One of my good friends sent me a youtube link of  students of Wesleyan university performing Sri Kamalambike of Dheera Shankarabharam Raagam. Basically whites  singing a Carnatic track, perfect to the T.Almost.

Shakarabharam raagam happens to be one of the most favourite and reliable start point for many south indian composers. Ilayaraaja started it and Rahman took it to the next level. You can find countless songs of Ilayaraaja that follow Shankarbharanam, while Rahman usually mixes it with several other raagams for his anu-pallavis ( usually the cresendo portion of a song). This has made life a bit tough for the purists, because rahman not only mixes it, he adds several layers of synths,basslines and chorus that give this ambient appeal, but the underlying backbone is a derivative of the Shankarbharanam Raagam, or any other Raagam. You have heard it, you just don’t know which one was it.   [click to continue...]