Raga Nat Malhar

Raga Nat Malhar (Khayal Madhyalaya and Drut in Teentala) is a 19-minute and 45-second khayal performance by Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The track appears as the fourth composition on the 1995 compilation Maestro’s Choice Series 2 – Bhimsen Joshi, released by Living Media India in digital media format.

The recording showcases Joshi’s interpretation of Raga Nat Malhar, a monsoon-associated raga derived from the Kafi thaat. The performance follows the khayal tradition with two sections: a madhyalaya (medium-tempo) exposition and a drut (fast-tempo) segment set to teentala, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. The composition emphasizes the raga’s characteristic phrases, including the use of komal gandhar (flattened third) and shuddha nishad (natural seventh) in descent.

The album Maestro’s Choice Series 2 – Bhimsen Joshi forms part of a curated collection highlighting Joshi’s recordings across his career. The label Living Media India distributed the series, though specific recording dates for individual tracks remain undocumented in publicly available sources. The track exemplifies Joshi’s vocal technique, marked by meend (glissando), gamak (ornamentation), and layered taan patterns.

No accompanying artists or instrumentalists are credited for this track in the release metadata. The compilation focuses exclusively on Joshi’s solo performances, with tanpura and tabla support assumed but not explicitly attributed. The 1995 release predates widespread digital streaming, with the original format likely intended for CD or cassette distribution under the Living Media India imprint.