Raga Kukubh Bilawal, Raga Sughrai & Raga Nand - Music Today Presents

Mallikarjun Mansur released a 1992 studio album under Music Today featuring three khayal-style ragas, including the rare evening raga Sughrai.

Raga Kukubh Bilawal, Raga Sughrai & Raga Nand – Music Today Presents is a studio album by Hindustani classical vocalist Mallikarjun Mansur. The release features three raga performances recorded in a traditional khayal style. The album appeared under the Music Today label on January 1, 1992.

Mallikarjun Mansur presents three distinct ragas in this collection. The opening track explores Raga Kukubh Bilawal, a variant of the Bilawal thaat characterized by its use of komal re and komal dha in certain phrases. The second composition interprets Raga Sughrai, a rare raga associated with the late evening or early night hours, often rendered with a contemplative mood. The final track delivers Raga Nand, a raga linked to the Kalyan thaat, known for its use of shuddha ni and teevra ma in ascent.

The album format consists of three extended tracks, each dedicated to a single raga. Mansur accompanies his vocals with tanpura drone, while tabla provides rhythmic support. The recording captures the artist’s Jaipur-Atrauli gharana influences, emphasizing intricate taan patterns and bol-banao techniques. The liner notes or session details remain undocumented in available sources, and no additional instrumentalists or recording locations are confirmed.

Music Today released the album in a physical format, likely on audio cassette and compact disc, consistent with the label’s distribution practices in the early 1990s. The release forms part of Mansur’s discography during his later career, following his recognition with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1967 and the Padma Bhushan in 1982. No reissues or digital remasters of this specific recording are verified as of the latest available records.