''Khayal Gatha'' (English: ''The Saga of Khayal'') is a 1989 Indian

experimental film Experimental film or avant-garde cinema is a mode of filmmaking that rigorously re-evaluates cinematic conventions and explores non-narrative forms or alternatives to traditional narratives or methods of working. Many experimental films, parti ...

written and directed by

Kumar Shahani Kumar Shahani (born 7 December 1940) is an Indian film director and screenwriter, best known for his parallel cinema films ''Maya Darpan'' (1972), ''Tarang'' (1984), ''Khayal Gatha'' (1989) and '' Kasba'' (1990). Due to his dedication to formal ...

. The film is about the history of the

Khayal Khyal or Khayal (ख़याल / خیال) is a major form of Hindustani classical music in the Indian subcontinent. Its name comes from a Persian/Arabic word meaning "imagination". Khyal is associated with romantic poetry, and allows the perfo ...

genre of

Indian classical Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as '' Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...

singing. The film also traces the relationship of Khayal genre with Indian classical dance. The film marked the acting debut of

Rajat Kapoor Rajat Kapoor (born 11 February 1961) is an Indian actor, filmmaker and playwright who works in Hindi cinema. Kapoor was born in Delhi, India. He mainly focused on acting at first. In 2013 he joined the theatre group Chingari in Delhi, later mov ...

, who was unknown at the time, but got his big international break in

Mira Nair Mira Nair (born 15 October 1957) is an Indian-American filmmaker based in New York City. Her production company, Mirabai Films, specializes in films for international audiences on Indian society, whether in the economic, social or cultural spher ...

's '' Monsoon Wedding'' as a sexually abusive uncle and later got his mainstream

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" ...

break in '' Dil Chahta Hai''.

Synopsis

The film is presented in an abstract format, where a music student (Rajat Kapoor) listens to stories and legends about the birth and evolution of the

form of classical Indian singing. These stories are re-enacted by actors Rajat Kapoor, Mangal Dhillon and Mita Vasisht, who play several key figures throughout the history of classical music.

Awards and Acclaim

''Khayal Gatha'' is the first of Kumar Shahani's films to receive international accolades. The movie was appreciated at the Rotterdam Int'l Film Festival where it screened in the main competition section and is considered an important documentation of the tradition of Indian classical singing.

References

External links

* Films about music and musicians Indian avant-garde and experimental films Hindustani music 1980s Hindi-language films 1980s avant-garde and experimental films {{1980s-Hindi-film-stub