Viruttam
Encyclopedia
A viruttam or virutham (Tamil
) is a Hindu
devotional verse sung in Carnatic music
concerts. Viruttams do not possess a set tala
and are solely improvised using one or more raga
ms. It is one of many forms of manodharma
(spontaneous improvisations) in Carnatic music.
A viruttam usually precedes rendition of a song. In most cases, it is sung in the same ragam as the song that follows it. Occasionally, viruttam of multiple verses are sung in different ragams, followed by a song in the same ragam as the last sung ragam of the viruttam.
The artist may also sing the same verse in different ragams in different concerts.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
) is a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
devotional verse sung in Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
concerts. Viruttams do not possess a set tala
Tala (music)
Tāla, Taal or Tal is the term used in Indian classical music for the rhythmic pattern of any composition and for the entire subject of rhythm, roughly corresponding to metre in Western music, though closer conceptual equivalents are to be found in other Asian classical systems such as the notion...
and are solely improvised using one or more raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
ms. It is one of many forms of manodharma
Manodharma
Manodharma is a form of improvised music and is created on the spot during the performance, but within the confines of strict grammar of music, as codified in the raga and/or the tala. It can be likened to speakers resorting to impromptu speech while reading from their prepared texts...
(spontaneous improvisations) in Carnatic music.
A viruttam usually precedes rendition of a song. In most cases, it is sung in the same ragam as the song that follows it. Occasionally, viruttam of multiple verses are sung in different ragams, followed by a song in the same ragam as the last sung ragam of the viruttam.
The artist may also sing the same verse in different ragams in different concerts.