Khayal (or khyal — Persian for "imagination") is the most-performed vocal genre in South Asian classical music today. It emerged around the 17th century, gradually displacing the older dhrupad form, and is now the centrepiece of most concert programmes.
A khayal performance has two parts: a slow-tempo composition called bada khayal (vilambit) and a fast-tempo composition called chhota khayal (drut). The bada khayal develops the raag through extensive alap and slow rhythmic exploration; the chhota khayal then accelerates through faster taans and tihais before resolving back to sam.
The text of a khayal composition is usually short — a few lines in Braj, Hindi, Urdu, or Persian, often devotional, sometimes lyrical. The text serves as a melodic skeleton; the performance is overwhelmingly about elaboration. A single khayal can last 30 minutes to an hour, with the same line returning many times in transformed shape.
Khayal singing demands extreme breath control, melodic creativity, and command of the raag's character. On Saarey Music, the major khayal gharanas represented include Patiala, Kirana, Gwalior, Mewati, Sham Churasi, Kasur, and Talvandi — each developing distinct khayal styles. A listener trained in the differences can identify the lineage in seconds.