Raga Kukubh Bilawal, Raga Sughrai & Raga Nand

Raga Kukubh Bilawal, Raga Sughrai & Raga Nand – Music Today Presents is a studio album by Hindustani classical vocalist Mallikarjun Mansur. Released on January 1, 1992, the album features three extended raga performances under the Music Today label. The recording captures Mansur’s renditions in the khyal style, a prominent form of North Indian classical vocal music.

The album comprises three tracks. Mansur performs Raga Kukubh Bilawal, a rare raga associated with the Bilawal thaat but distinguished by its use of komal re (flat second) and komal dha (flat sixth) in descent. He follows with Raga Sughrai, a night raga from the Kafi thaat known for its emotive and introspective character. The final track presents Raga Nand, a morning raga linked to the Kalyan thaat, often rendered with a devotional or celebratory mood.

The release format remains unspecified in available sources, but the album aligns with Music Today’s catalog of commercial classical recordings from the early 1990s. The performances emphasize Mansur’s mastery of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, characterized by intricate taan patterns, bol-banaav (lyrical improvisation), and a deep exploration of raga structures. The accompanying artists, if any, are not documented in the provided context.

This album serves as a representative example of Mansur’s late-career work, following his recognition as a leading exponent of Hindustani classical vocal music. The recording period and production details are not explicitly stated, but the release date confirms its position within the early 1990s revival of commercially distributed classical albums in India.