Peshkar - Rupak Taal (Vilambit Gat) - Kala Festival 2025

Ustad Akram Khan begins his solo with the Peshkar, the slow introduction of a tabla recital. He sets it in Rupak Taal, a seven-beat cycle split 3+2+2 and unusual among taals for starting on the khali, the unstressed beat. At vilambit tempo the cycle leaves wide gaps between strokes. Akram Khan fills them with the deep bayan glides the Ajrada gharana treats as its signature, opening his theme a phrase at a time over the sarangi lehra of Satwinder Pal Singh.

The Peshkar follows the opening lehra track and starts the three-movement Rupak sequence at the centre of the album. The Kaida on the next track lifts the tempo to madhyalaya, and the Rela after it pushes the same cycle to full speed.