Glossary · glossary · 1 min read
Bandish
बंदिश; the composed song in a raga
A bandish is a fixed composition in Hindustani classical music, a short song with words that a performer sings and improvises around. You will hear it in musical forms such as khayal, dhrupad and thumri.
By John, Music lover from Bangalore · Reviewed by BRR · Last reviewed 29 Sept 2026
Bandish
A bandish is a fixed composition in Hindustani classical music. It is a short song with words that the performer sings, then improvises around.
The song is set in a particular raga, a melodic framework, and taal, a repeating rhythmic cycle. It gives the performance a structure to return to as the musician invents new melodic phrases.
A bandish usually has two parts. The sthayi is the opening part, sung in the lower and middle range. The antara is the second part, rising into the upper range.
Where you will hear it
You will hear bandish, a fixed composition, in Hindustani classical music. Khayal, dhrupad and thumri are musical forms that each have their own bandish styles. The composition gives the performer a structure to sing and improvise around.
For example, a khayal composition in Yaman, a raga or melodic framework, set to vilambit ektaal, a slow rhythmic cycle, is a bandish. Its words and set melody give you something to follow as the performance unfolds.
Keep going
- What is a raga? A plain-language guide for listeners · A raga is a melodic framework in Indian classical music for creating pieces and inventing melody during performance. Listen for four things: which notes appear, how the melody moves, where the musician lingers, and which short phrases return.
- Mukhda and antara: how a film song is built · In a typical Hindi film song, the mukhda is the returning opening section, while an antara is a verse with new words and melody. This pattern comes from Hindustani classical music; listen for the verse climbing higher, then leading back to the opening tune.