Raga: Bilaskhani Todi (Gat in Drut Teental)

Raga: Bilaskhani Todi (Gat in Drut Teental) is a track from the album Ragas for Dawn, released on May 21, 2020. The composition features sitarist Manilal Nag and tabla player Samar Saha in a performance of the Bilaskhani Todi raga. The piece adopts the gat form in drut teental, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle, and spans a duration of 10 minutes and 10 seconds.

The album Ragas for Dawn presents a collection of morning ragas interpreted through instrumental arrangements. Aimrec served as the label for the release, which appeared in CD format. The track occupies the third position in the album’s sequence. Bilaskhani Todi belongs to the Todi thaat and is traditionally associated with the early morning hours, characterized by its emotive komal re (flattened second) and komal dha (flattened sixth) swaras.

Manilal Nag performs the sitar with elaborations in alaap, jor, and jhala preceding the composed gat. Samar Saha accompanies on the tabla, maintaining the teental framework while incorporating improvisational tihais and rela patterns. The recording captures the interplay between the two artists, emphasizing the raga’s introspective and meditative qualities. Additional production details or session musicians remain undocumented in available sources.