hi RR, KV,
i tried the gULABI song this morning -- R2 is used in the charanams (after the first line tune that is repeated twice....the couple of lines following that use R2)
Even in the desiya geetham song, there is a predominant S G2 jump, skipping the R2....but it also has clearly marked R2 in many other lines.....there is lesser ambiguity there.....
Also RR, sumenesaranjani/madhukauns does not have R2. This link explains madhukauns, sumanesaranjani difference - http://www.carnatica.net/queryinquiry.htm ...it says ""The Carnatic counterpart for this raga (madhukauns) happens to be Sumanesaranjani, which of course has Suddha Madhyama in the Avarohana. The scale for this raga is: S G2 M2 P N2 S - S N2 P M2 G2 M1…. G2 S (With a slight oscillation of M1)....