Kesariya Balam - Which taal is this song in?

'Kesariya Balam Padharo Mhare Des' is a very popular folk song from Rajasthan. This post is about the the taal (time signature) structure of the song. There are 7 versions as examples.

If you have made it to this page: please don't leave without listening to Mehdi Hasan's version, it is my personal favorite and is the last video in this blog post.

Interested in more Taal related topics about bollywood and other folk/inependent music, do check out the Taal Homepage!

Presenting some FAQs first:

Q1:  Can a song be composed/sung in multiple taals (time signatures)?

Ans: Yes, the song can be composed in multiple taals (time signatures). Kesariya Balam Padharo Mhare Des is a wonderful example.

Q2: Which taal (time signature) is Kesariya Balam in?

Ans: Kesariya Balam can be sung in multiple Taals - Dadra, Kaharwa, Ektaal and Deepchandi. (6/4, 8/4, 12/4 and 14/4)

Q3: Examples (versions) of Kesariya Balam in Dadra (6/4)?

Ans: One is sung by the great Lata Mangeshkar and one is sung by Kheta Khan for a TV show. All videos are pasted below.

Q4: Examples (versions) of Kesariya Balam in Kaharwa (8/4)?

Ans: One is sung by the the popular folk singer Mame Khan. Video is pasted below.

Q5: Examples (versions) of Kesariya Balam in Ektaal (12/4)?

Ans: Composed by Salim Sulaiman for the Movie Dor. Begins with Ektaal then moves into Dadra. Video is pasted below.

Q6: Examples (versions) of Kesariya Balam in Deepchandi (14/4)?

Ans: One is sung by Shankar Mahadevan for the web series Bandish Bandits, one is sung by the Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammed for a live show and one is sung by Mehdi Hasan for a live show. All videos are pasted below.

The Taal Homepage has list of bollywood songs in various taals - Dadra, Rupak, Deepchandi and Jhaptaal. Do visit if taals interest you!

Kesariya Balam Padharo Mhare Des in Dadra Taal (6/4)

Version 1: Sung by Kheta Khan

Version 2: Sung by the great Lata Mangeshkar

Kesariya Balam Padharo Mhare Des in Kaharwa Taal (8/4)

Version 3:  Sung by Mame Khan

For bollywood songs in Dadra Taal see the Taal Homepage

Kesariya Balam Padharo Mhare Des in Ektaal (12/4)

Version 4: Sung by Karsan Sagathiya and Composed by Salim Sulaiman from the film Dor

Kesariya Balam Padharo Mhare Des in Deepchandi (14/4)

Version 5: Sung by Shankar Mahadevan for the web series Bandish Bandits

Version 6: Sung by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammed

Version 7: Sung by Mehdi Hasan 

This version is my personal favorite. 

Check out Bollywood songs in Rupak, Deepchandi, Dadra and Jhaptaal only on the Taal Homepage

Click here to listen to Kahe ko byahi bides a folk song by Aamir Khusrao