About Samarpan
Samarpan is a studio album by Indian classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar, released on January 1, 2011. The album features three tracks that blend classical khayal with devotional bhajan compositions, showcasing Amonkar’s mastery of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana style. The release format is CD, though distribution details and the recording label remain undocumented in available sources.
Amonkar opens the album with Samarpan (Offering Of The Self), an elaborate exploration of Raga Yaman. The performance emphasizes alaap, jor, and jhala before transitioning into a composed bandish that reflects the raga’s contemplative and expansive character. The track exemplifies her signature vocal control, microtonal inflections, and improvisational depth.
The second track, Pagh Ghunghroo Bandh Meera Nachi Re (Dancing With The Divine), is a Meera bhajan set to a melodic framework inspired by folk and classical traditions. Amonkar interprets the 16th-century poet-saint Meera’s verse with restrained ornamentation, prioritizing lyrical clarity and emotional resonance. The composition’s rhythmic structure remains unmetered (nibaddh), allowing for fluid phrasing.
The album concludes with Saheliya Sajan Ghar Aye (Lost In The Expanse Of Divine Love), another Meera bhajan that merges devotional themes with classical melodic development. Amonkar’s rendition employs sparse tanpura and minimal percussion accompaniment, focusing attention on the textual and melodic interplay. The track’s progression mirrors the lyrical narrative of longing and spiritual union.
Critical reception and commercial performance of Samarpan are not widely documented. The album serves as a late-career recording in Amonkar’s discography, capturing her enduring influence on Hindustani vocal music. Additional session musicians or producers involved in the recording are not credited in accessible sources.