Raag Darbari

Raag Darbari is a 1997 studio recording of Hindustani classical vocal music by Ajay Pohankar. The album presents a single-track performance of Raag Darbari, a prominent raga in the Kafi thaat traditionally associated with late-night renditions. Pohankar performs the composition in the khayal style, a dominant form in North Indian classical music.

The recording spans 47 minutes and 54 seconds, featuring an uninterrupted exploration of the raga. Pohankar employs alaap, jor, and jhala in the introductory section before transitioning into the composed bandish (fixed melodic composition) and subsequent improvisations. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, but the format adheres to conventional khayal presentations with tabla and tanpura support.

The album was released in 1997 under an unspecified label. No commercial reissues or digital remasters have been confirmed. The tracklist consists of one primary entry titled Raag Darbari, with no secondary compositions or filler material. Pohankar’s interpretation emphasizes the raga’s characteristic phrases, including the komal gandhar (flattened third) and shuddha nishad (pure seventh), aligned with the Darbari Kanada tradition.

Critical reception and chart performance data for this release are not publicly archived. The recording serves as part of Pohankar’s discography, which includes other classical albums and live performances. Contextual details about the recording session—such as location, producers, or accompanying artists—are not available in existing documentation.