The disciplined theme-and-variation form — a theme's own material expanded under strict rules.
The central developmental form of tabla: a theme (stated with its khali counterpart) is expanded through paltas that may only rearrange, regroup, and extend the theme's own bols. Foreign strokes break the form — the discipline is the point.
A performance runs theme, dohra (doubled statement), systematic paltas of rising intricacy, and a closing tihai. Delhi and Ajrada are the kaida schools par excellence, with distinct chalans; every gharana maintains a core kaida repertoire as its pedagogical spine. Fluent improvised palta-making within the rules is a defining test of maturity.
Further reading
Sudhir Kumar Saxena, The Art of Tabla Rhythm: Essentials, Tradition and Creativity (Sangeet Natak Akademi / D.K. Printworld, 2006).
Sadanand Naimpalli, Theory and Practice of Tabla (Popular Prakashan, 2005).
