The name
varnam (meaning 'letter') was likely given to this form of song due to the prevalence of
swara letters in this type of composition. Lyrical content of varnams are commonly either devotional or amorous. The varnam consists of two parts: poorvadham (first half) - consisting of pallavi, anupallavi and muktaayi swaram and uttarardham (second half) - consisting of charanam and charana swarams. Some of the older compositions have a part called "Anubandham" following this. •
Pallavi: The first section of the Varnam, sung with lyrics (sahitya). •
Anupallavi: Second section, also sung with lyrics (sahitya). •
Muktaayi Swaram (also called Chitta Swaram): Sung completely with notes. In Pada Varnams, corresponding lyrics are present, which will be sung after the notes are sung. •
Charanam or Eththugada Pallavi: Sung with lyrics •
Chitta Swaram or Eththugadda Swaram: Sung with notes. In a Pada varnam, there are lyrics which correspond to the Charanam swaras. The swaras occur in several groups or stanzas. •
Anubandham: epilogue to the Varnam. Some varnams have an additional part that is sung with lyrics (
sahitya), and leading back to the
muktaayi (
chitta)
swara or the first
pallavi line itself. It is found more often with very old varnams and it is less prevalent in the newer varnams. In modern times, performers rarely sing the anubandham (ie., the rendering is concluded after charana swarams, leading back to the charanam). Varnams are traditionally rendered in a format that consists of
pallavi,
anupallavi and
chitta swaram (
mukthayi swaram) being sung first in a relatively slow pace and repeated immediately after in double the speed. The rest of the composition (
charanam onwards) is sung in a
madhyama kala or approximately 1.5 times the speed used at the start. Each
swara passage is sung, followed by the lyrics of the
charanam. Some performers do not follow this, though, preferring to sing the entire composition in
madhyama kala or relatively fast pace. Varnams are generally sung in two varieties of
talas, or meter systems:
adi tala (eight-beat cycle) and
ata tala (fourteen-beat cycle), where
ata tala varnams are generally more complicated and advanced. In most of the
adi tala varnams, the
tala is placed in the two-
kalai version; therefore, each beat and finger count is placed twice. ==Famous varnams==