Raga Anand Malhar: Barasat Ghan Aayo Rangilo

Raga Anand Malhar: Barasat Ghan Aayo Rangilo is a live recording of a khayal performance by vocalist Kishori Amonkar in the raga Anand Malhar. The track spans 33 minutes and 21 seconds and showcases Amonkar’s interpretation of the monsoon-themed bandish Barasat Ghan Aayo Rangilo, a composition traditionally associated with the rainy season in Hindustani classical music.

Amonkar performs in the vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) ektaal rhythmic cycle, accompanied by tanpura drone and tabla. The recording captures her signature gayaki (vocal style), marked by intricate taan patterns, meend (glissando), and expansive alaap exploration. The composition’s text invokes imagery of dark clouds and the joy of rainfall, aligning with the raga’s emotive rasa (mood) of romantic longing and celebration.

The performance date and venue remain undocumented in widely accessible sources. The recording circulates primarily as an unofficial live archive, with no confirmed commercial release under a specific label. Amonkar’s rendition of Anand Malhar is noted for its departure from conventional Malhar variants, emphasizing the shuddha dhaivat (natural sixth) and komal nishad (flattened seventh) to evoke the raga’s distinctive melodic identity.

No official album artwork, liner notes, or producer credits are attached to this recording. The track’s title derives from the opening line of the bandish, a practice common in Hindustani classical vocal traditions. Amonkar’s interpretation is frequently cited in discussions of 20th-century khayal innovations, particularly her use of sargam (solfège) and bol-taan (syllabic improvisation) in Anand Malhar.