THE BEST RAAGA BASED SONGS IN HINDI MOVIES – RAAGA YAMAN – PART I

I run a Facebook page called Lyrical wherein I often give theme based songs. The current theme, since 12th Aug 15, is The Best Raaga Based Songs In Hindi Movies.

I have just finished for you The Best Raaga Based Songs In Hindi Movies – Raaga Bhairavi – Part I, Part II and Part III. Now, I turn to our second Raaga Yaman.

What is the first thing that you think of when you think of Raag Yaman? Well, nine out of ten of us will think of evening time. Even though, in later times, Raagas could be performed any time of the day, traditionally, these were based on the time of the day. And, like Hemant Kumar would sing: Hum ne shaam chuni hai.

Yaman is a raag that emerged from the Carnatic Music, whereat it is known as Kalyani or Kalyan. It is such a basic Raaga that often it is the first Raaga that is taught to the students of classical music.

yamanIt is a sampooran (complete) raaga in that all the seven swar (heptatonic) are present in the raaga. The notes of the raaga are considered similar to the Western Lydian scale of tones.

There is some discussion about the origin of the name of the Raaga Yaman. Some say its origin is Persian ‘Ei’man’ whereas the others feel that its origin is Raag Yamuna (Lord Krishna used to call Radha at the banks of Yamuna in the evenings with his flute) and over a period of time, it transformed into Yaman. The raaga is also called Kalyan or Yaman-Kalyan. There are, of course, traditionalists who feel that these are separate raagas.

With this background, it would be right to say that just like Raag Bhairavi there are hundreds of Hindi songs that are based on Raag Yaman or Kalyan and we are certainly going to have great time for the next ten days or so.

Song #1 Saaranga teri yaad mein…

This was the song of the cover picture of Raag Yaman based songs on Lyrical.

It was penned by Bharat Vyas and Sardar Malik was the one who composed it in Raag Kalyan or Yaman. As you already know Sardar Malik is the father of present day composer Anu Malik. He was not counted as one of the top 5 composers of his times: Naushad, Shankar Jaikishen, SD Burman, C Ramchandra and OP Nayyar. However, this and a few other songs that he composed are memorable indeed. The singer was Mukesh.

The song is nostalgic for me. I was a seven years old in a colony in the city of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. People in our colony had frequent get-togethers (my father was in the horticulture department). Sing song sessions were aplenty. I have listened to this popular song many times from one of my dad’s friends.

It is from the 1961 movie Saaranga starring Sudesh Kumar and Jayashree.

Please enjoy in Raag Yaman: Saaranga teri yaad mein….

saara.ngaa terI yaad me.n nain hue bechain
madhur tumhaare milan binaa
din kaTate nahii.n rain, ho~
saara.ngaa terI yaad me.n …

vo ambuvaa kA jhuulanaa, vo pIpal kii chhaa.Nv
ghuu.NghaT me.n jab chaa.Nd thA, meha.ndii lagI thI paa.nv
ho, (aaj uja.Dake rah gayaa – 2)
vo sapano.n kA gaa.Nv, ho …
saara.ngaa terI yaad me.n …

sa.ng tumhaare do gha.Dii, bIt gaye jo pal
jal bharake mere nain me.n, aaj hue ojhal
ho, (sukh leke duHkh de gayii.n -2)
do akhiyA.N cha.nchal, ho …
saara.ngaa terI yaad me.n …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=AXQgClapKYc%3F

Song #2 Do naina matvaare tihaare ham pe zulm karen….

I gave you Saaranga teri yaad mein as the very first song in Raag Yaman. The fact is that even a novice in Raagas, that’s what I am (since I am learning together with you), this was the first song that I became aware of the Raaga in which it was composed! This is the beauty of this fundamental Raaga.

I am compelled now to take you back straightway to KL Saigal who sang many a song in this basic Raaga. This one was composed by Pankaj Mullick for the 1944 movie Meri Behen or My Sister. Lyrics were penned by Pt. Bhushan. KL Saigal, as always, sang for himself in the movie. This is amongst his top ten numbers.

Please enjoy: Do naina matvaare tihaare ham pe zulm karen….

do nainaa matavaare tihaare – 2, ham par zulm kare
do nainaa matavaare tihaare – 2, ham par zulm kare

naino.n me.n rahe to, sudh budh khoye – 2
chhupe to chain hare
do nainaa matavaare tihaare – 2, ham par zulm kare

tan tan ke chalAe tIr, nas nas me.n uThAe pIr – 2
madabhare rasIle niThor ba.De, na Dare na dhar dhare
do nainaa matavaare tihaare – 2, ham par zulm kare

jab hotI ho tum us paar, nas nas me.n uThAe pIr – 2
man kI bInA ke baj uThate, jor jor se taar
do nainaa matavaare tihaare – 2, ham par zulm kare

paas Ae to aise bhUl gae, pal khyan me.n saba kuchh bhUl gae – 2
khushiyo.n ke sote ubal pa.De, har a.ng to ra.ng bhare
do nainaa matavaare tihaare – 2, ham par zulm karen

https://youtube.com/watch?v=T_URwqxX5lE%3F

Song #3 Abhi na jaayo chhod kar….

I am going to mix relatively newer with older songs composed in Raag Yaman Kalyan; if only for the fact that I saw this 1961 movie as late as last night on my computer. The music by Jaidev, the singing by Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle, and the excellent lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi need no reminder to tell you that it is an evening song, late evening that is.

It is, after all these years, still the number one duet between Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle singing for Dev Anand and Sadhana. It is a duet that I heard live with my parents when I was samll.

Please enjoy in Raag Yaman: Abhi na jaayo chhod kar….

ra: abhii na jaao chho.D kar ke dil abhii bharaa nahii.n – (2)
abhii abhii to aaii ho – abhii abhii to
abhii abhii to aaii ho, bahaar banake chhaaii ho
havaa zaraa mahak to le, nazar zaraa bahak to le
(ye shaam Dhal to le zaraa – 2), ye dil sambhal to le zaraa
mai.n tho.Dii der jii to luu.N, nashe ke ghuu.NT pii to luu.N
nashe ke ghuu.NT pii to luu.N
abhii to kuchh kahaa.Nahii.n, abhii to kuchh sunaa nahii.n
abhii na jaao chho.Dakar ke dil abhii bharaa nahii.n

aa: sitaare jhilamilaa uThe, sitaare jhilamilaa uThe, charaaG jagamagaa uThe
bas ab na mujhako Tokanaa
bas ab na mujhako Tokanaa, na ba.Dhake raah rokanaa
agar mai.n ruk ga_ii abhii to jaa na paauu.Ngii kabhii
yahii kahoge tum sadaa ke dil abhii nahii.n bharaa
jo khatm ho kisii jagah ye aisaa silasilaa nahii.n
ra: abhii nahii.n abhii nahii.n
aa: nahii.n nahii.n nahii.n nahii.n
ra: abhii na jaao chho.Dakar ke dil abhii bharaa nahii.n

ra: adhuurii aas, adhuurii aas chho.Dake, adhuurii pyaas chho.Dake
jo roz yuu.Nhii jaaogii to kis tarah nibhaaogii
ki zi.ndagii kii raah me.n, javaa.N dilo.n kii chaah me.n
ka_ii muqaam aae.nge jo ham ko aazamaae.nge
buraa na maano baat kaa ye pyaar hai gilaa nahii.n
aa: haa.N, yahii kahoge tum sadaa ke dil abhii nahii.n bharaa
ra: haa.N, dil abhii bharaa nahii.n
aa: nahii.n nahii.n nahii.n nahii.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=9VlDX_U2PkI%3F

Song #4 Woh shaam kuchh ajeeb thi…

Just like Raag Bhairavi, for Raag Yaman too, we have already taken up three different music directors: Sardar Malik, Pankaj Mullick and Jaidev.

Now, I start with Hemant Kumar just to drive home the point regarding Yaman being a Raaga of the evening. This has some of the finest lyrics of Gulzar and Kishore Kumar‘s voice. You have already guessed it; but, for those who didn’t the song is from the 1969 movie Khamoshi.

This movie is often considered to be most successful film of Waheeda Rehman.

The film was shot in Calcutta. The film is based on Bengali short story titled, ‘Nurse Mitra’ by noted Bengali writer, Ashutosh Mukherjee, and is an almost frame by frame remake of director Asit Sen‘s own Bengali film, Deep Jwele Jaai (1959) starring Suchitra Sen.

Director Asit Sen (not to be confused with the actor-comedian Asit Sen) acted in the original Bengali film Deep Jélé Jaai (1959) in a role, which was essayed by Dharmendra in Khamoshi, where the movie-goers actually could not recognise him because it was a dark scene marked with the baritone voice of Hemant Kumar. Later he revealed himself in an interview in the 1990s. After his success in off-beat films, Mamta (1966) and Anokhi Raat (1968), Sen wanting to make it big in Bombay as well decided to remake his Bengali hit.

Actress Waheeda Rehman suggested the name of actor Rajesh Khanna, having been impressed by his work in Aakhri Khat (1966), though she later said, after the movie was released, that “he (Rajesh Khanna) was not mature enough to enact such a complex character” and that Sanjeev Kumar would have been a better choice. She also said that nobody could really hope to equal Basanta Choudhury in the Bengali original, and that her own performance came “nowhere near Suchitra Sen.” She credited the director for helping her lot during difficult scenes.

Please enjoy in Raag Yaman: Woh shaam kuchh ajeeb thi….

vo shaam kuchh ajiib thii, ye shaam bhii ajiib hai
vo kal bhii paas paas thii, vo aaj bhii kariib hai

jhukii huii nigaah me.n, kahii.n meraa Kayaal thaa
dabii dabii ha.Nsii.n me.n ik, hasiin saa savaal thaa
mai.n sochataa thaa, meraa naam gunagunaa rahii hai vo
na jaane kyuu.N lagaa mujhe, ke muskuraa rahii hai vo
vo shaam kuchh ajiib thii …

meraa Kayaal hai.n abhii, jhukii huii nigaah me.n
khulii huii ha.Nsii bhii hai, dabii huii sii chaah me.n
mai.n jaanataa huu.N, meraa naam gunagunaa rahii hai vo
yahii Kayaal hai mujhe, ke saath aa rahii hai vo

vo shaam kuchh ajiib thii, ye shaam bhii ajiib hai
vo kal bhii paas paas thii, vo aaj bhii kariib hai

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MDXFi3avqo0%3F

Song #5 Savere ka suraj tumhaare liye hai…

Just want to tell the patrons that all Shaam songs are not in Raag Yaman. For example, the Pushpanjali song sung by Manna De and Lata Mangeshkar that you all are so fond of: Shaam dhale Jamuna kinaare, aaja Radhe aaja tohe shaam pukaare has been composed in Raag Khammaj and we shall come to that when we take up that Raag.

Here is a different type of shaam song by the great music director OP Nayyar whose favourite Raag was Pilu or Peelu. In this song, through he has composed so well in Raag Yaman that one is stunned. The 1972 movie Ek Baar Muskara Do starred the two brothers Deb and Joy Mukherjee opposite Tanuja.

I would give full credit to Indeevar for the excellent lyrics and Kishore Kumar that he was able to sing so many different types of songs. In the last stanza, he does a high-pitch, a la Mohammad Rafi style.

Please enjoy this gem in Raag Yaman: Savere ka suraj tumhare liye hai…..

savere kA suuraj tumhAre liye hai
ye bujhate diye ko nA tum yaad karanaa
hue ek biitii huI baat ham to
koI aa.Nsuu ham par nA barabaad karanaa

tumhAre liye ham, tumhAre diye ham
lagan kI agan me.n abhii tak jale hai.n
hamaarii kamii tum ko mahasuus kyo.n ho
tumhaarii subah ham tumhe.n de chale hai.n
jo har dam tumhArI khushI chaahate hai.n
udaas hoke unako nA naashaad karanaa
savere …

sabhii vaqt ke aage jhukate rahe hai.n
kisI ke liye vaqt rukataa nahii.n hai
chiraaG apanii dharatii kaa bujhataa hai jab bhii
sitaare to ambar ke hote nahii.n hai.n
koI naav tuufaan me.n Duube to kyaa hai
kinaare to saagar ke hote nahii.n hai.n
kinaare to saagar ke hote nahii.n hai.n
hai.n ham Dolatii naav Duube to kyaa hai
kinaare ho tum, tum na fariyaad karanaa
savere kaa suuraj …

chaman se jo ek phUl bichha.Daa to kyaa hai
naye gul se gulashan ko aabaad karanaa
savere …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=m6Y55w1JMfw%3F

Song #6 Bhuuli hui yaadon mujhe itana naa sataayo….

As is to be expected, Madan Mohan composed a number of songs in Raag Yaman. My choice of the best by him in Raag Yaman or Kalyan is from the 1961 movie Sanjog starring Pradeep Kumar and Anita Guha. As is mostly the case with Madan Mohan songs, Rajinder Krishan was the lyricist.

This is one of the best of Mukesh too.

Please enjoy in Raag Yaman: Bhuuli hui yaado mujhe itana naa sataayo….

bhuulii huii yaado.n, mujhe itanaa naa sataao
ab chain se rahane do, mere paas na aao
bhuulii huii yaado.n …

daaman me.n liye baiThaa huu.N, (TuuTe hue taare – 2)
kab tak mai.n jiyuu.Ngaa yuu.Nhii, (khvaabo.n ke sahaare – 2)
dIvaanaa huu.N, ab aur naa dIvaanaa banaao
ab chain se rahane do, mere paas na aao
bhuulii huii yaado.n …

lUTo naa mujhe is tarah, (doraahe pe laake -2 )
aavaaz na do ek (nayI raah dikhaake – 2)
sa.nbhalaa huu.N mai.n gir-girake mujhe, phir naa giraao
ab chain se rahane do mere paas naa aao

bhuulii huii yaado.n, mujhe itanaa naa sataao
ab chain se rahane do, mere paas na aao
bhuulii huii yaado.n …
The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzu4VKQ7nAE

Song #7 Dilrubaa maine tere pyaar mein kyaa kyaa na kiya…

Does it seem like I am ignoring Shakeel and Naushad? Well, you have another guess coming since I live by them all the time.

This is from the 1966 movie Dil Diya Dard Liya when love between Dilip Kumar and Waheeda Rehman had gone sour. Mohammad Rafi has sung this with so much of feelings that it is amongst his best.

Please enjoy in Raag Yaman: Dilrubaa maine tere pyaar mein kyaa kyaa na kiya….

dilarubaa maine tere pyaar me.n kyaa-kyaa naa kiyaa
dil diyaa dard liyaa -2
kabhii phuulo.n me.n guzaarii kabhii kaa.NTo.n pe jiyaa
dil diyaa dard liyaa -2

zindagii aaj bhii hai bekhudii aaj bhii hai
pyaar kahate hai.n jise vo Kushii aaj bhii hai
maine din-raat mohabbat kaa terii jaam piyaa
dil diyaa dard liyaa -2
dilarubaa maine tere …

kyaa kahuu.N tere li_e maine aa.Nsuu bhii pi_e
kabhii Kaamosh rahaa kabhii shikave bhii ki_e
kar liyaa chaaq garebaa.n kabhii daaman ko siyaa
dil diyaa dard liyaa -2
dilarubaa maine tere …

pyaar kii aan hai tuu dil kaa aramaan hai tuu
kaun duniyaa se Dare jab nigehabaan hai tuu
apanii kashtii ko sahaare pe tere chho.D diyaa
dil diyaa dard liyaa -2
dilarubaa maine tere …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_MX-KmQjp0c%3F

Song #8 Is mod se jaate hain…

What about Rahul Dev Burman? Well, he, like his father Sachin Dev Burman was so steeped in Raagas that some of his compositions are out of this world; eg, his first song for Lata ji for Chhote Nawab was in litle heard of Raag Malgunji: Ghar aaja ghir aaye badra saanwariya.

His Aandhi songs are awesome indeed and 40 years after the movie was made in 1975, they are as fresh today.

This needs no introduction when I tell you that these were penned by Gulzar and are rated amongst his best. This particular one has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar.

Please enjoy in Raag Yaman: Is mod se jaate hain…..

la: is mo.D se jaate hai.n – (2)
kuchh sust qadam raste kuchh tez qadam raahe.n – (2)
ki: patthar kii havelii ko shiishe ke gharau.ndo.n me.n
tinako.n ke nasheman tak is mo.D se jaate hai.n

la: aa.Ndhii kii tarah u.Dakar ik raah guzaratii hai – (2)
sharamaatii huii koii qadamo.n se utaratii hai
in reshamii raaho.n me.n ik raah to vo hogii
tum tak jo pahu.nchatii hai is mo.D se jaatii hai
is mo.D se jaate hai.n…

ki: ik duur se aatii hai paas aake palaTatii hai – (2)
ik raah akelii sii rukatii hai na chalatii hai
la: ye sochake baiThii huu.N ik raah to vo hogii
tum tak jo pahu.nchatii hai is mo.D se jaate hai.n

is mo.D se jaate hai.n
kuchh sust qadam raste kuchh tez qadam raahe.n
ki: patthar kii havelii ko shiishe ke gharo.ndo.n me.n
tinako.n ke nasheman tak is mo.D se jaate hai.n
la: is mo.D se jaate hai.n

https://youtube.com/watch?v=STOM6NZfcrs%3F

Song #9 Jay jay he Jagdambe mata….

Long time no bhajan; even though you already know that Bhajans are my favourite genre’ of music.

This one is from the 1964 movie Ganga Ki Lehren starring Kishore Kumar and Kumkum. This movie has a favourite Chitragupta number of mine: Chhedo na meri zulfen. The way, Chitragupta elongates the singing of Chhedo is really enchanting. Then there is another beautiful number from the movie: Machalati hui hawa mein chham chham.

This is a favourite bhajan. It has been penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

Please enjoy in Raag Yaman: Jay jay he Jagdambe mata….

jay-jay he jagadambe maataa
dvaar tihaare jo bhii aataa bin maa.Nge sab-kuchh paa jaataa

tuu chaahe to jiivan de-de chaahe pal me.n jiivan le-le
janm-maraN sab haath me.n tere he shakti he maataa
jay-jay he …

paapii ho yaa hove pujaarii raajaa ho yaa hove bhikhaarii
phir bhii tuune jo.Daa sabase maa.N-beTe kaa naataa
jay-jay he …

jab-jab jisane tujhako pukaaraa tuune diyaa hai ba.Dhake sahaaraa
har bhuule raahii ko teraa pyaar hii raah dikhaataa
jay-jay he …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=rq9cAFNo9cA%3F

Song #10 Inhi logo ne le leena dupatta mera…

So far, we have taken up the following nine music directors’ songs:

1. Sardar Malik.
2. Pnakaj Mullick
3. Jaidev
4. Madan Mohan
5. OP Nayyar
6. Hemant Kumar
7. Naushad Ali
8. RD Burman
9. Chitragupta

Lets now turn to Ghulam Mohammad, composer of most of the songs for the 1972 Kamal Amrohi movie Paakeezah. Though this song has been composed twice, for example in the 1943 movie Aabru, Ghulam Mohammad’s composition is superb indeed.

Majrooh Sultanpuri was the lyricist for most of Pakeezah’s songs. The song has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar and picturised on Meena Kumari as the tawaif Sahibjaan.

Please enjoy in Raag Yaman: Inhi logon ne le leena dupatta mera….

inhii.n logo.n ne -4
inhii.n logo.n ne le liinaa dupaTTaa meraa -2

inhii.n logo.n ne le liinaa dupaTTaa meraa -2

hamarii na maano bajajavaa se puuchho
hamarii na maano sayyaa.N … bajajavaa se puuchho
jisane … jisane asharafii gaz diinaa dupaTTaa meraa

hamarii na maano ra.Ngarajavaa se puuchho -2
jisane gulaabii ra.Ng diinaa dupaTTaa meraa -2
inhii.n logo.n ne -3

hamarii na maano sipahiyaa se puuchho -2
aa
hamarii na maano
hamarii na maano sipahiyaa se puuchho
sipahiyaa se
sipahiyaa se puuchho
jisane
jisane bajariyaa me.n chhiinaa dupaTTaa meraa -2
inhii.n logo.n ne -3
inhii.n logo.n ne le liinaa dupaTTaa meraa
dupaTTaa meraa -፬

https://youtube.com/watch?v=EDwvnOkDqSg%3F

Song #11 Aansu bhari hain yeh jeevan ki raahen…

Here is a Raj Kapoor song that has been penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and sung by Mukesh, his singing voice, but has not been composed by Shankar Jaikishen. It actually has Dattaram‘s music.

It is from the 1958 movie Parvarish that Raj Kapoor did with Mala Sinha.

This is amngst the most famous, if not the most famous song of Mukesh.

Please enjoy in Raag Kalyan: Aansu bhari hain ye jeevan ki raahen….

aa.Nsuu bharii hai.n ye jiivan kii raahe.n
koii unase kah de hame.n bhuul jaae.n
aa.Nsuu …

vaade bhulaa de.n qasam to.D de.n vo – (2)
haalat pe apanii hame.n chho.D de.n vo
unhe.n ghar mubaarak hame.n apanii aa.Nhe.n
koii unase kah de …

barabaadiyo.n kii ajab daastaa.N huu.N – (2)
shabanam bhii roe mai.n vo paasabaa.N huu.N
aise jahaa.N se kyuu.N ham dil lagaae.n
koii unase kah de …
aa.Nsuu …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ETYfiRPLRDs%3F

Song #12 Har ek baat pe kehate ho ke tuu kyaa hai..

I think, going by the genre’ of the music direrctors and lyricists taken up so far, we are ready to take up Mirza Ghalib now. This would have been sung by many singers including KL Saigal and Jagjit Singh; but, I have taken up the Lata Mangeshkar version that has been composed by Faiyaaz Shauqat.

Please enjoy in Raag Yaman: Har ek baat pe kehate ho ke tuu kyaa hai….

har ek baat pe kahate ho tum ke tuu kyaa hai
tumhii.n bataa_o ye andaaz-e-guftaguu kyaa hai

rago.n me.n dau.Date phirane ke ham nahii.n qaa_il
jab aa.Nkh hii se na Tapakaa to phir lahuu kyaa hai

e piyuu.N sharaab agar Kum bhii dekh luu.N do-chaar
ye shiishaa-o-qadah-o-kuuzaa-o-subuu kyaa hai

hu_aa hai shah kaa musaahib phire hai itaraataa
wagaranaa shahar me.n Gaalib kii aabaruu kyaa hai

https://youtube.com/watch?v=8zFw7YMJUSk%3F

That brings us to the end of Part I in the Best of Hindi Songs composed in Raag Yaman or Kalyan. I hoped you liked my choices so far. Brace yourself for Part II coming up shortly.

Author: Sunbyanyname

I have done a long stint in the Indian Navy that lasted for nearly thirty seven years; I rose as far as my somewhat rebellious and irreverent nature allowed me to. On retirement, in Feb 2010, the first thing that occurred to me, and those around me, was that I Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (you will find an article with this title in this blog) and hadn't lost all my noodles and hence thought of a blog titled 'This 'n That'. I later realised that every third blog is called 'This 'n That' and changed the name to 'Sunbyanyname'. I detest treading the beaten track. This blog offers me to air 'another way' of looking at things. The idea is not just to entertain but also to bring about a change. Should you feel differently, you are free to leave your comments. You can leave comments even when you agree and want to share your own experience about the topic of the blog post. Impudent or otherwise, I have never been insousciant and I am always concerned about the betterment of community, nation and the world. I hope the visitors of this blog would be able to discern it.

18 thoughts on “THE BEST RAAGA BASED SONGS IN HINDI MOVIES – RAAGA YAMAN – PART I”

  1. Nice post. But I am not sure that all songs listed here are strictly based on Raag Yaman. And while on the topic, let me also add that Raag Yaman is distinctly different from Raag Yaman-Kalyan and Raag Shuddh Kalyan though you may like to ignore me for a hardliner but never mind!!

  2. Thank you.
    My interest in knowing about Raagas is only because of my love for Hindi songs and not the other way round. In that sense, I am a novice in classical music. But, I am learning.

    No, I won’t ignore your input. I am conscious of the distinction that you have drawn between Raag Yaman on one hand and Raag Yaman-Kalyan and Raag Shuddh Kalyan on the other hand.

    The problem here in associating Hindi movie songs with Raagas is that rarely a song is in complete consonance with a particular Raaga. Hindi films composers very often mixed and we find it difficult to fully associate the resultant song with a pure raaga.

    It is not rare to find a Hindi song associated with two distinct raagas. I can give the example of my second most favourite Mohammad Rafi song from the movie Aap Ki Parchhayiyan (my most favourite is the title song of Mere Mehboob set in Raag Jhinjhoti). Now this song: Main nigaahen tere chehre se uthaayun kaise was considered by me in Raag Darbari Kanada. However, some (hardliners or otherwise!) consider it in Raag Gara.

    Regards to you.
    The more I put up, the more I learn.

  3. For a novice, your knowledge of Raaga is excellent. Whatever route your seeking may have taken, result is commendable. True, its difficult to find unalloyed compositions in Hindi film songs. However, music directors of yesteryear, like Naushad, Madanmohan etc. did take care of these technicalities to a great extent.

    Though, I may boast of being a hardliner, my knowledge of Raaga is limited to the ones I have learnt. For that matter no knowledge is absolute.

    At the cost of rousing a debate, you may consider ‘mana re tuu kaahe na dheer dharey…’ and ‘chandan saa badan chanchal chitwan…’ as two songs based on pure Yaman. A perfect example of Yaman-Kalyan is ‘Jab deep jale aana, jab shaam dhale aana…’ wherein both the madhyams (shuddha and teevra are beautifully used).

  4. Thank you. Naushad! What can you say about him? He really was a perfectionist. I hold his Baiju Bawra songs as the standards in the Raagas in which they were composed. My favourite is O duniya ke rakhwaale in Darbari Kanada. I was also amused by the fact that Tansen in the 16th century brought this raag from Carnatic music into Hindustani music and Naushad should think of basing Baiju’s plea to God in this Raag whilst he was preparing to beat Tansen in singing to avenge his father’s death!

    There is no one who comes anywhere close to my veneration of Naushad.

    Madan Mohan was a perfectionist too, which I heard from Lata Mangeshkar. She has described an anecdote when “Madan bhaiyya” was so annoyed with some of the musicians playing out of sur the Mera Saya song that he had composed in Raag Bhimpalasi (Naino mein badra chhaye) that in disgust he hit his hand into a glass door and badly wounded it!

    Perhaps the only third person who can rank in this category is Anil Biswas.

    Anyway, thanks a lot for your inputs. Regards.

  5. Thank you Geetashree and Ravi for the enlightening discussion..learnt many things and enjoyed:) Am glad that I referred this post to Geetashree ma’am:)

  6. Ah Amit, the poet. So, you were behind this! I should have known.

    Amit, for me, everything adds to my process of learning. Grateful to Geetadhree for assisting me with it.

    Regards.

  7. Yes, I have heard this anecdote too.

    Certain facts given in your post and comment are new to me. Very informative. A perfect example of Raag Gaara is ‘ Unke khayaal aaye to aatey chaley gaye…’

  8. As I mentioned in the blog itself, my Raaga based blogs have been reconstructed from my Facebook page Lyrical. If you are on Facebook, please join it.

    Presently the Raag is Bageshri or Bageshwari. The raag before that was Gara and the Laal Patthar song that you mentioned was put up.

Comments are closed.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: