Kafi (IAST: Kāfi) is a raga in Hindustani classical music. It corresponds to Kharaharapriya in Carnatic music and Dorian mode in Western music
 | |
| Thaat | Kafi |
|---|---|
| Type | Sampurna |
| Time of day | 2nd Prahar of the Night (9 p.m. - 12 a.m.) |
| Arohana | S R g m P D n S' |
| Avarohana | S' n D P m g R S |
| Pakad | S R g m P D n S' S' n D P m g R S |
| Chalan | S R g m P D n S' S' n D P m g R S |
| Vadi | Pa |
| Samavadi | Re |
| Synonym | Bhimpalasi, Bageshri |
| Similar | Kharaharapriya in Carnatic music and Dorian mode in Western music |
Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande classified most ragas into ten Thaats. Kafi Thaat is one of them. The raga Kafi is the principal raga of its Thaat. According to Bhatkhande, its name first appears in the Raga Tarangini of Lochana Pandit, who lived in the Mithila district around the 15th century CE.
Kafi has a direct lineage with the folk music of India. Folk music in Tappa, Hori, Dadra, Kirtan and Bhajans from different parts of India have been composed in this raga.
Many variations of Kafi exist. Contamination with vivadi swaras is common. This mixing has given rise to Mishra Kafi. Hence, a pure form of Kafi is seldom heard.
Description
editVarna
editKafi is a sampoorna-sampoorna or heptatonic raga, with komal (half a note down) Gandhar (ga) and Nishad (ni). This is also referred to as the Bhairavi of night. Both Shuddha Nishad & Gandhar are occasionally used. The atmosphere created is most suitable for both types of Shringar (Separation & Union) and hence many Thumri & Hori compositions are sung in this Raag.
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Ṡa
(Ga and Ni are komal swaras). Dot above signifies the high octave, dot below signifies the low octave.
Ṡa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa
(Ga and Ni are komal swaras).
Vadi and Samavadi
editPancham (Pa) is the vadi swara and Risabh (Re) is the samavadi swara.
A typical improvisation of Kafi starts as M P D P M g R, g R S, n. D. S
The phrases below and termination in R are characteristic.
S R g M P D n
S, R g M P, M P D (M) g
The typical chalan can be illustrated as:
S S R R g g M M P - - D M P g R R n D n P D M P S n D P M G R S.
M P D D n S - S R g R S N D S - S R S n D n D P M P D P g - R - R n D n P D M P S n D P M g R S
Variants
edit- Shuddha Kafi
- Sindhura Kafi
- Zilaf Kafi
- Kafi Kanada
Organization and relationships
editVarious ragas, such as Bhimpalasi, Bageshree, Kafi Kanada, Bahar, and Brindabani Sarang are associated with this raga. Important tributaries of this raga include Sindhura, Barwa, Deshi, Neelambari and Pilu.
In Western Classical Music, Kafi corresponds to the modern Dorian Mode.
Behavior
editSamay (Time)
editRaat ka dvitiya prahar or evening 9-12
Seasonality
editThe raga is performed during any season.
The principal rasa for this raga is sringara.
Important recordings
edit- Ulhas Kashalkar, Raga Kafi (Concert), 2001;
- Shobha Gurtu, Thumri, Raga Kafi, 1987;
- Siddheshwari Devi, Thumri, Raga Kafi, 1983;
- Debashish Bhattacharya, Raga Mishra Kafi, 1996;
- Ustad Bahadur Khan, Raga Kafi, 1987;
Film Songs
edit| Song | Movie | Year | Composer | Singer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chupke Chupke Raat Din
(Traditional Ghazal) |
Nikaah | 1982 | Ravi | Ustad Ghulam Ali |
| Ye Pyaar Kya Hai | Gupt | 1997 | Viju Shah | Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurthy |
| Sab Kuchh Bhula Diya | Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam | 2002 | Nadeem-Shravan | Sonu Nigam, Sapna Awasthi |
| Saathiya
(reused from Pachchai Nirame) |
Saathiya | A R Rahman | Sonu Nigam, Clinton Cerejo | |
| Titli
(Starts with Carnatic Song in Raga Desh) |
Chennai Express | 2013 | Vishal-Shekhar | Chinmayi Sripada, Gopi Sunder |
| Jiya
(Mix of Kafi and Bhimpalas) |
Gunday | 2014 | Sohail Sen | Arijit Singh |
Note that the following songs are composed in Kharaharapriya, the equivalent of raga Kafi in Carnatic music.
References
edit- Hindustani Sangeet Paddhati and his concise commentary, A Comparative Study of Some of the Leading Music Systems of the 15th, 16, 17th, & 18th Centuries by Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande.
- https://tanarang.com/raag-kafi/