In
Carnatic music
Carnatic music, known as or in the Dravidian languages, South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, an ...
, the anupallavi comes after the
pallavi
A pallavi has multiple connotations in carnatic music. It is the first part of any formal composition (Krithi) which has three segments - Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam (which can be one or more). Pallavi is usually also an abbreviation of R ...
and is usually the second section of any composition. It is then followed by one or more
charanam
Charanam (meaning ''foot'') in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music) is usually the end section of a composition which is sung after the anupallavi.
There may be multiple ''charanams'' in a composition which make up different stanzas, bu ...
s. The anupallavi is optional. In compositions that do not have an anupallavi, there often exists a Samrashti Charanam that combines both the anupallavi and charanam of the composition which directly follows the pallavi. It is usually sung at a higher pitch and adds more beauty to the music. Usually the Anupallavi is shorter than the Charanam . In Sanskrit 'anu' means 'next'. It literally means 'next to pallavi'.
Carnatic music terminology
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