If Sarali Varisais and Geethams are the primary school of Carnatic music, the Varnam is the high-performance gym. Composed by legendary masters to weave the complete melodic personality (Lakshana) of a raga into a compact rhythmic tapestry, the Varnam is the cornerstone of every serious musician’s daily riyaz.
Practicing Varnams in multiple tempos transforms a hesitant voice into an agile, flexible instrument capable of effortless octave jumps and fast-moving Gamakas.
The Two Halves of a Tana Varnam
A traditional Tana Varnam is divided into two distinct structural movements:
- Poorvanga (First Half): Comprises the Pallavi, Anupallavi, and Mukthayi Swaram. It establishes the grand architecture of the raga across the middle and upper octaves.
- Uttaranga (Second Half): Features the Charanam followed by consecutive sets of Chitta Swarams that gradually increase in complexity and length.
Singing both halves maintains a balanced dialogue between poetic lyrics (Sahityam) and abstract swara patterns.
The Golden Routine: Singing in Three Speeds (Kala)
The true technical power of Varnam practice comes from executing the composition in three progressive tempos set strictly to the metronome of Adi Tala:
- Prathama Kalam (1st Speed – 1 note per beat): Cultivates majestic tone production, deep breath support, and crystal-clear Gamaka oscillations.
- Dvitiya Kalam (2nd Speed – 2 notes per beat): Builds vocal dexterity and smooth tongue-palate articulation.
- Tritiya Kalam (3rd Speed – 4 notes per beat): Demands razor-sharp agility, rapid vocal cord response, and unwavering rhythmic stability.
Our faculty guides vocalists and instrumentalists through these rigor-tested methods across our specialized music batches.
Transforming Swaras into “Akaram” Vocalization
Once you can sing a Varnam accurately with swara names, sing the entire piece replacing the note names with open vowels (“Aaa”, “Eee”, “Ooo”).
Singing in Akaram removes the crutch of consonant articulation, forcing your vocal cords to shape intricate microtonal contours purely through throat and breath agility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the first Varnam taught to beginners?
Most students begin with Ninnu Kori in Raga Mohanam set to Adi Tala, composed by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar, praised for its buoyant symmetry and uplifting pentatonic melody.
Can instrumentalists benefit from singing Varnams?
Yes. Veena, violin, and flute artists who sing Varnams aloud while practicing develop intuitive phrasing that directly translates into vocal quality (Gayaki Ang) on their instruments.
