Bhairav

Sheila Dhar performed Bhairav as the opening track on the 1992 album Inde du Nord: Voyage intérieur. The recording spans 38 minutes and 16 seconds and occupies track one of the release. Ocora issued the album on CD in November 1992.

The composition belongs to the Bhairav raga tradition of Hindustani classical music. Dhar renders the piece in the dhrupad style, characterized by its meditative phrasing and emphasis on sustained tonal exploration. The album title translates to North India: Inner Journey and positions the work within a broader collection of North Indian classical and devotional music.

Limited documentation exists on the accompanying artists or instrumental arrangement for this specific recording. The label Ocora, a subsidiary of Radio France, specialized in ethnomusicological and traditional recordings during this period. Inde du Nord: Voyage intérieur forms part of Ocora’s catalog dedicated to regional classical traditions.

Sheila Dhar (1929–2001) established herself as a vocalist in the Kirana gharana while also contributing to Indian radio, literature, and music education. Her interpretation of Bhairav reflects the raga’s association with early morning performances and its role in invoking contemplative moods. The track omits rhythmic accompaniment for extended sections, focusing on alap development before introducing percussive elements.

The album cover and liner notes provide no additional track-specific credits or recording location details. Ocora’s production standards for field and studio recordings in the 1990s typically adhered to high-fidelity capture, though mastering specifics for this release remain undocumented.