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Preamble - Pahadi

Not being a full fledged Raag, Pahadi is often termed as a Ragini. What's the difference between the two? well in simple words a Raag is played in its full form with Alaap, gat, taan etc. A Ragini is usually played in  Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and other light classical forms. It doesn't mean that Pahadi is never played in full classical form or a Raag can not used in light classical performances.
 Pahadi is more like potato of Ragas. With potato you can make various different styled dishes in different forms. It is very much ubiquitous in Indian cooking. Similarly Pahadi is also used in Film music in different shades and also used extensively. The only difference is Pahadi is related to "swar" while Potato is related to "vyanjan". 
 Pahadi does defines a scale and also an aroh and avroh but beyond that it pretty much flexible. Pahadi doesn't usually go beyond the Tar Saptak's "Sa" and that's why it is mostly sung from "Ma" of the singer to utilize higher notes of the singer better.
  Pahadi shares it's aroh with Bhupali with Sa Re Ga Pa Dha but allows Ni and Ma on the descent. It also allows touches of Teevra Madhya, Komal Gandhar and Komal Rishab. These notes are not stayed on for long. The typical patterns are "Pa Dha Ga Re Sa" and "Ga Re Sa Ga Re Sa".

While decoding or reverse engineering a Raga from a popular Hindi movie song one confusion which is encountered is the question whether the MD actually meant to compose in this particular Raga. Given that the strict rules of classical Raga are not followed in light music, the notes and and note patterns may match with one or more raga. Also in different part of the song the notes may change. It's difficult to fathom if the MD actually meant to compose in that Raga and then just added few vivadi (debatable) or Varjit(no-allowed) notes as per the lyrics, mood and situation of the song.
On the contrary, sometimes the note pattern is so popular that it directly gives a hint of a Raga but then it is learnt that MD didn't mean to compose in any particular Raga it just happened to match with one. It happened when Ustad Amir Khan saheb congratulated O P Nair on his brilliant tunes composed in Raga Pilu and O P Nair himself was quite unaware of it.
  Lets try to look at Pahadi in Hindi Film music with various classifications. We will go by the song notes and not what was in the minds of the MD.














     

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