Raga Hamir

Raga Hamir is a khayal-based rendition performed by vocalist Padma Talwalkar as the opening track of the 1990s compilation Night Ragas – Volume Two. The recording spans 15 minutes and 10 seconds and adheres to the structural conventions of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, a style Talwalkar studied under her guru, the late Kesarbai Kerkar.

The album Night Ragas – Volume Two was released by Music Today, a division of India’s state-owned Doordarshan and All India Radio collaborative label. The primary format for this release was audio cassette, a dominant medium for Indian classical music distribution during the period. The compilation features evening and late-night ragas, though specific release dates beyond the 1990s timeframe remain undocumented in publicly accessible sources.

Talwalkar’s interpretation of Raga Hamir employs a vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) khayal structure, characteristic of her measured, taan-heavy phrasing. The raga belongs to the Kafi thaat and is traditionally performed during the late evening or early night. Instrumental accompaniment details for this track are not explicitly credited in the original liner notes, though standard khayal performances of the era typically included harmonium, tanpura, and tabla support.

The cassette release formed part of Music Today’s broader series on time-specific ragas, aimed at preserving and disseminating recordings by eminent 20th-century classical artists. Talwalkar’s contribution to the series reflects her standing as a prominent exponent of the Jaipur-Atrauli tradition, particularly noted for her renditions of rare and complex ragas. No reissues or digital remasters of Night Ragas – Volume Two have been officially confirmed as of 2024.