c], Song = [number from Song List]
Example format: L1Q1: Swaras = b, Song = 5
Difficulty Level 1
• 5 Questions. Phrases sung at the same shruti as Uma Akka.
• Each phrase is the beginning of the PALLAVI of a song Uma Akka has sung.
• Swaras are sung after the akaara phrase — this gives you a strong hint!
• Swara Match (5 points) + Song Match (5 points) per question → Max 50 points
Difficulty Level 2
• 5 Questions. Phrases sung (or played on the flute) at a different shruti from Uma Akka.
• Each phrase is the beginning of the PALLAVI of a song Uma Akka has sung.
• Akaara phrase only — no swaras sung at the end.
• Swara Match (10 points) + Song Match (10 points) per question → Max 100 points
Difficulty Level 3
• 5 Questions. Phrases sung or played on the flute — same OR different shruti.
• Each phrase is the beginning of a PALLAVI / ANUPALLAVI / CHARANAM of a song Uma Akka has sung.
• Akaara phrase only — no swaras sung at the end.
• Swara Match (20 points) + Song Match (20 points) per question → Max 200 points
Maximum total = 50 + 100 + 200 = 350 Points!!!
All the best! Deadline: June 30, 2026.
Uma Akka's Song List (25 songs • 15 answers + 10 decoys • used across all levels)
1. Mahadeva Siva Shambo
2. Angarakam Ashrayamyaham
3. Sevikka Vendum
4. Akhilandeshwari
5. Bho Shambo
6. Gajavadana
7. Paluke Bangaramayena
8. Pranamamyaham
9. Gananathane
10. Karunanidhiye
11. Amba Kripa Sagari
12. Maamavathu Sri Saraswati
13. Adamodi
14. Paarvai Onre Podhume
15. Sarasiruhasanapriye
16. Ennai Nee Maravade
17. Nidhi Chala Sukhama
18. Jo Jo Rama
19. Ganamurthe
20. Telisirama
21. Govardhana Girisham
22. Tulasi Dalamulache
23. Thappulaniyu
24. Ka Va Va
25. Sabapathikku
Level 1 — Same Shruti • Pallavi Phrases • Swaras Provided
Listen to each Phrase. Pick the matching Swara Option (a, b or c). Then find the right song number from Uma Akka's Song List above.
| Question | Phrase | Swara Options |
|---|---|---|
| EXAMPLE (not scored) |
a. R1 M2 P N3 D2 P | |
| b. R2 M1 P N2 D2 P ✓ | ||
| c. R2 M1 P N3 D2 P | ||
| Example Answer: b2 — Swaras = b | Song = 2 (Angarakam Ashrayamyaham) • Submit like: EXAMPLE 1: b2 | ||
| L1Q1 | a. S S N3 P P P M1 G3 M1 G3 | |
| b. S S N2 P P P M2 G2 M2 G2 | ||
| c. S S N3 P P P M2 G3 M2 G3 | ||
| L1Q2 | a. S N3 D1 M2 M2 G2 M2 | |
| b. S N2 D1 M1 M1 G2 M1 | ||
| c. S N2 D2 M1 M1 G3 M1 | ||
| L1Q3 | a. P M1 G2 R2 S | |
| b. P M1 G3 R1 S | ||
| c. P M2 G3 R1 S | ||
| L1Q4 | a. S N2 D2 M1 R2 S R2 M1 | |
| b. S N3 D2 M2 R2 S R2 M2 | ||
| c. S N2 D1 M1 R3 S R3 M1 | ||
| L1Q5 | a. G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 P M2 G2 G2 R1 R1 S | |
| b. G1 G1 G1 G1 G1 P M1 G1 G1 R2 R2 S | ||
| c. G1 G1 G1 G1 G1 P M2 G1 G1 R1 R1 S | ||
↑ Back to Uma Akka's Song List
Level 2 — Different Shruti • Pallavi Phrases • Akaara Only
Listen to each Phrase. Pick the matching Swara Option (a, b or c). Then find the right song number from Uma Akka's Song List above.
| Question | Phrase | Swara Options |
|---|---|---|
| EXAMPLE (not scored) |
a. P M2 R2 G3 M1 ✓ | |
| b. P D2 N1 D2 P | ||
| c. M1 P R2 G3 M2 | ||
| Example Answer: a9 — Swaras = a | Song = 9 (Gananathane) • Submit like: EXAMPLE 2: a9 | ||
| L2Q1 | a. M1 P P M1 R1 R1 S R1 | |
| b. M1 P P M1 G3 G3 S R2 | ||
| c. M1 D1 D1 M1 R1 S R1 | ||
| L2Q2 | a. M1 M1 R2 R2 S R2 P M1 P | |
| b. M2 M2 G3 R1 S D2 S R1 G3 | ||
| c. P P M2 G3 R3 G3 M2 P | ||
| L2Q3 | a. G3 D2 P P M1 G3 R3 N3 R3 G3 | |
| b. M2 D2 P P M2 G3 R1 S R1 G3 | ||
| c. G3 D2 P P M2 G3 R2 N3 R2 G3 | ||
| L2Q4 | a. D1 N2 D1 M1 G3 | |
| b. D2 S N2 D2 M1 | ||
| c. D2 S R2 S N3 | ||
| L2Q5 | a. D1 M1 D1 M1 P M1 M1 | |
| b. P M2 P M2 P M2 M2 | ||
| c. P M1 P M1 P M1 M1 | ||
↑ Back to Uma Akka's Song List
Level 3 — Same/Different Shruti • Pallavi / Anupallavi / Charanam • Akaara Only
The section (Pallavi / Anupallavi / Charanam) is indicated for the Example. For L3Q1–L3Q5, identifying the section is part of the challenge. Pick the Swara Option and find the song from Uma Akka's Song List above.
| Question | Phrase | Swara Options |
|---|---|---|
| EXAMPLE (Anupallavi) (not scored) |
a. P M1 G3 M1 ✓ | |
| b. P M2 G3 M2 | ||
| c. P M1 G3 M2 | ||
| Example Answer: a4 — Swaras = a | Song = 4 (Akhilandeshwari) • Submit like: EXAMPLE 3: a4 | ||
| L3Q1 | a. P M1 R1 P M1 G3 M1 | |
| b. P M1 R2 P M1 G3 M1 | ||
| c. P M1 R3 P M1 G2 M1 | ||
| L3Q2 | a. S S D1 M2 D1 S | |
| b. S S N2 M1 N2 S | ||
| c. S S D2 M1 D2 S | ||
| L3Q3 | a. G3 G3 P D1 P P G3 D1 P G3 R1 R1 S | |
| b. G3 M1 P D1 P P G3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S | ||
| c. G3 G3 P D2 P P G3 D2 P G3 R2 R2 S | ||
| L3Q4 | a. P D1 P M2 G3 R1 G3 | |
| b. P D1 P M1 G3 R2 G3 | ||
| c. P D1 P M1 G2 R2 G2 | ||
| L3Q5 | a. P D1 D1 P P M2 | |
| b. P D1 D1 P P M1 | ||
| c. P D1 P P P M1 | ||
↑ Back to Uma Akka's Song List
How to submit: Email your answers to ragasurabhi@ragasurabhi.com with subject line "Week 875 Special Quiz".
For each question give your Swara Option (a/b/c) and Song number from the Song List.
Example: L1Q1: Swaras = b, Song = 5 • L1Q2: Swaras = a, Song = 12
Deadline: June 30, 2026. All the best!
Week 875 Special Quiz Answers
Click here to view answers (Spoiler alert: All answers shown at once)