Malkauns Bada Khyal
About Malkauns Bada Khyal
Ulhas Kashalkar recorded Malkauns Bada Khyal as the second track on the 2007 album Masterpieces. The label Times Music released the work on CD. The composition spans 41 minutes and 57 seconds. Kashalkar performed the piece in the khyal style of Hindustani classical vocal music, adhering to the raga Malkauns. The album compiles selections from his repertoire, though specific recording sessions or accompanying artists remain undocumented in available sources.
The track exemplifies the bada khyal form, characterized by elaborate improvisation and slow-tempo exposition. Kashalkar structured the performance with alaap>, jor, and jhala sections before introducing the composed bandish. The rendition highlights his command of taan patterns and meend (glissando) techniques. The recording captures his use of sargam (solfège) and bol-banao (lyrical improvisation) within the raga’s pentatonic framework.
Masterpieces emerged as part of Times Music’s series on Hindustani vocal traditions. The album’s production details, including studio location and engineering personnel, are not publicly specified. Kashalkar’s interpretation of Malkauns aligns with the Gwalior gharana influences in his training, though he integrated elements from other schools. The release date of 2007 positions the work within his mature phase, following decades of performance and pedagogy.
No alternate versions or live recordings of this specific bada khyal appear in documented discographies. The track’s duration reflects the expansive treatment typical of concert-style khyal presentations. Times Music marketed the album to audiences of Indian classical music, but circulation metrics and critical reception remain unarchived. Kashalkar’s rendition serves as a reference for students of the Malkauns raga and bada khyal form.