Thumri

Thumri is a semi-classical vocal genre of North India, a light-classical song form in Hindustani music devoted to the expressive reading of a short romantic or devotional text, usually in Braj Bhasha or Awadhi. Against the architecture of khayal, thumri licenses the singer to repeat and re-inflect a line through bol-banav, exploring its emotional shades within ragas such as Bhairavi, Pilu, Kafi and Khamaj, supported by tabla, sarangi or harmonium. Associated forms include dadra, hori, kajri and chaiti; the slower, text-centred Purab ang of Banaras and Lucknow is its most celebrated manner, practised by generations of women singers of the mehfil and later the concert stage.