Raga Malkauns Vilambit Ektaal, Ere Sakhi Main Kaise Kahun

Raga Malkauns (Vilambit Ektaal) – Ere Sakhi Main Kaise Kahun is a khayal composition performed by vocalist Sanjeev Abhyankar and released as the opening track of his 1999 classical vocal album. The recording features a 29-minute-02-second rendition in Raga Malkauns, set to the slow-paced Vilambit Ektaal (12-beat cycle). The album appeared under the Fountain Music Company label in CD format, with a release date of March 1999.

The track exemplifies the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana style, to which Abhyankar belongs, emphasizing intricate taan patterns, bol-banao, and layered improvisation. The composition Ere Sakhi Main Kaise Kahun serves as the textual foundation, exploring themes of longing and devotion through the raga’s characteristic pentatonic scale (omitting re and pa). Accompaniment details for this recording remain undocumented in available sources, though traditional khayal performances typically include harmonium, tanpura, and tabla.

The 1999 release marked a period of Abhyankar’s early commercial recordings, following his training under Jitendra Abhisheki and Bhimsen Joshi. The album’s focus on Raga Malkauns aligns with the raga’s prominence in Hindustani classical repertoire, often associated with late-night performances and meditative expression. No additional tracks or collaborative artists are confirmed for this specific release.