Raga Kedar - Khyal In Ektal (Ab Kalana Pare Mitawa Live)

Gangubai Hangal performed Raga Kedar – Khyal in Ektal (Ab Kalana Pare Mitawa Live) as the opening track of the 2013 archival release Masterworks From The NCPA Archives. The recording captures a live khyal performance in the ektal rhythmic cycle, a staple of the Kirana gharana tradition to which Hangal belonged. The track spans 14 minutes and 3 seconds, showcasing her deep, resonant vocal style and intricate taan patterns characteristic of her later career.

The album Masterworks From The NCPA Archives was issued on February 20, 2013, by Sony Music Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd. in CD format. It compiles select live recordings from performances at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai, though the exact date of Hangal’s original performance remains undocumented in publicly available sources. The release emphasizes her command over Raga Kedar, a late-evening raga associated with devotion and introspection in the Hindustani classical repertoire.

The composition Ab Kalana Pare Mitawa adheres to the khyal form, with Hangal navigating the raga’s ascending and descending phrases while maintaining the rhythmic discipline of ektal, a 12-beat cycle. Accompaniment details for this specific recording are not explicitly credited in the album liner notes, but traditional khyal performances of this era typically featured harmonium, tabla, and tanpura. The track exemplifies Hangal’s ability to balance technical precision with emotional depth, a hallmark of her seven-decade career.

Gangubai Hangal (1913–2009) was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan (1971) and Padma Vibhushan (2002), India’s third and second-highest civilian honors, respectively. Her contributions to Hindustani classical music, particularly within the Kirana gharana, earned her recognition as one of the 20th century’s foremost vocalists. The NCPA archives series, of which this release is part, aims to preserve and disseminate recordings of legendary Indian classical artists from live concert settings.