Miyan ki Malhar is the great raag of the monsoon, credited to Tansen (Miyan Tansen): majestic, deep, full of the rain. It is sung in the rains at any hour, and otherwise late at night. It belongs to Kafi thaat, but it uses both Nis, side by side, komal Ni Dha Ni Sa, and borrows Kanada's turn, komal Ga Ma Re Sa. Its call is Ma Re Pa, the leap from Re to Pa that every Malhar shares.
Hear it
How it moves
Ma is its vadi and Sa its samvadi.
Its hour
Miyan ki Malhar belongs to the rains, and is sung in the monsoon at any hour; otherwise it is placed in the third prahar of the night.
On the bansuri
- S
- R
- G
- M
- P
- D
- N
- N
- S
- Its two Nis, side by side, must both be true: komal Ni, then Dha, then shuddh Ni rising to Sa.
- The leap Re Pa is its call: make it with a slow meend, as the clouds gather.
Look-alikes
Brindavani Sarang shares its Re–Pa movements and its two Nis, but has no Ga or Dha, and belongs to midday:
Darbari Kanada lends it the Kanada turn:
Practise it
- Long notes on Ma and Sa.
- The aaroh and avaroh, slowly.
- The pakad and the phrases: the call, and the two Nis.
Meend starts it with Aaroh–Avaroh, Pakad, 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
Why is it called Miyan ki Malhar?
Miyan is Tansen: tradition credits him with this Malhar.
When is Miyan ki Malhar sung?
In the rains, at any hour; otherwise late at night.