ragam-tanam-pallavi

In Indian classical music, ragam-tanam-pallavi is a lengthy, primarily improvised section of a South Indian concert. It begins with ragam, an elaborate, free-time improvisation that showcases the full character of the chosen raga. This is followed by tanam, another improvised section using meaningless words to create rhythmic patterns without a strict time measure. The final part, pallavi, is a composed piece set to a specific tala (metric cycle), often complex. The performer then introduces intricate rhythmic and melodic variations, usually concluding with a drum solo and a restatement of the pallavi.12