Raag: Bilas-Khani Todi Vilambit Gat in Teental 4.4.4.4.

Raga Bilas-Khani Todi is a 15-minute and 16-second instrumental composition performed by sitarist Baluji Shrivastav and tabla player Sarwar Sabri. The track appears as the second piece on the album Classical Indian Sitar & Surbahar Ragas, released on CD by ARC Music in 1999.

The recording showcases the Bilas-Khani Todi raga, a variant of the Todi family characterized by its intricate melodic phrasing and emotional depth. Shrivastav executes the sitar passages with emphasis on alaap, jor, and jhala, while Sabri provides rhythmic accompaniment on the tabla. The performance adheres to the traditional khayal-inspired structure common in North Indian classical music.

The album Classical Indian Sitar & Surbahar Ragas compiles live and studio recordings of Hindustani classical music, featuring both sitar and surbahar. The label ARC Music, based in the United Kingdom, specializes in world music releases, including traditional and contemporary works from South Asia. No additional production credits or session details are publicly documented for this specific track.

Notable aspects of the composition include the exploration of komal re (flattened second) and tivra ma (sharp fourth), hallmarks of the Todi thaat. The interaction between Shrivastav’s sitar and Sabri’s tabla follows the improvisational conventions of the gat-toda format, with gradual acceleration in tempo during the latter sections. The recording concludes with a brief tihai, a standard cadential device in classical performances.

The 1999 release date positions the album within a period of increased global distribution for Indian classical music, though specific commercial reception or chart performance for this track remains undocumented. The CD format reflects the dominant physical media of the era, prior to the widespread adoption of digital streaming platforms.