Komal Ni

"I'm afraid you are definitely not getting the notes right my dear."

"You are faltering at the high notes...It is Ma Pa Dha Ni. You are mising the Ni.."

"There is a reason that the note is Komal Ni. Singing the Shuddh version will not do. Why don't you understand?"


"Bhawani Ji, what is this? You know I am so busy right now. Yet you insisted that I come and supervise this recording. You claimed that she is nothing less than a Koyel. Is this how low the standard of Melody Records has fallen that any random person with an okayish voice and absolutely no hold over swaras and raagas get the chance to sing for an erstwhile prestigious label? I am disappointed Ji. I did not cancel my prior appointments to come and train your protege, did I?" A visibly angry Shruti left the studio leaving the young girl in tears. This was Sohini's first day at the recording studio. Although she had been performing in stage shows for quite some time for her music school, the cold recording studio gave her chills. Her nervousness was visible in her trembling voice. Being repeatedly reprimanded by the stalwart singer, Sohini's confidence had hit an all time low. She excused herself from Bhawani Prasad and left for the day.

Shruti was an award winning classical singer and had many best selling records to her name. Getting her appointment was no easy task. But Bhawani Prasad, the owner of Melody Records and Studio, utilised the old connection of the famous singer with his studio to get her time. He wanted her to supervise Sohini's recording. Bhawani Prasad had discovered Sohini at a stage show in his neighbourhood and was awestruck by her melodious voice. Being in the business for long he had realised that this voice, with a few more "taalims" would one day be the voice of the nation. Hence he had invited Shruti to help the girl. Unfortunately, it did not work out that way.

Shruti reached home and went to her riyaz room. She started playing the taanpura and singing a bandish in Raag Bhairavi. The first two lines of the bandish did not sound too well to her.  Shruti had a habit of recording her practice sessions so that she could improvise. She replayed the session and found that the komal ni was not right. She decided to retry. Strangely, even after ten attempts, she was just not satisfied. She was unable to hit Komal Ni despite trying her best. This had never been the case. She has always had the best hold over the swaras and the notes played at ease in her rich and toned voice. Then what was happening to her today? Why was she not able to hit the note right? Why was she, the mistress of notes faltering like that silly girl at the studio? What was her name? Sohini... right.. musical name yet bad with notes. No matter how much she tried, she was singing the Komal Ni in the Shuddh form. But why? Shruti was perplexed. She started sweating despite the cooling of the air conditioner in the room.  She decided to try for one more time and took up the taanpura. The sound of sargam was broken by the shrill ringing of her cell phone.

Shruti picked it up. It was Bhawani Ji. He called to inform that Sohini had died in a car accident. Although it looks like an accident, but the police are not ruling out suicide too. So they may come over to her place for questioning as she was present at the studio during her recording. Shruti must stay at home.

Shruti hung up and sat down on the floor with a thud. Her face was ashen. She looked at her reflection on the mirror in front. She could see Sohini's shadow behind her. Her hair looked disheveled. Yet she had a calm smile on her face.
"Madam, let me teach you how to get the Komal Ni right. Come...", she said.