Bhajan in Dadora

\"Humak Chala Ta Raaam Chandra\" is a devotional bhajan performed in the Dadra taal (rhythmic cycle) by sitar and surbahar virtuoso Baluji Shrivastav. The track appears as the fifth composition on the album Classical Indian Sitar & Surbahar Ragas, released on CD by ARC Music in 1999. The recording spans 6 minutes and 29 seconds, showcasing Shrivastav’s interpretation of the traditional devotional genre within the framework of North Indian classical music.

The album primarily features Shrivastav on sitar and surbahar, though specific instrumental arrangements for this track remain undocumented in available sources. The bhajan invokes themes associated with Lord Rama, aligning with the broader tradition of Ram bhajans in Hindustani classical and semi-classical repertoires. The Dadra structure, characterized by a six-beat cycle, provides a rhythmic foundation distinct from the more common teen taal or ek taal frameworks in classical performances.

ARC Music, a UK-based independent label, produced the album as part of its series on global traditional and classical music. The release date of 1999 positions the work within Shrivastav’s mid-career period, following his relocation to the United Kingdom and his growing reputation as an exponent of both sitar and the deeper-toned surbahar. No additional session musicians or vocalists are credited for this track in the original liner notes, leaving the performance attribution solely to Shrivastav.

The broader album Classical Indian Sitar & Surbahar Ragas includes a mix of raga-based compositions and lighter classical forms, though detailed track-by-track analysis is not widely published. \"Humak Chala Ta Raaam Chandra\" stands out as one of the few devotional pieces in the collection, contrasting with the instrumental raga explorations that dominate the release. The absence of lyricist or composer credits in accessible sources suggests the bhajan may draw from traditional oral traditions or Shrivastav’s own adaptations.