Raga Suha-Todi

Raga Suha-Todi is a 1965 recording of the todi thaat-based raga performed by sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan. The composition spans 19 minutes and 8 seconds and exemplifies the vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) sections characteristic of North Indian classical instrumental music. Khan renders the raga in the alaap-jor-jhala structure, followed by a rhythmic exposition in teen taal (16-beat cycle).

The recording captures Khan’s signature phrasing and meend (glissando) techniques on the sarod, a 19- to 25-stringed lute-like instrument. The performance likely originated from a live concert or studio session, though the exact recording location and accompanying artists remain undocumented in widely available sources. No commercial label is explicitly attributed to this release, but the track circulates among archival collections of Khan’s mid-1960s works.

Raga Suha-Todi belongs to the todi family, known for its complex melodic movements and emotional depth. Khan’s interpretation emphasizes the raga’s komal re (flattened second) and tivra ma (sharp fourth), aligning with the Shuddha Todi tradition while incorporating his improvisational style. The recording omits vocal accompaniment, focusing solely on the sarod and tanpura drone. Notable passages include the extended alaap development and the transition into jor, where Khan introduces rhythmic pulse without percussion.

This performance predates Khan’s later international collaborations but reflects his established reputation as a leading exponent of the Maihar gharana, founded by his uncle Allauddin Khan. The track’s duration and structure suggest a condensed version of a full-length concert rendition, possibly edited for broadcast or private distribution. Archival evidence confirms its inclusion in compilations of Khan’s raga explorations, though a standalone commercial release under this exact title is not verified.