Raga Zila-Kafi - Aochar, Thumri in slow Dadra Taal, Gat in fast Teentaal

Raga Zila-Kafi is a 22-minute and 25-second instrumental composition performed by sitarist Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. The track appears as the second piece on the album Immortal Sitar of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, released in 1986 under the Chhanda Dhara label. The recording was issued in CD format.

The performance showcases Banerjee’s interpretation of Raga Zila-Kafi, a melodic framework associated with the Kafi thaat in Hindustani classical music. The raga incorporates elements of both shuddha (pure) and komal (flattened) notes, with a characteristic use of gandhar (third) and nishad (seventh) in its ascending and descending movements. Banerjee employs the gayaki ang (vocal-style phrasing) technique, a hallmark of his playing, to emphasize lyrical expression within the raga’s structure.

The album Immortal Sitar of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee compiles live and studio recordings from Banerjee’s later career, capturing his refined approach to raga elaboration. The 1986 release followed his established reputation as a leading exponent of the Maihar gharana, a school of instrumental music founded by his guru, Ustad Allauddin Khan. Chhanda Dhara, the producing label, specialized in classical Indian music recordings during this period.

No additional details about the accompanying artists, recording location, or specific session date for this track are publicly documented. The album remains a reference for Banerjee’s mature style, particularly in his handling of semi-classical and lighter classical ragas like Zila-Kafi.