# Vasantha (raga)

Vasantha (pronounced vasantā) is a raga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya raga of Suryakantam, the 17th Melakarta raga. According to P|Subba Rao, majority opinion is that the raga is derived from Mayamalavagowla, the 15th Melakarta raga.
Vasantha is suitable to be sung in evening and is considered an auspicious raga.

## Structure

Vasantha is an asymmetric scale that does not contain panchamam. It is called a vakra audava-shadava raga, malathiga structure is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
* ārohaṇa : S G₃ M₁ D₂ N₃ Ṡ
* avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₃ D₂ M₁ G₃ R₁ S
This scale uses the notes shadjam, shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kakali nishadam.

## Popular compositions

Vasantha has ample scope for alapana. This scale has been used by many composers for compositions in classical music. Here are some popular compositions in Vasantha.
* Ninne kori, a popular Varnam by Tecchur Singarachari
* Sitamma Mayamma by Tyagaraja
* Brihadambikayai and Ramachandram Bhavayami by Muthuswami Dikshitar
* Paramapurusha Jagadeesha by Swathi Thirunal
* Malmaruga Shanmukha and Maadhayai Nidhi Ennum by Papanasam Sivan
* Natanam Adinar by Gopalakrishna Bharathi'
* Rajeswarim Sambhavaye by Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji
* Thom Thomena and Yoganrusimha Padambuja Brunga by Kalyani Varadarajan
* Kodu bega Divyamathi by Purandara Dasa
* Palisenna Gopalakrishna By Jagannatha Dasa
* Vade Venkatadri Meeda by Annamacharya
* Gowri Sukumari by N.C.Krishnamacharyulu

## Film Songs
### Language:Tamil

| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
| Vasantha Ruthu | Sivakavi | Papanasam Sivan | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar |
| Vandanam Vandanam | Vazhvey Maayam | Gangai Amaran | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Azhagiya Thirumugam | Brammacharigal | M. S. Viswanathan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Mani Osai Enna Sollutho | Naalum Therinthavan(1983) | M. S. Viswanathan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,S. Janaki |
| Santhanam Poosum | Thudikkum Karangal | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,S. Janaki |
| Karmegam Oorgolam Pogum | Kalamellam Un Madiyil | Chandrabose | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,S. Janaki |
| Rojaavai Thaalaattum Thendral (More Ragam Panthuvarali touches) | Ninaivellam Nithya | Illayaraja | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,S. Janaki |
| Andhimazhai pozhigirathu | Raja Parvai | Illayaraja | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,S. Janaki |
| Maan Kanden | Raja Rishi | Illayaraja | K.J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam |
| Nil Nil Nil pathil sol | Paattu Padava | Illayaraja | Illayaraja, Uma Ramanan |
| Iravil Irandu Paravaigal(With raga Bhagyashree touches) | Soundaryame Varuga Varuga | Vijaya Bhaskar | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam, P. Susheela, Jolly Abraham |
| Minsara Poove | Padayappa | A. R. Rahman | Srinivas, Nithyashree Mahadevan & Palakkad Sreeram |
| Idhayam | Kochadaiiyaan | A. R. Rahman | Srinivas, Chinmayi |
| Vaa Kanmani | Rasathi Varum Naal | Vijay Anand | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Unnale Nenjam Raagam | En Pottukku Sonthakkaran | Deva | Mano,K. S. Chithra |
| Kanden Kanden | Pirivom Santhippom | Vidyasagar | Karthik, Shweta Mohan |
| Thaaye Enge | Anandhapurathu Veedu | Ramesh Krishna | Balaram |

### Language:Malayalam

| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
| Sundari sundari | Aye Auto | Raveendran | M. G. Sreekumar |
| Parama purusha | Swathi Thirunal | M. B. Sreenivasan | K. J. Yesudas |
| Guruvayoor unnikannane | Aanachandam | Jaison Nair | Madhu Balakrishnan |

## Related ragas

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this raga.

### Scale similarities

* Lalitha is a popular raga that sounds very similar to Vasantha. Lalitha uses shuddha rishabham in ārohaṇa also, while the shuddha dhaivatam is used in it, compared to chatusruti dhaivatam in Vasantha.