About Raag Malkauns – Ragini Miyan Ki Todi (Bombay 1968)
Raag Malkauns – Ragini Miyan Ki Todi (Bombay 1968) is an archival studio recording by dhrupad vocalists Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar. The album captures a 1968 performance in Bombay, originally recorded for private circulation and officially released on June 26, 2024. Black Sweat Records issued the material as a 12\" vinyl LP, preserving the unedited sessions in their original monophonic format.
The release documents two raga explorations: Raag Malkauns and Ragini Miyan Ki Todi. Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar perform the alap sections in the Dagarbani style, emphasizing sustained tonal development and microtonal inflections. The tracklist divides each raga into three movements: two alap segments followed by a jor-jhala conclusion. Malkauns – Alap (part I) and Malkauns – Alap (part II) establish the raga’s meditative framework, while Malkauns – Jor Jhala introduces rhythmic articulation. The second half mirrors this structure with Miyan Ki Todi – Alap (part I), Miyan Ki Todi – Alap (part II), and Miyan Ki Todi – Jor Jhala.
The recording session’s technical specifics remain undocumented beyond its Bombay origin and 1968 date. Black Sweat Records sourced the tapes from a private archive, remastering the audio for vinyl without additional processing. The label’s 2024 edition marks the first commercial availability of this performance. No accompanying musicians or instrumentalists are credited in the available documentation.
Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar belonged to the 19th generation of the Dagar family, a lineage central to the dhrupad tradition. Their collaboration on this recording reflects the brothers’ shared approach to raga elaboration, prioritizing vocal control and harmonic depth. The album’s release coincides with renewed interest in archival Indian classical recordings, though no further context about the original session’s purpose or reception exists in public records.