# Desh (raga)

Desh or Des is a Hindustani classical music raga which belongs to the Khamaj thaat. This raga is very similar to raga Khamaj.

## Technical description

The raga is of audava-sampurna nature, i.e., in its arohana (ascent) only five notes are used, whereas the avarohana (descent) uses all the seven notes. Shuddha Ni is used in the arohana, while Komal Ni (represented as ni below) is used in avarohana. All other swaras are shuddha.
* Arohana: Ni Sa Re, Ma Pa Ni, Sa.
* Avarohana: Sa ni Dha, Pa Dha Ma Ga Re, Pa Ma Ga, Re Ga Ni Sa.
* Pakad: Re, Ma Pa Ni, Sa Re ni Dha Pa, ma Ga Re
* The vadi swara is Re
The ascent in this raga is a step by step pentatonic movement which goes like this: Sa, Re, Ma Pa, Ni Sa’.
Samayam (Time): The raga is to be sung during the second quarter of the night (9PM to 12AM).
Re is very prominent, quite a few times the singer rests on Re, making it a centre to the melody. The Meend from Ma to Re via Ga is one of the most vital features of the raga. The arohana via shuddha Ni, and the transition from Re to komal Ni in the avarohana form an important part of the melodies in this raga. Further, Desh is quite close to neighboring ragas like Tilak Kamod, and hence requires skillful rendition to separate itself.

## Prominent Songs

Desh has been used in a few patriotic compositions. Vande Mataram, the national song of India, is the most well-known. The popular old Doordarshan video Baje Sargam, that featured many respected Indian classical singers, is also based on Desh.

### Rabindrasangeet based on the raga Desh

The polymath and Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, had very often used Hindustani Classical Music and Carnatic Classical Music in his songs (Rabindrasangeet). The songs based on this raga Des are listed below:
* Aachhe Tomar Bidye Sadhhi
* Aaj Taaler Boner Karotaali
* Aaji Mor Dware Kahar
* Aamader Sokhire Ke Niye
* Aamar E Ghore Aaponar
* Aamar Je Sob Dite Hobe
* Aamar Satya Mithya Sakoli
* Aami Jene Shune Bish
* Aar Rekho Na Aandhare
* Anek Diner Aamar Je Gaan
* Anek Kotha Bolechilem
* Animesh Aankhi Sei Ke De
* Dekhaye De Kotha Aachhe
* Dhoroni Dure Cheye Keno
* Dnaarao Maatha Khaao
* Duare Dao More Rakhia
* E Bharote Raakho Nityo
* Ebaar Bujhi Bholar Bela
* Ebaar To Jouboner Kachhe
* Ebaar Ujaar Kore Lowo He
* Ei Lobhinu Songo Tabo
* Ei Shrabon Bela Badol Jhora
* Emon Dine Taare Bola Jaay
* Eso Aamar Ghore
* Eso Shyamalosundaro
* Gagoner Thale Robi Chandra
* Gahonraate Shrabondhara
* Garob Mamo Horechho Prob
* Haay Ke Dibe Aar Santona
* Hey Bidesi Eso Eso
* Jaag Jaag Re Jaag Sangeet
* Je Din Sakol Mukul
* Jeyo Na Jeyo Na Phire
* Jhore Jaay Ure Jaay Go
* Jodi Holo Jaabar Kshon
* Keno Raaja Daakis Keno
* Knaadale Tumi More
* Knaapiche Deholota
* Kotha Hote Baaje Prembedona
* Kothaay Aalo Kothaay Ore
* Kshomite Parilam Na Je
* Naa Naa Kaaj Nai Jeyo Naa
* Ogo Sundar Ekada Ki Jaani
* Probhu Khelechhi Aanek
* Puruser Bidya Korechinu
* Se Aase Dhire
* Shrabano Borisano Paar
* Shrabonmegher Aadhek
* Sokhi Lo Sokhi Lo
* Taai Tomar Ananda Aamar
* Taare Dekhate Paari Ne
* Tomari Tore Maa Sopinu
* Toper Taper Baadhon Katu
* Tumi Chhere Chhile Bhule
* Utol Dhara Badol Jhore

## Carnatic Compositions

* "Nanda nandana" by Lalita Dasar (pen name of T. G. Krishna Iyer)
* "Vikasita Pankaja" by Kalyani Varadarajan
* "Vithala Salaho Swami" by Purandara Dasa
* "Thunbam Nergayil" by Bharathidasan

## Film Songs
### Language: Tamil

| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
| Premayil yavum Marandenae | Sakuntalai | Thuraiyur Rajagopala Sharma | M. S. Subbulakshmi, G. N. Balasubramaniam |
| Mangiyathor Nilavinile | Thirumanam | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, T. G. Lingappa | T.M.Soundararajan |
| Sindhu Nadhiyin | Kai Koduttha Dheivam | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | T.M.Soundararajan, L.R.Eswari & J.V.Raghavulu |
| Thunbam Nergaiyil Yaazhedutthu | Or Iravu | Bharathidasan, Dandapani Desikar, R. Sudarsanam | M. S. Rajeswari,V. J. Varma |
| Gopiyar Konjum Ramana | Thirumal Perumai | K. V. Mahadevan | T. M. Soundararajan |
| Naan Unnai Ninaikkaatha | Paavai Vilakku | K. V. Mahadevan | P. Susheela |
| Ondra Iranda | Selvam | K. V. Mahadevan | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela |
| Androru Naal | Nadodi | M. S. Viswanathan | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela |
| Idhuthan Mudhal Rathiri | Oorukku Uzhaippavan | M. S. Viswanathan | K.J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam |
| Muththamizhil Paada | Melnaattu Marumagal | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | Vani Jairam |
| Vizhiyil Pudhu Kavithai | Theertha Karaiyinile | Ilaiyaraaja | Mano, K. S. Chithra |
| Nee Oru Kadhal Sangeetham(Raga Shudha sarang touches) | Nayakan | Ilaiyaraaja | Mano, K. S. Chithra |
| Onakena Thaane Innerama | Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu | Ilaiyaraaja | Ilaiyaraaja,Sarala |
| Poonguyil Ponmalaiyil | Thazhuvatha Kaigal | Ilaiyaraaja | S. Janaki |
| Kanner Thuzhi | Raja Kaiya Vacha | Ilaiyaraaja | K. J. Yesudas |
| Deivangal | Pudhiya Raagam | Ilaiyaraaja | Mano, S. Janaki |
| Orancharam(charanam only) | Kakkai Siraginilae | Ilaiyaraaja | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Kanave Kalaiyadhe | Kannedhirey Thondrinal | Deva | P. Unnikrishnan, K. S. Chithra |
| Indhu Maha Samudrame (Ragamalika:Desh, Sahana) | Mannava | Deva | Hariharan, K. S. Chithra |
| Nilladi Endradhu | Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen | Deva | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Itho Intha Nenjodu | Good Luck | Manoj Bhatnaghar | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Malare Maranthuvidu | Penngal | Bharadwaj | K. S. Chithra |
| Adi Kadhal Oru Kannil | Doubles | Srikanth Deva | P. Unnikrishnan, Harini |
| Kadhal Vandicho | Yai! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke! | Raaghav-Raja | Shankar Mahadevan |
| Kandupidi Kandupidi | Samudhiram | Sabesh–Murali | Hariharan, Ganga |
| Noothana | Karka Kasadara | Prayog | Harish Raghavendra, Chinmayi |
| Ulagil Yentha Kathal | Naadodigal | Sundar C Babu | Hariharan |
| Kalathara | Vegam | Rajhesh Vaidhya | P. Unnikrishnan,Anuradha Sekhar |
| Maruvaarthai | Enai Noki Paayum Thota | Darbuka Siva | Sid Sriram |
| Varalaama | Sarvam Thaala Mayam | Rajiv Menon(Orchestration by A. R. Rahman) | Sriram Parthasarathy |
| Mannamaganin Sathiyam(Dwijavanthi traces) | Kochadaiiyaan | A. R. Rahman | Haricharan, Latha Rajinikanth |
| Singappenney(Female portion only) | Bigil | A. R. Rahman | A. R. Rahman, Shashaa Tirupati |
| Alli Arjuna(Ragamalika) | Kaaviya Thalaivan | A. R. Rahman | Haricharan, Bela Shende, Srimathumitha |
| Yethanai Yethanai | Ji | Vidyasagar | Shankar Sampoke |
| Naana Yaar Idhu | Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen | Joshua Sridhar | Sadhana Sargam |
| Naanaagiya Nadhimoolamae | Vishwaroopam II | Ghibran | Kamal Haasan, Kaushiki Chakraborty,Master Karthik Suresh Iyer |
| Pen Maegam Polavae(charanam only) | Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam | Sharreth | G. V. Prakash Kumar, Saindhavi |
| Neelorpam | Indian 2 | Anirudh Ravichander | Abby V,Shruthika Samudhrala |

### Other languages

| Year | Song | Movie | Language of Movie | Composer | Singer |
| 1979 | Sanware Ke Rang Ranchhi | Meera | Hindi | Ravi Shankar | Vani Jairam |
| 2003 | Enthe Innum Vanneela | Gramophone | Malayalam | Vidyasagar | P. Jayachandran , Jeemon KJ, Chorus |
| 2001 | Megharagam | Kakkakkuyil | Malayalam | Deepan Chatterjee | K.S. Chithra |
| 1998 | Mayilay Parannu Va | Mayilpeelikkavu | Malayalam | Berny–Ignatius | K.J. Yesudas & K.S. Chitra (Duet Version) |
| 1965 | Aap Ko Pyar Chhupane | Neela Aakash | Hindi | Madan Mohan | Asha Bhosle & Mohammed Rafi |
| 1994 | Mora Saiyan To Hai Pardes | Bandit Queen | Hindi | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan |
| 1964 | Gori Tore Nainwa | Main Suhagan Hoon | Hindi | Lacchiram Tamar | Asha Bhosle & Mohammed Rafi |
| 1956 | Thandi Thandi Savan Ki Phuhar | Jagte Raho | Hindi | Salil Chowdhury | Asha Bhosle |
| 1967 | Oru Pushpam Mathramen | Pareeksha | Malayalam | M.S. Baburaj | K.J. Yesudas |
| 2002 | Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare | The Legend of Bhagat Singh | Hindi | A. R. Rahman | Sonu Nigam |
| 2015 | Agar Tum Saath Ho | Tamasha | Hindi | A.R. Rahman | Alka Yagnik, Arijit Singh |
| 1952 | Door Koi Gaaye | Baiju Bawra | Hindi | Naushad | Shamshad Begum, Mohammed Rafi, & Lata Mangeshkar |
| 1963 | Hum Tere Pyar Mein Sara | Dil Ek Mandir | Hindi | Shankar–Jaikishan | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 1994 | Pyar Hua Chupke Se | 1942: A Love Story | Hindi | R. D. Burman | Kavita Krishnamurthy |
| 2015 | Man Mandira | Katyar Kaljat Ghusali | Marathi | Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki | Shankar Mahadevan |