Raag Malhaar By Justice Katju

North Indian classical music ( also called Hindustani music ), which is usually sung in North India and Pakistan, is in the form of melody frameworks called raags. This is explained below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raga

Hindustani music is often closely connected with nature. There are early morning raags like Bhairav, Jaunpuri, etc which create the ambience of early morning, afternoon raags like Vrindavani saarang, evening raags like Yaman, and late night raags like Darbai and Malkauns, etc which create the ambience of that time of the day. There are also seasonal raags like Bahaar which create the ambience of spring.

This article is about raag Malhaar which is the raag of the rainy ( monsoon ) season, and I am writing this because the rainy season is going on in North India these days.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malhar

The main form of raag Malhaar is called Mian ka Malhaar ( which is said to have been invented by Tansen, a famous singer in Moghul Emperor Akbar’s court ), but there are also other forms like Megh Malhar, Gaud Malhaar, Ramdasi Malhar, Sur Malhaar, Shuddha Malhaar, etc

The monsoon rains bring great relief in North India, as it considerably lowers the high temperatures ( which can go upto a scorching 50 degrees centigrade in parts of North India ). They also bring water to the parched fields, so that agricultural operations can begin by farmers.

As said above, raag Malhaar is the raag of the rainy season, and on hearing it one feels the dark clouds gathering and thundering, lightning streaking across the sky, and then the downpour of rain. 

Consider this beautiful rendering of Mian ka Malhaar by the famous Pakistani singer Ayesha Omer

Consider also this rendering of the raag by one of India’s great singers Rashid Khan

And here is a short piece by the great classical singer Pandit Jasraj

Hear also this rendering of the raag by the great classical singer Bhimsen Joshi

Once the great classical singer Vishnu Digambar Paluskar ( who, along with Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, was largely responsible for revival of Hindustani classical music, which had undergone a decline ) visited the Sikh Golden Temple at Amritsar in the rainy season. The jathedars ( head priests ) there requested him to sing raag malhaar in the Temple, which he did. The raag is still often sung in theGolden Temple

So please hear and enjoy the numerous renderings of raag Malhaar by the great masters ( ustaads ) of Hindustani classical music on your youtube

About the Author

Markandey Katju

Editor

Markandey Katju is an Indian jurist. He was the former judge of Supreme Court of India. He also was chairman of the Press Council of India from 2011 to 2014.

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