Kala Ramnath - Maand Hori

Player: Kala Ramnath

Composition Format: Dhun

Raag: Maand
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Kala Ramnath is N Rajam's niece. I had heard of her from my sister who follows her music and decided to explore her along with N Rajam. I found her playing distinctively different from N Rajam's; her playing being more playful, more youthful; perhaps naturally so. Her playing also felt very personal. When she plays a piece, she seems to have a deep connection with it, like a story is attached to it.

When I heard this one, I could immediately recognize the melody as similar to 'Padharo mhare des', the beautiful folk song of Rajasthan. Some reading led me to the finding that the two pieces really were connected. Maand is a kind of composition or a style of singing from Rajasthan which has been widely adopted in classical music for melodious, upbeat dhuns like this one.

Holi in Rajasthan

This article gives a brilliant overview of maand's use in classical music, particularly focusing on its use in Carnatic music. Maand has even come to being seen as a raag and this article summarizes its construction beautifully: "The notes that feature in the conventional Maand raga include Sadja, Suddha Rishabha, Antara Gandhara, Suddha Madhyama, Pancama, Chatusruti Dhaivata, and Kakali Nishada, and not in that order. In fact, it is the zigzag patterns in this raga that give rise to a feeling that only can be compared with enjoying a swing on a trapeze." I plan to explore all the pieces mentioned in this article because Im sure to like most of them!

I liked this piece so much because although the format and setting of the dhun is cheerful, there is a hint of pathos underlying the melody. It seems to be saying, "holi has come and my love, you are still not with me." Every prolonged movement of the bow seems to be full of yearning, every subdued note seems to be arising out of a forlorn soul... Like the lovesick maid is sitting in her window, looking down upon the streets filled with colour, remembering how beautiful holi was when he was with her, and wishing he could be there with her now... And perhaps, the jhala-like fast movement towards the end signifies his arrival? I believe it does :)