Hindustani / Ragas / Bihag

Raag Bihag

Bihag is a Kalyan-thaat raag, given its full colour in the 2nd prahar of the night. It uses five swaras on the way up and all seven coming down, taking a vakra (winding) path rather than a straight line. Phrases centre on Gandhar - the vadi, or king swara - answered by Nishad as samvadi.

Swars: Rishabh and Dhaivat Varjya in Aaroh. Both Madhyams. Rest all Shuddha Swaras.

Raga Bihag

2nd Prahar of the Night (9PM to 12AM)
Kalyan thaatAudhav - Sampurna VakraVadi: GandharSamvadi: Nishad
SGmPNṠ
ṠNDPM̄PGmGRSṠNDPM̄GmGRS

Pakad: ʼN S G · G m G · P M̄ P G m G · P M̄ G m G R S

Sargam is written with Sa on C: komal swars are lowercase, teevra Ma is M̄, ʼ before a swar marks the lower (mandra) octave and Ṡ / ʼ after marks the upper (taar) octave. The synth plays plain notes - the gamak, meend, and andolan that bring a raag to life are what you learn in class with an expert.

Film songs in Raag Bihag

17 Hindi and regional film songs and a few non-film pieces composed on Raag Bihag, with film, year, singer and music director. Hearing the raag in songs you already know is the fastest way to internalise its mood - tap a tile to play.

Ai Dil-E-Beqarar JhumShahjehan (1946)K.L. Saigal · music: Naushad
Banke Chakori Gori, Jhum Jhum Nacho Ri (a.k.a. Jhum Jhum Nacho Ri)Hum Matwale Naujahan (1961)Mukesh · music: Chitragupta
Boliye Surili BoliyanGrih Pravesh (1980)Bhupinder, Sulakshana Pandit · music: Kanu Roy
Chalenge Tir Jab Dil Par (a.k.a. Dil Ka Afsana Sunate Hain)Kohinoor (1960)Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi · music: Naushad
Dil Jo Na Kahe SakaBheegee Raat (1965)Mohd. Rafi · music: Roshan
Hamare Dil Se Na Jana, Dhokha Na Khana (a.k.a. Piya Duniya Badal Beiman Humare)Udan Khatola (1955)Lata Mangeshkar · music: Naushad
Koi Gata, Main So JataAlaap (1977)Yesudas · music: Jaidev
Kuch Aisi Pyari Sakl Mere Dilruba Ki Hai (a.k.a. E Musavir Tere HathonNaya Kanoon (1965)Mohd. Rafi · music: Madan Mohan
Meri Ladli Re, Meri LadliAndaaz (1949)Lata Mangeshkar and Chorus · music: Naushad
Ravindra Jain · music: Ravindra Jain
Phir Aayi Laut BaharNon-Film Song (1940s)
Mogubai Kurdikar · music: Snehal Bhatkar
Parul Ghosh · music: Anil Biswas
Tere Pyar Mein DildarMere Mehboob (1963)
Music Director(s) - Naushad
Tere Sur Aur Mere GeetGoonj Uthi Shahanai (1959)
Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar · music: Vasant Desai
Tujhe Jivan Ki Dor SeAsli Naqli (1962)
Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar · music: Shankar, Jaikishan
Tum Bin Man Ki BaatMrityudand (1997)
Kumar Sanu, Sadhana Sargam · music: Anand, Milind
Yeh Kya Jagah Hai DostonUmrao Jaan (1981)
Asha Bhosle · music: Khaiyam
Kishore Kumar · music: R.D. Burman

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