Dear Venantius,
My bad!
You were right, the raga was not Darbari but Malhar.
In both - Malhar as well as Darbari - there is that distinct accent on komal
gandhar
( heard on the word 'aayi' in the line lapaka zhapaka kara aayi badariya); the
similarities in 'andolan'
on komal gandhar with that peculiar 'minDh' from dh to komal ga, and the ga ma
re sa descent
must have stumped me while listening and working at the same time.
But while humming it to myself I heard both the nishadhs (pure and half) which
is the mark of (Miyan ki) Malhar.
Darbari takes dh ni re sa, which is the distinction of the entire kanada group
of ragas.
Regarding the revealed affinities twixt the two of us, I return the compliment!
Rajan is a great chap as I knew him in Peoples High for a couple of years
(1976-78)
He has a vast library of Hindustani music which he obviously adores.
Charudatta Prabhudesai
