Malkauns from Puja by Mustafa Bhagat
Malkauns • One of the most mysterious ragas I’ve llearned. Malkauns is another 5 note raga with a strong emphasis on the MA (4th note) creating an instant pathos and longing.
I remember Prasanna had David and I filling in for him at a restaurant gig in NYC. He said that I needed to learn this because there was someone there who always tipped well, but always requested Malkauns. Prasanna called him Dr. Malkauns.
Again, the restaurant music scene got old quick - but this hypnotic, entracing raga stayed with. I have always imagined a desert - the vast stretch of sand between Pakistan and India perhaps. To me it invokes a western - set in the east - where all the characters are searching for the unattainable. Trapped in a time and place that is a deep black slate.
I am playing Alap (slow introductory section) in this recording. Typically the Alap is played solo, before the main Gat section comes in with tabla accompaniment.
Raga: Malkauns Alap
Time: Midnight
Mustafa Bhagat is an Emmy award winning producer, editor and cinematographer. He runs his production company, Flicker Filmworks, with his partner Laura da Ney. When not making films he can be found strumming sweet melodies on his sitar.
He also performs with David Freeman as The Biryani Boys, and as Arranged Marriage NP with Jerry Adler.
Puja is an offering to his guruji, Pandit Manilal Nag.