Understanding Raag Malkauns
Or Raag Malkos, this pentatonic scale and melody has haunted India for at least five centuries, including leaving a visual record of it. Perfect as it's served. Bollywood loves it too.
Raag Malkauns, also called Malkos, is a memorable pentatonic raag in the Hindustani classical music system, which has existed on visual record for over 500 years. Audio memory might be longer, and its consumption changed over time. The two main prongs of the Raag are considered to be the kaunsi parts -
Sa ga Ma ga Sa -
dha ni Sa ni dha (Ma)
Sa ni ga Sa
What stood out to me in Malkauns was how every note could be a nyaas staan, and after hearing the greats, it’s clear they thought the same way. It’s a neat raag when rendered by the able, ones who can truly grasp the beauty of 5 note intervals. It’s also one that works great across ages. As a kid, I used to a sing a few impressive Malkauns songs that I’m still remembered for in my family.
There’s so much more to say about this raag, but I’ll pause to share my top favorite pop-era and Bollywood recommendations.
In popular culture & Bollywood
Adha hai Chandra ma raat aadhi - which uses Hawaiian slide guitar. It was probably used as a lullaby by Ma, cause I saw her reflexively use it with other kids who she would try sing to sleep.
Maamavatu Sri Saraswati in Hidolam is a popular song in the south
Madhukara Vritti Yennadu by Pt Vidyabhushan
Pt Rajan and Sajan Mishraji belting out their Aaye Sur Ke Panchee aaye.
Based on this Raag, there’s also the uber-popular Marathi song - Kaanada Raja Pandharicha.
And finally, Rafi’s masterpiece in Malkauns, Man Tarpat Hari Darshan ko Aaj from the movie Baiju Bawra.
I’ll end with Padma Dr. Rajkumar from his historical Bhakta Kanakadasa singing outside the temple, where I spent many summers running around.
Follow for more Malkauns focused on Classical soon. If you liked the painting, it comes from a common theme of paintings originating in the 15th century called the
Raga-malika series, where painters visually depicted a few raags. There are a few other ones that I’ve written about earlier too.
