Charukeshi came to Hindustani music from the Karnatic tradition, where it is the 26th melakarta. Its swaras join two halves that don't usually meet: below, Sa Re Ga Ma, all shuddh and bright; above, Pa komal-Dha komal-Ni Sa, dark and tender. That contrast gives it its longing. It belongs to none of Bhatkhande's ten thaats.
Hear it
How it moves
Pa is its vadi and Sa its samvadi.
Its hour
Charukeshi is played in the second prahar of the night, from 9 to midnight.
On the bansuri
- S
- R
- G
- M
- P
- D
- N
- S
- Feel the change at Pa: bright swaras below it, komal ones above. Tune komal Dha and Ni carefully against the tanpura.
Look-alikes
Kirwani joins the same kind of halves the other way round: komal Ga below, shuddh Ni above.
Khamaj has Charukeshi's swaras but for one: a shuddh Dha.
Practise it
- Long notes on Pa and Sa.
- The aaroh and avaroh.
- Paltas in its swaras, in threes.
- The pakad and the phrases.
All ten alankars in Charukeshi, to hear in your Sa →
Meend starts it with Aaroh–Avaroh, Pakad, Paltas in Charukeshi, Aalap and Bandish, 27 minutes a day, and listens as you play: each swara of the notation lit as it is played, the time kept, a lotus grown petal by petal.
Questions
Where does Charukeshi come from?
The Karnatic tradition, where it is the 26th melakarta.
Which swaras are komal in Charukeshi?
Dha and Ni. The rest are shuddh.