About Ragas Ramdasi Malhar, Basanti Kedar & Basanti Kanhra
Ragas Ramdasi Malhar, Basanti Kedar & Basanti Kanhra is a studio album of Hindustani classical vocal music performed by Mallikarjun Mansur. The release dates to January 1, 1995, and features three raga performances in the khayal style. The album format remains unspecified in available documentation, though commercial releases from this period typically appeared on compact disc and audio cassette.
Mansur presents Raga Ramdasi Malhar, a monsoon-associated raga of the Malhar family characterized by its use of komal re and komal ni in descent. The second track, Raga Basanti Kedar, blends elements of Basant and Kedar, employing shuddha ma in ascent and teevra ma in descent. The final performance, Raga Basanti Kanhra, merges Basant with the Kanhra framework, noted for its use of komal ga and komal ni. Each composition adheres to the slow vilambit and faster drut sections conventional to khayal renditions.
The recording captures Mansur’s Jaipur-Atrauli gharana training under Alladiya Khan and Manji Khan, evident in the intricate taan patterns and bol-banao techniques. Accompaniment details are not documented in the provided context, though standard khayal performances of this era typically included tabla and harmonium support. The label responsible for the release is unconfirmed in available sources.
Mansur’s interpretations on this album reflect his late-career mastery, recorded during his seventh decade. The selection of ragas highlights his engagement with less-common Malhar and Basant variants, a recurring theme in his discography. No live audience or concert context is indicated, suggesting a controlled studio environment for the sessions.