A pallavi has multiple connotations 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 ...

. 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

Ragam Thanam Pallavi Ragam Tanam Pallavi (RTP) 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 ...

Other uses

Pallavi in

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

is used as an adjective or a verb with appropriate suffix to denote a small and tender red-coloured leaf of a plant or a tendril.Sanskrit Dictionary for Spoken Sanskrit
Spokensanskrit.de. Retrieved on 2017-02-23.

References

Carnatic music Carnatic music terminology {{India-music-stub