Raga: Bilawal

Raga Bilawal is a track performed by Ustad Bismillah Khan, the eminent Indian classical shehnai maestro. The composition appears as the fourth track on Shaadi Ki Shehnaiyan, Volume 3, a compilation album released under the Saregama label. The album launched in 2003 in CD format.

The track spans 6 minutes and 35 seconds and showcases Khan’s mastery of the shehnai in the Bilawal raga, a fundamental raga in the Hindustani classical tradition. The recording exemplifies the instrumental style associated with North Indian wedding ceremonies, aligning with the album’s thematic focus on shehnai performances for matrimonial celebrations. The album series Shaadi Ki Shehnaiyan curates traditional and classical pieces tailored for such occasions.

No additional details about the accompanying artists, recording location, or production personnel are publicly documented for this specific track. The release forms part of Saregama’s broader catalog of Indian classical and devotional music, which includes both studio recordings and live performances by Khan. The label has distributed numerous works by the artist, solidifying his legacy in 20th- and early 21st-century Hindustani music.

Khan’s interpretation of Raga Bilawal in this recording adheres to the raga’s characteristic shuddha (natural) scale structure, typically rendered in the early hours of the morning within classical performances. The track’s inclusion in a wedding-themed compilation reflects the cultural significance of shehnai in ceremonial contexts, particularly in North India.