There are quite a few songs that have become undoubted evergreen classics, and these include many weighty kritis too, apart from the expected lighter compositions. Sometimes, it's a rare song in a rare raga that becomes popular and end up being performed often. This programme presents a few such favourites on www.radioweb.in

Muthuswami Dikshitar visited several temples and composed kritis on the various deities of these temples. These compositions are replete with descriptions of the temple and the deities there, and also narrates the history of the temples and spiritual and religious significance of the deities. Dikshitar has composed kritis on both the main deity and the consort of some temples. This feature presents some such compositions on www.radioweb.in

The Ragam Tanam Pallavi has for long been the showpiece of performance, calling attention, as it does, to the technical competence of the artiste. The tala often becomes important in exhibiting one’s prowess, and the pallavi too is suitably selected so that it retains its integrity even when intricate mathematical combinations are performed. The Pallavi on this programme, by T R Subrahmanyam, is in Raga Mohanam and set to Mishra Jati Triputa tala (Tisra Nadai).

Madurai Somu was one of the most individual, talented, entertaining and, in a way, mercurial of musicians. He could be brilliant one moment and totally impish the next - but always entertaining. His interaction with the audience and his accompanists were a big part of the concert experience, and this contributed a good deal to the joyous experience that his performances invariably were. This concert presents the quintessential Madurai Somu on www.radioweb.in

There are sets of ragas that sound similar to each other, and are related to each other as a result of having the same notes and also similar phrasings and usages. For instance, the pair of Bhairavi and Manji are both bhashanga, and use similar notes, including the anya swara. This programme looks at two such sets where the ragas in each set have many similar characteristics - Bhairavi-Mukhari-Manji-Useni on one hand; and Anandabhairavi-Ritigowla on the other on www.radioweb.in

Rivers in India have been considered holy from times immemorial. Many revered pilgrimage centres are situated on the banks of rivers. Rivers are also associated with centres of learning and culture. Carnatic music has flourished on the banks of the river Cauvery. Composers talk of rivers in Kshetra kritis, on specific temples; occasionally, the songs address the rivers directly. This programme features a few of the songs that mention and refer to rivers on www.radioweb.in

Ragas fall under Janaka and Janya categories - Janaka ragas are parent scales that give rise to other ragas with the same notes. Janaka ragas, also called Melakarta ragas, were formally classified by Venkatamakhi. Govindacharya then expanded the Melakarta system into the Sampoorna raga scheme that is used today. On this feature, the vainika Dr Jayanthi Kumaresh presents the evolution of the Melakarta raga system. We also look at some other raga systems. Listen on www.radioweb.in

Lord Rama and Seeta’s representations in Indian art and culture evoke images of ideal couplehood and their much celebrated mutual respect and understanding. Carnatic Music composers who sang extensively about Lord Rama and his virtues and valor, have also included his consort Seeta in their narratives, attributing the glory to both of them. Listen to a selection of of kritis that begin with a reference to Rama as Seeta’s consort on www.radioweb.in

Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity - both material and spiritual - fortune, and the embodiment of beauty. She is the consort of Vishnu. Also called Mahalakshmi, she is said to bring good luck. This feature presents some songs on her various aspects, including the Ashtalakashmi. Listen on www.radioweb.in

There has been a generous exchange of cultures in the form of music and literature between South and North India. The Bhakti wave that swept South India had a tremendous influence even in North India. Bhakti saints like Meera, Namdev, Jnaneshwar, and Gorakhnath, all sang praises of the divine and called upon people to include spirituality even among all things worldly. These, mostly Hindi and Marathi songs in the form of bhajans or abhangs, are much awaited in concerts due to their simple yet profound lyricism and the light yet engaging style of rendering them. Here are some popular bhajans sung the Carnatic way, replete with alapana and swaras on www.radioweb.in

Second part of the programme on allied ragas i.e sets of ragas that sound similar to each other, and are related to each other as a result of having the same notes and also similar phrasings and usages. This programme looks at two such sets where the ragas in each set have many similar characteristics - Madhyamavati-Shri-Manirangu on one hand; and Kedaram-Neelambari on the other on www.radioweb.in

K Varadachariar - musician, composer and guru - was given the title 'Tiger' by the King of Mysore. He was known for his unique style of singing, and his sense of humour. On this feature, author and music historian Sriram V, in his witty and engaging style, presents insights into the life of Tiger Varadachariar. Sriram also quotes from a radio interview given by Varadachariar himself, and from the memoirs of SY Krishnaswamy, a close friend of Tiger.

Patnam Subramania Iyer, had an easy compositional style, with his work being mostly in the medium tempo. His compositions are widely sung, and his compositions such as the evergreen composition Raghuvamshasudha and the well known varnam in Raga Abhogi, Evari Bodhana, being instant recall. This Composer Showcase programme brings you a few familiar and rare compositions of Patnam Subramania Iyer, along with some interesting anecdotes on www.radioweb.in

Kalpana swarams as part of Manodharma sangeetham are a real test to grade an artiste in various parameters like swara shuddhi, adherence to laya, raga jnaana, and most importantly the creativity the artiste brings to the music. Kalpana swaras, when rendered competently with able accompaniment, are beautiful expositions that bring the artiste’s proficiency to the fore. They also bring colour and energy to the rendition. This is a selection of kritis being sung with swara elaborations on www.radioweb.in

Vasuda Kesav hails from a musical family of Mysore. She has been performing music concerts for over two decades, and her singing adheres to traditional classical style. Vasuda underwent music training in the gurukula system. and is currently under the tutelage of P S Narayanaswamy. Listen to A Vasuda Kesav, vocalist in the classical mould on www.radioweb.in

Sikkil Gurucharan sings Tyagaraja's masterpiece Rama Nee Samaanam Evaru in Raga Kharaharapriya on One Raga One Kriti programme on www.radioweb.in

Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer was one of the most influential and iconic musicians of the twentieth century. He brought into the mainstream ragas such as Salagabhairavi, and his renditions of ragas such as Varali, Shankarabharanam, Bhairavi and Mukhari, to mention just a few, have been considered definitive. Semmangudi's concerts convey an immediacy to the listener. This edition of Kutcheri features a classic concert of Semmangudi, which includes many of the ragas and compositions that are identified with him. Listen on www.radioweb.in

The lives of the Carnatic Music Trinity, the saint composers, musicians, and other composers are well known and written about. However, there are several others who have contributed to Carnatic music, like Kothavasal Venkatarama Iyer, Neelakanta Sivan, and Annaswami Shastri, but the extent of their contributions and their life stories are relatively unknown. This feature presents compositions of, and information on, some a few such composers on www.radioweb.in

T V Gopalakrishnan sings a Ragam Tanam Pallavi in Raga Dharmavati. He is accompanied by S Varadarajan on the violin, T V Vasan on the mridangam, and V Suresh on the ghatam. Listen on www.radioweb.in

Some compositions in Carnatic music are attributed to the wrong composer, because composers may have a common signature, or mudra. In some cases, songs attributed to a composer may differ in style, giving rise to the suspicion that they may not be by that composer. This programme presents a few such compositions on www.radioweb.in

2012 is the centenary year of T Brinda, the "musician's musician" and a universally revered artiste and aesthete. Musicians who came to learn compositions from her included seniors such as Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and M S Subbulakshmi. Ramnad Krishnan was a student of hers. T Brinda's music continues to influence musicians not with its sparkle and style, but with its core musical and aesthetic content. Listen to a highlight of her music on www.radioweb.in

Though there is a lot of leeway in the speed at which compositions are sung, there is an inherent aesthetic about what is the right pace. Certain compositions, the way they are structured, are best sung at a slow pace. This programme presents a few compositions of the Trinity in the slower speed, or vilamba kaala on www.radioweb.in

There are quite a few songs that have become undoubted evergreen classics, and these include many weighty kritis too, apart from the expected lighter compositions. Sometimes, it’s a rare song in a rare raga that becomes popular and end up being performed often. This programme presents a few such favourites. listen on www.radioweb.in

Swati Tirunal's Anjaneya Raghurama Doota in Raga Saveri presented by Parassala Ponnammal on the One Raga One Kriti programme on www.radioweb.in

Krishna is the god with perhaps the most interesting aspects. His story is full of interesting and dramatic incidents. His variegated roles as a god incarnated as a man and being aware of both his realities makes Krishna a fascinating character. All this has been put into song by various composers to create compositions addressing a wide range of feelings. The songs on the young Krishna are some of the most beautiful. This programme presents some compositions on Krishna by various composers in connection with Janmashtami on www.radioweb.in