Tillana

A Tillana or thillana is a rhythmic piece in South Indian Carnatic music that is generally performed at the end of a concert and widely used in classical indian dance performances. It was popularised by Dr. M Balamuralikrishna, Lalgudi Jayaraman and some other musicians^[1][2][3] A Tillana uses tala-like phrases in the pallavi and anupallavi, and lyrics in the charanam.

The thillana is based on the tarana which was introduced by Amir Khusrau (1253-1325 CE).^[4]

Popular Compositions

BY Lalgudi Jayaraman

• Kadanakuthuhalam Thillana
• Mohanakalyani Thillana
• Khamas Thillana
• Mand Thillana
• Revathi Thillana
• Dwijavanthi Thillana

BY M. Balamuralikrishna

• Brindavani Thillana
• Kadanakuthuhalam Thillana
• Kunthalavarali Thillana
• Garudadhwani Thillana
• Jaya Ragamalika Thillana (Kalyani Raga)

BY OTHER COMPOSERS

• Kalinga Narthana Thillana composed by Sri Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi (Ragam: Gambhira Natta)
• Dhanashree Thillana composed by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal and tuned by Lalgudi Jayaraman
• Khamas Thillana composed by Patnam Subramania Iyer (Ragam: Khamas)
• Kaapi Thillana, composed by Ganesh and Kumaresh Rajagopalan
• Basant Bahar Thillana, composed by Maharajapuram Santhanam
• Behag Thillana, composed by Veene Sheshanna
• Behag Thillana, composed by Abhishek Raghuram
• Dwijavanthi Thillana by Bharat Sundar

References

1. "Pure aural feast". The Hindu. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
2. Subrahmanyam, Velcheti (2 February 2012). "Master holds in hypnotic spell". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
3. Kumar, Ranee (16 February 2012). "Resonant repertoire". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
4. Singh, Thakur Jai Deva (1975). "Khusrau's Musical Compositions". In Ansari, Zoe (ed.). Life, Times & Works of Amir Khusrau Dehlavi. New Delhi: National Amir Khusrau Society. p. 276.