khayal

/ kəˈjɑːl /

noun

1. a kind of Indian classical vocal music

Word History and Origins

Origin of khayal¹

Urdu: literally: thought, imagination

Example Sentences

The appeal of his khayal - a major form of north Indian classical music - cut across musical hierarchies, becoming a rare converging point for common people and the pundits.

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In his 2004 book, Khayal Vocalism, noted music expert Deepak Raja called him the "prince of modernism" who showed complete respect to classical forms but didn't hesitate to "blur the distinctions between mainstream genres".

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"Derna was divided in two halves by the water and everything in between is gone," said Rahma Ben Khayal, an 18-year-old student who made it to safety on a rooftop in the city.

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He studied classical Indian music for a decade, training in the genres of khayal, thumri and ghazal.

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That’s what’s at work here, in the khayal form especially.

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