Ragam Tanam Pallavi (RTP)[1] is a form of singing in Carnatic music which allows the musicians to improvise to a great extent.
It is one of the most complete aspects of Indian classical music, demonstrating the entire gamut of talents and the depth of knowledge of the musician.
In this form of pure melodic improvisation, the musician starts with a refrain to create the mood of raga and lays a foundation for composition to follow.
[5] It could have originated from the sanskrit word "tanyate" (that which is elaborated) or "tena" indicative of an auspicious object.
Tanam is rendered as a rhythmic variation of raga alapana, in chaturasra nadai, though there is no specific talam that is followed.
Tanam is almost always rendered without percussion accompaniment; the element of rhythm is embedded within the repetition of the syllables "a-nam-tham".
It is rendered in medium speed and just before commencing the third component of this composite form of improvisation; the pallavi.
In most cases the Pallavi is set to Chatushtra Nadai meaning each beat carries 4 matras (units).
Today, most concerts by prominent carnatic vocalists include a Ragam Tanam Pallavi (RTP).
In other words, artists often use the RTP portion of the concert to introduce their audience to ragams that are rarely sung.
Other examples of Dwi-raga pallavis are Amrithavarshini/ Anandabhairavi by M.Balamuralikrishna,[18] Saranga/ Nayaki by Ranjani Gayatri,[19] Bhairavi/Sindhu Bhairavi by T.N.Seshagopalan[20][21] and Mohanam/Kalyanavasantham by Bombay Jayashri.
Since the audience are likely to be unfamiliar with some of these ragams, they changed their Pallavi phrase at the end of each of these 4-5 minute renderings- for instance, they finished Janaranjini rendition with "Ranjani Kanchadala Lochani Brovavamma Thalli Janaranjani".
A musically literate audience often appreciate this approach, since this gives them 4–5 minutes to guess the ragam before the artist gives them the answer.
Therefore, only an artist with a good amount of knowledge in theory of carnatic music as well as practical experience can present a Ragam Tanam Pallavi with ease.