Raga Pilu

"Raga Pilu" is a sitar performance by Vilayat Khan. The track appears as the B-side on the 1955 release Ustad Vilayatkhan Plays Sitar (The Indian Musical Instrument). The recording was issued on a 10-inch vinyl format. Vilayat Khan performs the raga in a traditional Hindustani classical style, adhering to the melodic framework and improvisational conventions of Pilu.

The raga Pilu belongs to the Kafi thaat and is classified as a light classical or semi-classical raga. It is often performed in a playful, romantic, or devotional mood. Vilayat Khan presents the raga with characteristic ornamentations, including meend (glissando) and gamak (oscillations), which are central to sitar technique. The performance follows the typical structure of a vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) composition, though specific details of the rhythmic cycle (tala) and compositional elements are not documented for this release.

The album Ustad Vilayatkhan Plays Sitar (The Indian Musical Instrument) was released in 1955. The label for the release is not specified in available sources. Vilayat Khan, a prominent exponent of the Imdadkhani gharana (school) of sitar playing, recorded the track during a period when he was establishing his reputation as a leading sitarist of the 20th century. The recording captures his distinctive approach to tone, phrasing, and improvisation, which later influenced subsequent generations of sitar players.

No additional details about the accompaniment, recording venue, or production personnel are available for this release.