Gara is a

Hindustani classical Hindustani classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It may also be called North Indian classical music or ''Uttar Bhartiya shastriya sangeet''. The term ''shastriya sangeet'' literally means classica ...

raga A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...

'' belonging to the

Khamaj Thaat Khamaj () is one of the ten thaats (parent scales) of Hindustani music from the Indian subcontinent. It is also the name of a raga within this thaat. The Khamaj thaat can be obtained by replacing the Shuddha Nishad of Bilaval by Komal Nishad. T ...

. This raga is similar to raga

Jaijaiwanti Jaijaivanti or Jaijaiwanti is a Hindustani classical ''raga'' belonging to Khamaj Thaat. According to the Guru Granth Sahib, this ''raga'' is a mixture of two others: Bilaval and Sorath. The ''raga'' appears in the latter section in Gurbani, ...

. Both ragas i.e. raga Jaijaiwanti and raga Gara, have the same

svara Swara () or svara is an Indian classical music term that connotes simultaneously a breath, a vowel, a note, the sound of a musical note corresponding to its name, and the successive steps of the octave, or ''saptanka''. More comprehensively ...

s. Gara is a rare raga. It is rendered in the late evening. The raga uses all the seven notes, six in the ascent and seven in the descent. Therefore, the Jati of the raga is ''Shaadav-Sampurna''. While some say that seven svaras are played in the ascent and seven in the descent. Therefore, the Jati then becomes ''Sampurna-Sampurna''. It uses both, the Komal (flat) and Shuddha (full)

Nishad The Nishad are a Hindu caste, found in the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In Bihar, the term refers to a group of around 20 communities whose traditional occupations centred on rivers, such as the Mallaah. There have been demands fo ...

, komal Ga, and all other notes are Shuddha (full). The derivative ragas out of this structure are grouped under the broad head of

. Gara belongs to a family of melodic entities, which were apparently derived from folk melodies, and entered art-music in association with the

thumri Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dram ...

genre. This family includes ragas like

Kafi Kafi is a classical form of Sufi music in the Punjabi and Sindhi languages that originated from the Punjab and Sindh regions of South Asia. Some well-known Kafi poets are Baba Farid, Bulleh Shah, Shah Hussain, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sa ...

, Piloo, Jangula, Barwa, and Zilla, along with several others. This raga expresses the feeling of happiness and satisfaction of achievement, however it simultaneously conveys the sadness of losing. This raga is also a vivacious and romantic one.

Composition

Raga

bears the closest resemblance to Gara. However, some also believe that raga Gara is a combination of

Khamaj Khamaj () is a Hindustani classical Music raga within the Khamaj thaat which is named after it. Many ghazal ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and roman ...

, Piloo and

Jhinjhoti Jhinjhoti is a Hindustani classical raga from the Khamaj Thaat. This is a light and playful raga. Theory Aarohana Avaroha Pakad / Chalan Vadi Ga Samavadi Ni Raga description This is a light and playful Raga, apt for instr ...

. The raga belongs to the Khamaj parent scale, and is characterised by a notional scale-base at Pa of the lower octave, rather than the customary Sa. Sometimes it is considered to be in the Kafi parent scale too. The types of raga Gara can be separated by one, the bright Gara (which gravitates more towards Khamaj thaat and maybe a little into the Bilaval Thaat) from the more somber Gara which is the other type, which gets more into Kafi thaat and even Piloo-ang. Raga Gara can also be influenced by certain ragas like, raga Maand or even raga Bhinna Shadja, raga Pancham se Gara, raga Pahadi, raga Piloo, raga Sindura, raga Zilla and raga Manjh Khamaj in terms of playing

Thumri Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dram ...

s or

Bhajan Bhajan is an Indian term for any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Dharmic religions, in any language. The term bhajanam (Sanskrit: भजनम्) means ''reverence'' and originates from the root w ...

s (Semi-classical music). But this doesn't include the Raga Vistar ( aalap) or Khyal Gayaki (Classical music) because a ragas original composition and structure doesn't change in the raga vistar. This factor may change in the semi-classical forms of any raga. Aarohana S G (komal) m P D N S

Avaroha An Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avaroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the descending scale of any raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The notes descend in pitch ...

S N D P m G (komal) S

Pakad In Hindustani music, a ''pakad'' (Hindi: पकड़) is a generally accepted musical phrase (or set of phrases) thought to encapsulate the essence of a particular raga. The pakad contains the melodic theme of the raga, on listening to the paka ...

/ Chalan R g R S D n P D N S G (komal) M R g R Vadi Ga

Samavadi The samavadi or samvadi is the second-most prominent (though not necessarily second-most played) note of a raga in Indian classical music. The primary note of the raga is the '' vadi''; the vadi and samavadi are in most cases a fourth or fifth a ...

List of Film songs

Songs in Raga Gara with Video Links

(The references of all songs that are given below are - ) Aise To Na Dekho Film - Teen Deviyan Year - 1965 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director -

S. D. Burman Sachin Dev Burman (1 October 1906 – 31 October 1975) was an Indian music director and singer. He was a member of the Tripura royal family, but his father was excluded from the throne. He started his career with Bengali films in 1937. He lat ...

Singer -

Mohd. Rafi Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and range of voice ...

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaginwwacJI Diwana Kahe Ke Aaj Mujhe Phir Pukariye Film - Mulzim Year -1963 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director - Ravi Singer -

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDuQcRX6hXg Hamsafar Saath Apna Chhod Chale Film - Aakhri Daao Year -1958 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director -

Madan Mohan Madanamohana () is an epithet of the Hindu deity Krishna. It translates as, "he whose charm (''mohana'') bewilders even the god of love ('' madana'')". The epithet describes the powerful nature of the attraction for the deity from his devotees, e ...

Singer -

Asha Bhosle Asha Bhosle (; ; born 8 September 1933) is an Indian playback singer, entrepreneur, actress and television personality who predominantly works in Indian cinema. Known for her versatility, she has been described in the media as one of the ...

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIZaLYIfPXg Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hain Film - Guide Year - 1965 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director -

S.D. Burman Sachin Dev Burman (1 October 1906 – 31 October 1975) was an Indian music director and singer. He was a member of the Tripura royal family, but his father was excluded from the throne. He started his career with Bengali films in 1937. He late ...

Singer -

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngch5NKgPh8 Jivan Mein Piya Tera Sath Rahe Film - Gunj Uthi Shehnai Year - 1959 Raga - Gara Tala - Kaherava Music Director -

Vasant Desai Vasant Desai (1912–1975) was an Indian film music composer, most remembered for his score in V. Shantaram films like '' Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje'' (1955), ''Do Aankhen Barah Haath'' (1957), Vijay Bhatt's '' Goonj Uthi Shehnai'' (1959), ''Samp ...

Singers -

Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar (; born Hema Mangeshkar; 28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. He ...

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10c6TeWZmVE Kabhi Khud Pe Kabhi Haalaath Pe Ronaa Aayaa Film - Hum Dono Year - 1961 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director - Jaidev Singer -

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzpHlGxDzqE Mohe Panghat Pe Nandalal Ched Gayo Re Film -

Mughal-e-Azam ''Mughal-e-Azam'' () is a 1960 Indian Epic film, epic historical drama film produced and directed by K. Asif. Starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, and Durga Khote, it follows the love affair between Mughal Empire, Mughal Prince ...

Year - 1960 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director -

Naushad Naushad Ali (25 December 1919 – 5 May 2006) was an Indian composer for Hindi films. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest and foremost music directors of the Hindi film industry. He is particularly known for popularising the use of ...

Singer -

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4y8tXUlJjA Unnai Kaanadhu naan Language - Tamil Movie -

Vishwaroopam ''Vishwaroopam'' (titled ''Vishwaroop'' in Hindi; ) is a 2013 Indian action spy film co-written, directed and produced by Kamal Haasan, who also enacts the lead role. The film also stars Rahul Bose, Shekhar Kapur, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremia ...

Raga - Gara Year - 2013 Composer - Shankar-

Ehsaan ''Ehsaan'' (Urdu: ) is a 1967 Pakistani Urdu black & white film produced by Waheed Murad and directed by Pervaiz Malik. The film is a love story, starring Waheed Murad, Zeba, Nirala, Rozina, Azad and Ibrahim Nafees. Cast * Zeba * Waheed Murad ...

- Loy Vocal -

Shankar Mahadevan Shankar Mahadevan (born 3 March 1967) is an Indian singer and composer who is part of the Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio that writes music for Indian films. In 2023, he was awarded an honorary doctorate (''honoris causa'' degree) by Birmingham Ci ...

Kamal Haasan Parthasarathy Srinivasan (born 7 November 1954), known professionally as Kamal Haasan, is an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Considered as one of the most accomplished actors of Indian Cinema, Haas ...

Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram Raga - Gara Composer -

Tulsidas Rambola Dubey (; 11 August 1511 – 30 July 1623pp. 23–34.), popularly known as Goswami Tulsidas (), was a Vaishnavism, Vaishnava (Ramanandi Sampradaya, Ramanandi) Hinduism, Hindu saint and poet, renowned for his devotion to the deity Rama. H ...

or Ramdas Tuned by -

Vishnu Digambar Paluskar Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar (18 August 1872 – 21 August 1931) was a Hindustani musician. He sang the original version of the bhajan Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram, and founded the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya on 5 May 1901. He is also credited wit ...

Popularised by

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...

Chanthu Thottile Film -

Banaras Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...

Language - Malayalam Year - 2009 Raga - Mishra Gara with touches of

Malhar "Malhar" is a Hindustani classical raga. Malhar is associated with torrential rains. Besides the basic Shuddha Malhar, which was the original Malhar, several Malhar-related ragas use the Malhar signature phrase m (m)R (m)R P, including "Miyan ...

Composer -

M Jayachandran Madhusoodanan Jayachandran Nair (born 14 June 1971) is an Indian composer, singer, and musician. He has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director a record number of nine times. In 2005, he also won the state award for best male ...

Lyricist - Gireesh Puttenchery Vocal -

Shreya Ghoshal Shreya Ghoshal (; born 12 March 1984) is an Indian singer. Noted for her wide vocal range and versatility, she is one of the most prolific and influential singers of India. Often referred to as the "Queen of Dynamics'' for her remarkable voc ...

References

{{Reflist Hindustani music

Composition

List of Film songs

Songs in Raga Gara with Video Links

See also

References