Khayal is the most popular form of Hindustani Classical vocal music. Khayal as the word implies, is imaginative. This genre of music emphasizes on the imagination of the performer in the use of notes and words. It rests primarily on how the musician can use permutation and combination of the notes of one
raga in creating a Khayal composition. The intermediary notes and notes in quick succession are the key features of Khayal.
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and
Pandit Jasraj are two very well known Khayal exponents. Khayal is usually written in
Braj Bhasha.
