About Haunting Melodies
Haunting Melodies is a digital album of Carnatic instrumental music performed by flautist Dr. N. Ramani. The label Aditya Music released the album on November 25, 2009. The recording features ten tracks that showcase traditional compositions in various ragas and talas, rendered on the bamboo flute.
Dr. N. Ramani selected compositions that span classical and devotional themes. The album opens with a Varnam in Raga Begada set to Adi tala. Subsequent tracks include Gajanana in Raga Chakravakam (Adi tala), Ninnuvina in Raga Poorvi Kalyani (Misra Chapu tala), and Nadachi Nadachi in Raga Kharaharapriya (Adi tala). The repertoire also features Parama Purusha in Raga Vasantha (Adi tala), Marivere Dikku in Raga Shanmukhapriya (Adi tala), and Bhajare in Raga Kanada (Misra Chapu tala).
The latter half of the album presents Saravana Bhava in Raga Madhyamavathi (Adi tala), a second composition in Raga Begada titled Thunga Tharange (Adi tala), and concludes with Aparadhi Naanalla in Raga Revathi (Khanda Chapu tala). The performances emphasize the expressive capabilities of the flute in Carnatic music, with each track adhering to the structural and melodic conventions of its respective raga.
The album format remains exclusively digital, with no documented physical release. Aditya Music distributed the recording under its catalog, though specific production details beyond the release date and label remain unverified. The tracklist reflects a balance of kritis, varnams, and devotional pieces, typical of Dr. N. Ramani’s discography during this period.