About Thumri
Thumri is a 1990 studio album by Indian classical vocalist Begum Akhtar. Saregama India Ltd. released the album on CD-R format as part of its classical music catalog. The recording compiles five thumri and dadra compositions performed in Akhtar’s signature ghazal-thumri style, blending elements of the Benaras and Lucknow gharana traditions.
The album opens with Kafi Thumri – ‘Jab Se Shyam Sidhare’, a composition set in the Kafi raga that showcases Akhtar’s emotive phrasing and taan execution. The second track, Mishra Tilang Thumri – ‘Ankhiyan Neend Na Aae’, employs the Mishra Tilang raga framework with lyrical themes of longing and restlessness. The remaining tracks include two dadras, ‘Zara Dhire Se Bolo’ and ‘Balamwa Tum Kya Jano Preet’, both rendered in a lighter, rhythmic cadence characteristic of the dadra form. The album concludes with Poorvi Dadra – ‘Mori Toot Gai Aas’, a composition in the Poorvi raga that emphasizes melancholic expression.
The release date aligns with the 1990 reissue campaign by Saregama, though the original recording sessions remain undocumented in available sources. The album serves as a posthumous compilation, as Begum Akhtar passed away in 1974. No additional production credits or session details are publicly verified. The track selection reflects her repertoire from live performances and prior studio recordings, adapted for the CD-R format.
Critically, the album contributes to the preservation of Akhtar’s thumri interpretations, particularly her use of sargam and bol-banao techniques. The packaging includes minimal liner notes, focusing on the artist’s legacy rather than technical recording specifics. Saregama’s 1990 edition remains one of several reissues of Akhtar’s work during the late 20th century revival of Indian classical archives.