Glossary · glossary · 1 min read
Pallavi
पल्लवी; the opening and refrain
Pallavi is the opening section of a Carnatic (South Indian classical) composition and its refrain, the part that returns. In a Malayalam film song, it is the opening part everyone sings along to, which returns after every verse.
By SJN, Founder, BeatRootRaga · Reviewed by BRR · Last reviewed 27 Sept 2026
What does pallavi mean?
Pallavi is the opening section of a Carnatic (South Indian classical) composition and its refrain, the part that returns. It is the first line or two of text, set to the main melody.
The singer returns to the pallavi after the anupallavi, the second section that develops the opening. It also returns after each charanam, a concluding section that usually brings new words and a fresh melody.
South Indian film music borrowed the word for a song’s hook: the opening stanza that returns after every verse. In a Malayalam film song, it is the part everyone sings along to.
For the full explanation, read Pallavi, anupallavi and charanam on BeatRootRaga’s learning page.
An example of pallavi and where to read more
In a Malayalam film song, the pallavi is the opening part everyone sings along to, which returns after every verse. South Indian film music borrowed the word for this hook, the song’s returning stanza.
To follow how the returning opening fits with the other sections, continue with the three parts of a Carnatic song. Carnatic means South Indian classical music. That BeatRootRaga learning page gives the full explanation, including the anupallavi, the second section, and the charanam, the concluding section. This example is just a short introduction.
Keep going
- Pallavi, anupallavi and charanam: the three parts of a Carnatic song · In a typical kriti, the main composed song form of Carnatic (South Indian classical) music, the pallavi is the opening section that returns. The anupallavi is the second section, developing the opening, while the charanam is the concluding section and usually the longest.
- Charanam meaning: what a charanam is and how it differs from the pallavi · A charanam is the concluding section of a composed song in Carnatic (South Indian classical) music, usually bringing new words and a fresh melody. The pallavi is the opening section that returns as a refrain, while the charanam develops something new before leading back to it.