It communicates the permitted notes and phrases of the raga, setting the mood for the composition that follows.
As a term that is Sanskrit in language, alapana means "to speak, address, discourse, communicate".
It is the first part of Ragam Tanam Pallavi (RTP), which showcases a Carnatic musician's ability to understand a raga and improvise music set to it.
[citation needed] Raga Alapana is divided into three parts: akshipthika, ragavardhini, and magarini.
The artist sings brisks passages scaling across the entire range of raga.