Raga Malkauns: Vilambit Khayal cont.

Ulhas Kashalkar performed Raga Malkauns: Vilambit Khayal (cont.) as the third track on the album Nilaya. The recording spans 14 minutes and 27 seconds and showcases Kashalkar’s interpretation of the raga in the vilambit (slow) tempo style of khayal, a classical vocal form in the Hindustani tradition.

The album Nilaya released on 2007 under the label Sense World Music. The primary format of the release was a commercial CD. The tracklist and accompanying liner notes do not specify additional artists or instrumentalists, though Kashalkar’s rendition typically adheres to the conventional ensemble of tanpura drone and tabla accompaniment in live and studio settings.

Kashalkar’s performance emphasizes the meditative and expansive qualities of Raga Malkauns, a pentatonic raga associated with the late evening or night. The composition unfolds with alaap-like elaboration in the vilambit section, followed by rhythmic development in the khayal structure. The recording captures Kashalkar’s use of meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) to explore the raga’s shuddha madhyam (pure fourth) and komal dhaivat (flattened sixth) intervals.

The album title Nilaya translates to \"abode\" or \"sanctuary\" in Sanskrit, reflecting the thematic focus on introspective ragas. No additional context is provided regarding the recording location, session musicians, or production details. The track serves as a continuation of the raga’s presentation, suggesting a multi-part exploration across the album.