S-r-G-m-P-d-S A distinctive Bhairav raganga offshoot with uncertain origins, summarised in oddly poetic fashion by MeetKalakar: “Being Nishad-taboo, its caste is shadav. Dhaivat and Rishabh are used softly…which are respectively the plaintiffs”. Performed by only a handful of khayal vocalists (e.g. Abhirang, Purnima Sen, and Yunus Hussain Khan) – but remains a staple of the […]
• Raag Bangal Bhairav •
• Raag Bahaduri Todi •
S-rR-g-m-P-d-n-S Described by Parrikar as “an exceedingly beautiful raga, known for aesthetic unity in spite of its convoluted structure…the disparate constituents are tied together by special sancharis, and the intonation is mediated by meends”. He cites two distinct versions of the raga in modern circulation (neither of which appear to be linked to the Carnatic […]
• Raag Vardhini •
S-gG-m-P-d-n-S Adapted from Carnatic music’s mela #32 (‘Ragavardhini’: strictly speaking, the Northern form should perhaps be spelled this way too), Vardhini matches the swaras of Nandkauns or ‘Jogkauns komal ni’. Seemingly introduced to the Northern ragascape via the Dagarvani Dhrupad – as per information kindly supplied by Pelva Naik, “Vardhini came into the Dagar gharana, as far […]
• Raag Triveni •
S-r-G-P-d-N-S Taking a hexatonic ‘Shree/Bhairav no ma’ swara set, Triveni’s main incarnation (also known as ‘Tirban/Tirvan’) comprises two congruent swara-clusters – SrG & PdN (both semitonal jumps of ‘1-3’). Melodic motions mostly take after Shree and Bhairav, particularly via a strong re–Pa sangati and G\rS descents – both evident in Shounak Abhisheki’s jhaptal bandish (Kalindi […]
• Raag Tankeshree •
S-r-G-M-P-d-N-S Tankeshree is a seldom-performed Shree–ang raga, which lies closest to the predominant form of Triveni (the same scale minus Ma). Pa is strong and tivra Ma is weak – at least based on the evidence of Omkarnath Thakur’s soaring 1940 rendition (Malan Laaye Chun Chun Kaliyan), which regularly ascends in sparse SGP fashion (also […]
• Raag Suha Todi •
S-r-g-m-P-dD-n-S A jod raga primarily associated with (and probably invented by) Ali Akbar Khan. As per the liner notes to his 1978 album rendition with Swapan Chaudhury: “Suha is a time-tested traditional raga, and so is Todi…[however] their combination, though happily feasible, is not commonly heard…[Suha’s] Kanada trend blended with a raga of the morning […]
• Raag Gauri Basant •
S-r-G-M-P-d-N-S Introduced by prolific raga creator Kumar Gandharva via fusing Gauri with Basant’s tivra Ma incarnation. His original renditions also prominently showcase a Bhairav-ang G\r slide – but this fragment lacks its usual support from shuddha ma above, instead being followed in the bandish by Basant-like turns such as GPd; PMPG (…this shift is timed […]
• Raag Gandhari •
S-rR-g-m-P-d-n-S Described by Parrikar as “an Asavariant of ancient vintage, [with] no consensus regarding its contemporary swarupa”, the modern Gandhari usually appears in double-Re form – although some variants also employ double-Ga and/or double-Dha. Many renditions follow a ‘Jaunpuri-plus’ framework, seasoning this raga with komal re in concluding phrases (e.g. nPndPmg, grgrS). Sometimes interpreted as […]
• Raag Saurashtra Bhairav •
S-r-G-m-P-dD-N-S A unique ‘double-Dha’ blend of the morning Bhairav with the night-time Bhinna Shadja, Saurashtra Bhairav’s movements vary across gharana boundaries. Abhirang, interpreting a pair of Ramrang compositions (Barani Na Jaye Chabi & Aba Main Kase Jaya Kahu), cites the importance of Bhinna Shadja’s mDNSNDm catchphrase – although most other movements fall in line with those of […]
• Raag Roopkali •
S-rR-G-mM-P-d-N-S A variation of Ramkali, which is distinguished through a general avoidance of komal ni and sporadic inclusion of shuddha Re. Renditions generally focus on the mid-scale region, with all five specific swaras from shuddha Ga to komal dha available for use (GmMPd). Khadim Hussain Khan’s twisting melodies tend to pair tivra Ma with Pa above, […]
• Raag Viyogavarali •
S-r-g-m-d-N-S An invention of Agra vocalist S.N. Ratanjankar, Viyogavarali (or ‘Viyog Varali Todi’) was derived by omitting Pa from the Carnatic Dhenuka (mela #9) – resembling ‘Chandrakauns plus komal re’ or ‘Gujiri Todi shuddha ma’. All swaras except Ni appear in their lowest specific variants, with the use of ga restricted to Todi-ang avroh motions (e.g. […]
• Raag Virat Bhairav •
S-r-G-m-P-dD-n-S A ‘double Dha Bhairav’ raga with a unique swara set, associated with Jaipur-Atrauli vocalists including Nivruttibuwa Sarnaik (who, according to gharana stablemate Gandhar Digrajkar, invented it). In addition to Bhairav’s classic G\rS swoop and general poorvang-focus, Parrikar notes “a rather busy uttarang: shuddha Dha is used sparingly, in special sancharis such as GmPDnDn and […]
• Raag Lachari Todi •
S-R-gG-m-P-dD-n-S As per Parrikar, “there are 3 varieties of Lachari Todi, all of them having very little to do with Todi proper: and there is major divergence among [them]”. Some renditions limit themselves to the swaras SRGmdnS, although Amjad Ali Khan takes a much more expansive approach, spanning SRgGmPdDnS with complex ornamental combinations that mix […]
• Raag Tilak Bhairav •
S-rR-G-m-P-dD-N-S An ultra-rare raga associated with Imdadkhani composer Dhruva Tara Joshi, spanning the full swara sets of Bhairav and Tilak Kamod. Although initially a sitarist, Joshi’s sole traceable take of the raga is a vocal-only rendition from a lecture-demo (seemingly the result of an injury forcing him away from the strings) – which concisely interweaves […]
• Raag Mangal Todi •
S-r-g-mM-P-d-nN-S A variant of Todi, seemingly of ancient origin, involving the addition of shuddha ma via phrases such as Smmd and MdndPmmd. Ram Marathe’s rendition, built around energetic mixing of both Ma and Ni positions, is probably the most prominent interpretation – with Shounak Abhisheki’s 2021 lockdown take building superbly on these ideas, setting bewildering […]
• Raag Bhankar •
S-r-G-mM-P-dD-N-S Bhankar is a complex morning form which introduces Lalit-flavoured phrases to the basic framework of Bhatiyar. Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar cites two main variants sung in her Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, one of which also features touches of Bhairav – with both versions sharing common phrases including Bhatiyar’s Sm mPG, MDS and Lalit’s NdMm, GmMmG. She also elucidates how […]
• Raag Darjeeling •
S-r-g-m-P-d-n-S Unveiled by sitarist Niladri Kumar in a 2014 Taj Mahal tea commercial, launching a new Darjeeling-themed range described in marketing materials as “definitely our most premium offering” (Niladri: “I have composed [it] in honour of the superlative flavour”). Status as a ‘real raga’ (rather than just a Mishra Bhairavi) is highly dubious – and […]
• Raag Malayalam •
S-R-G-m-P-d-n-S A barely-documented morning raga created by Ali Akbar Khan sometime around the 1970s – named in honour of his mother (‘Malaya’) and father (‘Alam’: also the name of Khan’s son, born in 1982) [n.b. the Tamil-derived Dravidian language family of the same title is of a separate etymology, derived from ‘mala+alam’: ‘the land near the […]
• Raag Adarangi Todi •
S-r-g-mM-P-d-nN-S A double-ma, double-ni Todi variant linked to 18th-century composer Naimat Khan ‘Sadarang’ and his nephew Feroze Khan ‘Adarang’, who served at the court of Mughal Emperor and prolific arts patron Muhammad Shah. While the raga’s historical lineage remains half-sketched, Ali Akbar Khan took to performing it later in his career. Sometimes given the alternate title […]
• Raag Jungala •
(S-R-g-m-P-d-n-S) The term ‘Jungala’ (or ‘Jangla’) generally indicates a ‘reworked’ variant of a well-known raga rather than a specific set of swaras – for example Yunus Hussain Khan’s ‘Jangla-Gara‘ restricts Gara‘s melodies to shuddha Ga and Ni only, and Jagdish Prasad’s ‘Jangla-Bhairavi‘ adds a prominent double-Ni to Bhairavi‘s basic shape. Usually associated with folk-derived forms, several […]
• Raag Sonakshi •
S-r-G-mM-P-dD-N-S From my 2018 Darbar interview with Maihar bansuri maestro Rupak Kulkarni: “I created Sonakshi [‘Golden-Eyed‘] so I could experience a raga which was suitable for any time of day. I believe we have different mindsets depending on the hour: in the morning our mood is spiritual and fresh, and in the evening it is […]
• Raag Japaniya •
S-R-g-P-d-S The SRgPdS swara set – equivalent to ‘Shivranjani komal dha’ or ‘Bhupali Todi shuddha Re’ – exists in several distinct Hindustani guises. Patiala vocalists title it ‘Lilavati’, however this name is also applied to a separate ‘Kalavati komal ga’ raga by others. The same scale also appears under the intriguing title of ‘Japaneeya / […]
• Raag Kanakangi •
S-rR-m-P-dD-S A truly strange scale, Kanakangi is a recent import from the South, derived from the very first raga on the Carnatic melakarta wheel. As such, all 7 generic swaras are set to their lowest possible positions: a principle which, under Hindustani axioms, would produce Bhairavi (SrgmPdnS) – however the Carnatic swara-system allows for ‘double-komal’ […]
• Raag Namanarayani •
S-r-G-M-P-d-n-S Equivalent to ‘Basant Mukhari tivra Ma’, the SrGMPdnS swara-set – known in Carnatic music as Namanarayani, the 50th mela – has barely been played in the North. I searched hard during my quest to find matching ragas for the 32 ‘sampurna thaat’ scales (=all those with one variant each of ‘Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, […]
• Raag Amiri Todi •
S-rR-g-m-P-dD-n-S Created by sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan in 1974, catalysed by the untimely passing of legendary vocalist Amir Khan the same year. As recounted to Indian Express in 2009: “My love and reverence for Khansaheb does not stem only from his music, but for his truly kind and humble nature. When he died, it appeared […]
• Raag Rishabhapriya •
S-R-G-M-P-d-n-S Already a rare mode in Carnatic music (mela #62), Rishabhapriya has barely been touched by Hindustani musicians. Equivalent to ‘Charukeshi tivra Ma’ or ‘Vachaspati komal dha’, all poorvang swaras are set to their highest specific positions, and all uttarang swaras are at their lowest (SRGM+PdnS: like ‘Yaman’s poorvang + Bhairavi’s uttarang’). The rare Ma–ni sangati […]
