Bhopali

For the demonym, see Bhopal.

Bhopali, also known as Bhoop, Bhoopali or Bhupali, is a Hindustani classical raga. It is a pentatonic scale (uses 5 notes in ascending and descending scale). Most of the songs in this raga are based on Bhakti rasa.

The same raga in Carnatic music is known as Mohanam.

Theory

Writing about the musical theory of Indian classical music is fraught with complications. There is no universally accepted set of rules or formal method of writing notations. However, the Bhatkhande and Paluskar paddhatis are the two ways of writing down musical notations. Indian music has always been more of an aural tradition, and written word has never been an essential part of imparting talim (training/knowledge).

Aroha & Avaroha

The scale of Bhopali uses only Shuddh swaras.

Vadi & Samavadi

Gandhar - Ga (here-after G but not to be confused with note G of western music notations)

Dhaivat - Dha (here-after D but not to be confused with note D of western music notations)

Pakad & Chalan

The Pakad (catchphrase that often helps in identifying a raga) is:

S R G R S D1 S R G or: S R G R S D1 S R G P G D P G R S or: G R P G G R S R D1 S or: G R S D1 S R G R P G D P G R S Some chalans (elaborations of the pakad) are:

1. S R G R S D1 S R G
2. S R G R S D1 P1
3. P1 D1 S R G R G
4. S R P G
5. G R S R G P
6. G P D P D D S’
7. P G P D P D S’ R’ G’ R’ G’
8. G’ R’ S’ D P G R S

Note: Normally written swaras (individual notes) indicate the middle octave. A swara immediately followed by 1 indicates the mandra saptak (lower octave) and ' indicates the taar saptak (higher octave

Bandish

This bandish is bound with Teentaal (16 beats).

1 2 3 4| 5 6 7 8|9 10 11 12|13 14 15 16|

ASTHAYI:

D2 S D2 P |G2 R2 S R2|

G2 _ G2 P |G2 R2 S _ |

S R2 G2 P |R2 G2 P D2|

G2 P D2 P |G2 R2 S _ |

ANTARA:

G2 _ G2 G2|P _ D2 P|

S' _ S'S'|D3 R3 S' _|

G3 G3 R3 S'|R3 R3 S' D3|

S' _ D2 P |G2 R2 S _|

The Asthayi starts with the 9th beat.

Organization & relationships

Raga Bhoopali belongs to the Kalyan Thaat.

Related ragas: Deshkar (a pentatonic raga belonging to the Bilawal Thaat with the same scale as Bhoopali). Shuddha Kalyan is another similar raga.

Behavior

Behavior refers to practical aspects of the music. It is complicated to talk about this for Hindustani music since many of the concepts are fluid, changing, or archaic. The following information cannot be accurate, but it can attempt to reflect how the music existed.

Samay (Time)

partham Prahar of ratri (after sunset)

Seasonality

Certain ragas have seasonal associations.

Rasa

Bhakti Rasa (Devotional)

Historical Information

Important Recordings

E ri Aaj Bhaeelawa
Pratham sur saadhe (vilambit)

Jab Se Tumi San Lagali - Kishori Amonkar
Sahela Re - Kishori Amonkar

Film Songs based on Bhoopali

Hindi:
Pankh Hote To Udd Aati Re( Sehra (1963))
Main Jahaan Rahoon( Namastey London (2007))
Dil Hoom Hoom Kare( Rudaali (1993))

Marathi:
Ghanashyam Sundara (Amar Bhoopali(1951))

See also

References

Bor, Joep (ed). Rao, Suvarnalata; der Meer, Wim van; Harvey, Jane (co-authors) The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas. Zenith Media, London: 1999.

External links