Kali

Kali (Punjabi: ਕਲੀ) is a form of Chhand in Punjabi literature. Chhand means a poetry bonds under strict rules. Kali is also used in Punjabi music as a folk song but it's rare in music and sung by only few Punjabi singers including Kuldeep Manak, Surinder Shinda and few more.

Types

Kali has further three types: Suchchi Kali, Amba Kali and Roopa Kali.

Suchchi or Suchi Kali

It is bond under 42 Maatras.

Amba Kali

It deals from 42-45 Maatras.

Roopa Kali

Roopa Kali may have upto 52 Maatras. The famous Kali, Tere Tille Ton belongs to this type.

Music

In music it is often called by it's plural form, Kalian or Kaliyan. Dev Tharike Wala and Kuldeep Manak were the first persons to introduce Kali to a common man. Kali got popularity in 1980s when the most famous Kali, Tere Tille Ton was sung by Kuldeep Manak, a very famous singer of Punjab. Although Manak sang only 13-14 Kalis in his singing career he became the second name to the Kali and is known as Kalian Da Badshah (English: King of Kalis). It was because of the record braking popularity of one of his Kali, Tere Tille Ton, written by Dev Tharike Wala who wrote about 11 Kalian for Manak. As ordinary people don't understands the specific rules for Kali and differences between a common song and Kali, they treat Manak's every song, after Tere Tille Ton to be a Kali and started regarding the singer as Kings of Kalis.

Kalian by Kuldeep Manak

Written by Dev Tharike Wala

1. Tere Tille Ton
2. Ranjhe Da Patka
3. Gall Sun Sialan Diye Kurhiye Ni
4. Heer Dian Maa Naal Gallan (Charhi Jawani te Chann-Sooraj..)
5. Kaidon Dian Choochak Naal Gallan (Ik Din Kaidon Satth Vich..)
6. Chhanna Choori Da
7. Pind Taan Sialan De Dhee Jammi Chaudhari Choochak De..
8. Teri Khatir Heere
9. Sehti, Heer Ne Tiari Kar Lai Bagh Di
10. Ik Din Mil Ke Chak Nu

Written by others

1. Gabhru Mast Rahe (Gurmukh Singh Gill, Jabomajra)
2. Ni Putt Jattan Da (Gurmukh Singh Gill, Jabomajra)
3. Sehti Hassdi-Hassdi (Dalip Singh Sidhu, Kankwal)