Abhogi is a bright raga. It will induce energy and regale the spirit of rasikas. Musicians sing a composition in the raga early in their concerts to enthral the audience. This raga dispels dullness and its name literally means sumptuous and luxurious. Abhogi has been borrowed from Carnatic music into Hindustani music and is also quite popular there.
IN CLASSICAL MUSIC
Some of the popular compositions in Classical composition are Nannu Brova Neee Kinta Tamasama by Thyagaraja, Sri Lakṣhmi Varaham by Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sabhapatikku Veru Deivam by Gopalakrishna Bharati, Neekepudu by Mysore Sadashiva Rao, Evvari Bodhana, a popular varnam by Patnam Subramania Iyer, Nekkurugi Unnai by Papanasam Sivan, Sri Mahaganapathe by N S Ramachandran and Manujudai Putti by Annamacharya.
IN CINEMA
It is not a raga used often in cinema. One of the earliest and most successful appearances of Abhogi on the silver screen was Naan Andri Yaar Arivaar from the Malayitta Mangai sung by T R Mahalingam and A P Komala, with music by Viswanathan-Ramamurthy.
Veteran Carnatic music singer M Balamuralikrishna and P Susheela sung Thanga Radham Vandadhu from Kalai Kovil in this raga. In the film Avan Oru Sarithiram, the song Vanakkam Pala Murai sung by P Susheela and T M Soundararajan. Ilayaraja’s popular songs Indraikku En Indha Anandame from Vaidehi Kathirundhal and Kalai Nera Poonguyil from Amman Koil Kizhakalae are set in this raga.