मेरे हाल का किस्से किस्से को

“Ghazal: Mere Haal Ka Kisse” is a well-known recording from 1906. Rendered by Peara Saheb, composed by Traditional, with lyrics penned by Traditional. Musically it set in Raag Pilu, to the Keherwa taal, in the Ghazal idiom. Its prevailing mood is melancholic, the recording runs 4:15, released on the the gramophone company (hmv) label.

Pilu is a cheerful raag, but in Peara Saheb's rendition, it takes on a melancholic hue through his characteristic slow, introspective approach. The Agra gharana's influence is evident in the deep, resonant tone and the emphasis on subtle emotional expression. The keherwa taal, with its 8-beat cycle, provides a steady foundation for the ghazal's contemplative progression.

The ghazal explores themes of separation and emotional suffering. The opening couplet plays on the idea of recounting one's emotional state (hal) in stories, a typical ghazal conceit where the lover's pain becomes the subject of poetic discourse. The final couplet references the sleepless nights of the enamored, another ghazal convention.

Peara Saheb represents a rare category in early gramophone recordings — the male ghazal singer who specialized in serious classical and semi-classical forms. While many recording companies favored female artists, Peara Saheb's exclusive contract with HMV demonstrates the market demand for authentic ghazal renditions. His recordings preserve the refined mehfil tradition of ghazal singing.

This recording preserves an important strain of ghazal tradition that emphasized classical vocal technique and emotional subtlety. Unlike later film ghazals that prioritized melody and entertainment, Peara Saheb's version adheres to the traditional mehfil etiquette where the poet's words and the singer's emotional depth take precedence. His recordings influenced the approach of later ghazal singers like Ustad Bismillah Khan.