Puriya Dhanashri

Puriya Dhanashri is a raga-based instrumental composition performed by sitarist Anoushka Shankar. Released as a standalone track, the recording spans 11 minutes and 32 seconds and showcases Shankar’s interpretation of Raga Puriya Dhanashri, a classical raga in the Hindustani tradition. The piece adheres to the structural conventions of alaap, jor, and jhala, followed by a rhythmic development section.

Anoushka Shankar composed and arranged the track, blending traditional sitar techniques with contemporary production elements. The recording features her as the sole instrumentalist, accompanied by tanpura drone and minimal percussive support. The label and exact release date remain undocumented in available sources, though the work aligns with her broader discography of Hindustani classical and fusion projects.

The composition emphasizes the raga’s characteristic phrases, including the komal re (flattened second) and shuddha ma (natural fourth), while exploring improvisational expansions. Shankar employs meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) to highlight the raga’s emotive depth. No vocal components or additional guest artists appear on the track.

Notable sections include an extended alaap that establishes the raga’s melodic framework, followed by a faster-paced gat segment in a medium tempo. The recording concludes with a gradual deceleration, returning to the raga’s meditative introduction. The track exemplifies Shankar’s approach to balancing classical discipline with modern interpretive freedom.

Contextual details such as the recording location, producer, or associated album remain unverified. The work stands as a representative example of Shankar’s solo output in the 2010s, though no specific year of release is confirmed in public records.