We are saddened to hear about the passing of one of the drupad legend Pandit Ram Kumar Mallick.

Padma Shri Pandit Ram Kumar Mallick (1957 - 2024)

Digging into our archives of our trip to India, we would like to share this Piece in Raag Bhimpalasi. Recorded for Darbar Festival in 2016, on location in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Musicians:
- Ram Kumar Mallick (dhrupad vocal)
- Samit Mallick (dhrupad vocal)

Raag Bhimpalasi; Thaat: Kafi; Samay: Afternoon

In the spectacular and imposing backyard of Bawali Rajbari – a 265-year-old palatial mansion situated 40 kilometres outside of Kolkata - dhrupad exponents Ram Kumar Mallick and Samit Mallick present this enchanting afternoon raga in the Darbhanga tradition of dhrupad presentation.

Associated with the invigorating warmth of the late afternoon sun, Bhimpalasi evokes multiple shades of shringara (‘romantic love, erotic desire’).

Learn more about the music and artists:

Their ancestors were trained in the Mughal court in the 16th century by Tansen. When the family moved to Darbhanga, a small village nestled between the Nepal and Indian border in the 19th century, the area was going through a severe drought. It is believed that the ancestors of the Mallicks sang the rain-invoking raga Megh and ushered in a downpour in the region, thereby relieving its denizens of the ordeal. This pleased the king immensely who rewarded them with acres of land in Darbhanga where the family still resides.

The Darbhanga style entwines melody and rhythm into a potent combination of Khandarvani and Gauharvani syllables. The Mallicks have a charming, hoarse timbre that makes the impassioned delivery of synthesised rhythm and poetry, a breathtaking experience. The meditative nom-tom syllables develop quickly into fully-blown dhrupad mnemonics with sharp enunciation and speed. The synchronisation of tonal phrases between the two singers assumes the movements of two flitting butterflies allowing each other to take the lead when required and at the same time, traversing a familiar path in their own beautiful way.

An oft-heard compound raga churned out of Bhim and Palasi, this has overshadowed both its Janak (parent) ragas. Mythically Krishna, the cowherd boy, played this sweet melody on his flute to give a return call to all his grazing cows and cowherd friends. As such this raga, exuding peace and assurance, is associated with homecoming and offers a vast canvas for improvisations. Its universal appeal has made it very popular in every genres of Indian music; so much so that Bhim and Palasi are almost extinct now. Bhimpalasi is also adopted by Carnatic stream as Bhimpalas.

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