Thumree Piloo

Thumree Piloo is a Hindustani classical vocal composition recorded by sitar maestro Vilayat Khan. The track appears as the B-side selection on the 1963 release Music of India No. 2. His Master’s Voice issued the recording on a 12-inch vinyl record.

Vilayat Khan performs the thumri in Raga Piloo, a light classical raga associated with the romantic and devotional themes typical of the thumri genre. The performance follows the traditional structure of vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) sections, showcasing Khan’s improvisational skill and emotive phrasing. The 22-minute and 19-second duration allows for extended alap, bol-banao, and taans, characteristic of khayal and thumri presentations.

The Music of India No. 2 release does not list additional accompanying artists. The recording captures Khan’s sitar playing, though the context does not specify whether vocal elements are present or if the performance is purely instrumental. The label His Master’s Voice, a subsidiary of EMI, distributed the album primarily in India and select international markets.

This track remains a reference recording for Raga Piloo in the thumri style, demonstrating Vilayat Khan’s influence on the development of sitar technique and interpretation in the mid-20th century. The release date of 1963 places it within a period of heightened global interest in Indian classical music, coinciding with the genre’s increased visibility in Western audiences.