Chowtal

Ahir Bhairav is a studio album by dhrupad vocalist Ustad Mohi Baha’uddin Dagar, released on May 9, 2022 under the Italian label Black Sweat Records. The album appears in digital media format and features Dagar’s rendition of the ahir bhairav raga, a morning raga in Hindustani classical tradition.

The second track, titled Chowtal, spans 12 minutes and 44 seconds. Dagar performs the composition in the chowtal rhythmic cycle, a 12-beat tala commonly associated with dhrupad. The recording captures his vocal technique, including sustained alap passages and intricate bol-baant (lyrical division) characteristic of the Dagarvani style. The track exemplifies the meditative and expansive qualities of the raga while adhering to the structural rigor of dhrupad.

Limited documentation accompanies the release, and no additional session musicians or instrumentalists are credited in the available context. The album’s production details, recording location, and engineering personnel remain unconfirmed. Black Sweat Records distributed the work digitally, though physical formats or alternate editions are not verified in public sources.

Ustad Mohi Baha’uddin Dagar belongs to the Dagar gharana, a lineage renowned for preserving the gayaki (vocal style) of dhrupad. His performances often emphasize the nada (sonic resonance) and microtonal nuances of ragas, continuing the tradition established by his predecessors, including his father Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar and uncle Ustad Nasiruddin Dagar.