Raag Bilaskhani Todi

Raag Bilaskhani Todi is a 57-minute instrumental performance by sitarist Nikhil Banerjee, released as the opening track on the 1995 compilation Fond Memories – Sitar Vol. 5. The recording originates from All India Radio archives and was issued on CD.

The composition adheres to the Bilaskhani Todi raga, a variant of the Todi thaat characterized by its use of komal re (flattened second), komal dha (flattened sixth), and the omission of shuddha ma (pure fourth) in ascent. Banerjee’s interpretation employs the Etawah Baj gayaki ang, a vocal-influenced sitar style associated with his lineage under Ustad Enayat Khan. The performance features an extended alap followed by gradual development into jor and jhala, culminating in a rhythmic gat section accompanied by tabla.

The album Fond Memories – Sitar Vol. 5 forms part of a multi-volume series curated by All India Radio, compiling archival recordings of prominent Indian classical musicians. The 1995 CD release includes no additional session details, and the accompanying artists for this track remain undocumented. The recording captures Banerjee’s mature phase, reflecting his technical precision and emphasis on raga elaboration through slow, meditative phrasing.

Notable aspects of the track include the exploration of meend (glissando) techniques in the lower octave and the use of murki (ornamental grace notes) in the drut (fast) sections. The performance concludes with a brief tihai resolution, a hallmark of Banerjee’s structured improvisational approach. No commercial reissues or alternate versions of this specific recording have been verified.