Raag Abhogi

Raag Abhogi is a 27-minute-27-second instrumental performance by sitarist Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. The track appears as the third composition on the album The Genius Of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee – Volume 4, released on CD by Chhanda Dhara in 1996.

The recording showcases Banerjee’s interpretation of Raag Abhogi, a melodic framework rooted in the Bhairav thaat of Hindustani classical music. The performance adheres to the traditional alaap-jor-jhala structure, followed by a composed section in vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) ektaal, a 12-beat rhythmic cycle. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though the format typically includes tanpura drone and tabla percussion.

The album forms part of a multi-volume series compiled posthumously, curating Banerjee’s live and studio recordings from the 1960s–1980s. Chhanda Dhara, a Kolkata-based label, specialized in archival releases of Indian classical music during this period. No alternate takes, session musicians, or recording locations for this track are publicly verified.

Banerjee (1931–1986) belonged to the Imdadkhani gharana (school) of sitar, known for its emphasis on gayaki ang (vocal-style phrasing) and intricate taan (melodic runs). His rendition of Raag Abhogi exemplifies this approach, balancing technical precision with emotive depth. The 1996 release date reflects the compilation’s publication, not the original recording session’s timing.