Raaga Based Song Of The Day #80

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Tum apna ranj-o-gham, apni pareshani mujhe de do ….
Raag Pahadi, Tal Dadra

Singer Jagjit Kaur and Music Director Khayyam

Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for Raag Pahadi, the raag of my place in the Himalayas and this is special to me because of all the three people who put it together: Sahir Ludhianvi, Khayyam and his wife Jagjit Kaur. The distance between Ludhiana (Sahir’s city) and the town of Rahon (where Khayyam was born) near Nawanshahr is only about 50 kms. I am much familiar with these places as a greater part of my childhood was spent in the village of Urapur (my maternal grandparents place), roughly 16 kms from Rahon and 34 Kms from Ludhiana.

Why should I be fond of Khayyam’s songs other than the place connection? Well, simple; he has Raag Pahadi as his favourite raag and many of his songs are composed in this. These include the film Noorie’s Chori chori koi aaye and the title song: Aaja re aaja re mere dilvar aaja. There is one more reason and that is that Mohammad Zahur Khayyam Hashmi decided to donate his entire wealth of about Rupees Ten Crores to the trust founded by him as KPJ Trust (K for Khayyam, P for their late son Pradeep (they lost him in 2012) and J for his wife Jagjit) to support budding artists and technicians in India.

Jagjit Kaur, his wife, belongs to a wealthy Punjabi zamindari family. Her marriage to Khayyam was an inter-caste wedding, looked down upon by her immediate society. She has sung only a few songs in Hindi movies and she has the distinction that all of these are memorable songs including the one I am giving now.

Sahir Ludhianvi, the lyricist of this song, was born in a Muslim Gujjar family in Karimpura village of Ludhiana in Punjab. He had to, at a very young age, witness his father being estranged from his mother, his mother Sardar Begum leaving his father and forfeiting all claims to his property, and his father making abortive attempts to get custody of him (Abdul Hayee was the name he was born with). Interestingly, many of Sahir’s songs reflect the condition of women in the society including the famous: Aurat ne janam diya mardon ko. Sahir got composer Khayyam his first Filmfare Award for the title song of 1976 movie Kabhi Kabhi, for which he received his second and last Filmfare Award as Music Director (after Taj Mahal in 1963).

We have completed seventy-nine days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our seventy-ninth post or the last post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #79 and the song was a Mukesh song from the 1959 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Anari starring Raj Kapoor and Nutan: Sab kuchh seekha hamne na seekhi hoshiyari. It is in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Darbari Kanada – Part I‘.

In the last seventy-nine days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas, Shankara, Bahar, Nand and Mian Ki Malhar; making it a total of 61 raagas. The raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, Gara, Basant Mukhari, Malkauns, Bhairavi and Mand. Today, I am repeating Raaga Pahadi again.

Today’s song has been sung by Jagjit Kaur on the lyrics of Sahir Ludhianvi and composition by Khayyam. As I said, it is in Raag Pahadi, Tal Dadra.

Before we actually take up the song, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. We have already taken up quite a few Tala or Taals or Tals. Today, we shall take up Tivra Tal. I have so far told you about Tal and its various characteristics and then taken up with you the following Tals: Kaherava, Dadra, Tintal, Dipchandi, Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani, Ektal, Rupak Tal and Jhaptal.

Tivra Tal, is also referred to as tivratal, teevra, or teevra Tal. It was a common  7-matra tal of Hindustani Music, used extensively in Dhrupad style of music.

Tivra is part of the pakhawaj (a North Indian version of Mridangam) tradition.  This tradition did not have a single theka that I told you about, but instead used a series of simple accompaniment patterns known as thapi.

Tivra tal began to fall out of fashion as the Dhrupad fell out of fashion in the last century.  Just as the Khayal replaced Dhrupad, Rupak Tal replaced Tivra.

The Clap and Wave arrangements are:

clap, 2, 3, wave, 2, clap, 2

And the Theka is:

Theka for Tivra Tal

As I said, today’s song is in Raag Pahadi, Tal Dadra.

Why do I have this urge to get back to Pahadi? On the tenth day, I had covered for you, the sources of names of raagas and mentioned that raagas like Marwa, Jaunpuri, Mand and Pahadi were named after places. Pahadi is not a place, in the same manner, as Marwa, Mand and Jaunpur. You should expect Pahadi anywhere you see pahad or hills but actually the name is from hills in Himalayas, my home place. It is a light raaga and is more akin to being a dhun.

Pahadi is a very beautiful raag. Soundofindia.com describes it beautifully: the raga is like a lover, unruffled in union, serene in separation, powerful enough to achieve eternal union, but resigned to the painful parting ordained by destiny.

All raagas are supposed to transport you to the mood of the raaga (bhaav). But, none other does it better than Pahadi: you can’t escape the freshness, quiet, wetness, echoing effect and palpable romance of the hills. It is as if the raaga says to you: ‘Love is in the air’.

I am not giving you again a list of songs composed in Raag Pahadi as I have already given you this elsewhere.

The song Tum apna ranj-o-gham, apni pareshani mujhe de do is from the 1964 Nazar movie Sahgun starring Waheeda Rehman and her husband Kamaljit. Some part of the movie was shot in Nainital where I was scheduled to go this September for a holiday; but, for the sad demise of my mother. I enjoy another two songs from the movie: Parbaton ke pedon par shaam ka basera hai (Also in Raag Pahadi sung by Mohammad Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur) and Tum chali jayogi parchhaayian reh jaayengi sung by Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy in Raag Pahadi, Tal Dadra: Tum apna ranj-o-gham, apni pareshani mujhe de do ….

Tum apanaa ra.nj-o-Gam, apanI pareshaanI mujhe de do
Tumhe.n Gam kii qasam, is dil kI vIrAnI mujhe de do (?)

Ye maanaa mai.n kisii qaabil nahii.n huu.N in nigaaho.n me.n – 2
Buraa kyaa hai agar, ye dukh ye hairaanI mujhe de do
Tum apanaa …

Mai.n dekhuu.N to sahii, duniyaa tumhe.n kaise sataatI hai – 2
KoI din ke liye, apanI nigahabaanI mujhe de do
Tum apanaa …

Vo dil jo maine maa.ngaa thaa magar gairo.n ne paayaa – 2
Ba.DI inaayat hai agar, usakI pashemaanI mujhe de do
Tum apanaa …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Yr1OOeOT8

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. On the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.
  71. On the seventy-first day, we learnt about Sangita Makarand.
  72. On the seventy-second day, we learnt about TaalMala an Android application for personalized accompaniment of musical instruments during Riyaaz or even during Concert.
  73. On the seventy-third day, we learnt about Indian Classical Ragas, an Android application for mobile phones.
  74. On the seventy-fourth day, we learnt about Saregama Classical, another application for Classical Raagas.
  75. On the seventy-fifth day, we learnt about a free online service available to learn Indian Classical Music.
  76. On the seventy-sixth day, we learnt about List of Hindustani Classical Musical Festivals in India and Abroad.
  77. On the seventy-seventh day, we learnt about List of Carnatic Musical Festivals in India and Abroad.
  78. On the seventy-eighth day, we learnt about Jhaptal.
  79. On the seventy-ninth day, we learnt about Ektal.
  80. And today, on the eightieth day, we learnt about Tivra Tal.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #79

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Sab kuchh seekha hamane na seekhi hoshiyari ….
Raag Bhairavi, Tal Kaherava

Shailendra, Jaikishan, Shankar and Mukesh

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight I give you, as promised earlier, pièce de résistance of a song in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Kaherava. As you can make out in the accompanying picture, this is from the team of Lyricist Shailendra, Music Duo Shankar Jaikishan and Singer Mukesh. First about Jaikishan. Raag Bhairavi was his favourite raaga to compose songs in. He was so fond of composing in this raag that many of S-J’s movies had more than one song composed in Bhairavi; indeed, many had four to five songs in the same raag. The song I am taking up today is from the 1959 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Anari. In addition to this song in Raag Bhairavi sung by Mukesh, there was another beautiful number in the same raag in the movie, sung by Lata Mangeshkar: Tera jaana dil ke armaano ka lut jaana.

Lyricist Shailendra

Now about Lyricist Shailendra (Please see: The Best Song Of Shailendra, The Lyricist Beyond Compare – Part I and The Best Song Of Shailendra, The Lyricist Beyond Compare – Part II). When the Filmfare award for best lyricist was introduced, Shailendra was the first one to win it in 1958, for his Yahudi song: Yeh mera deewanapan hai. Next year, he again won the same award for this song. Finally, he won it in 1968 for his Brahmachari song: Main gaayun tum so jao. His songs often had that deep meaning attribute that was best seen in the songs of the movie that he produced: Teesri Kasam (songs such as: Sajan re jhoot mat bolo khuda ke paas jaana hai), Duniya banane waale kya tere man mein samaayi, and Sajanva bairi ho gaye hamaar). The failure of this movie led to his death, at a very young age of 43 years on 14 Dec 1966 and we lost one of the best lyricists in Hindi films.

As far as singer Mukesh Chand Mathur is concerned, he was best known as the singing voice of actor Raj Kapoor though he sang for Manoj Kumar, Sunil Dutt, and even Dilip Kumar, amongst others. This song is a remarkably unique song as seen in the picture; it won Filmfare Awards for all three associated with the making of the song: Lyricist Shailendra, Composer Shankar Jaikishan and Singer Mukesh. Mukesh won Filmfare Awards for Best Singer four times: three times for songs composed by Shankar Jaikishan (the other two times for singing for Manoj Kumar) and once with Khayyam in the title song of Kabhi KabhiThe song was selected by me as my profile song as it best describes my own feelings.

We have completed seventy-eight days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our seventy-eighth post or the last post was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #78’ and the song was a Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1971 Sunil Dutt movie Reshma Aur Shera starring Sunil Dutt and Waheeda Rehman: Tu chanda main chandani. It is in Raag Mand, Tal Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Bhimpalasi – Part II‘.

In the last seventy-eight days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas, Shankara, Bahar, Nand and Mian Ki Malhar; making it a total of 61 raagas. The raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, Gara, Basant Mukhari, Malkauns, Bhairavi and Mand. Today, I am repeating Raaga Bhairavi again.

The title songs of Raj Kapoor movies were generally in Raag Bhairavi

Today’s song has been sung by Mukesh on the lyrics of Shailendra and composition by Shankar Jaikishan. As I said, it is in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Kaherava. Finally, lets talk a bit about title songs of Raj Kapoor movies. Raj Kapoor was famous for giving us a song containing the title of the movie that he acted in. Hence, there was a song: Awara hoon from 1951 movie Awara. This song became an international hit and was also in Raag Bhairavi. Then there was Barsaat mein hamase mile tum sajan from 1949 movie Barsaat, also in Raag Bhairavi. The song we are taking up tonight is from 1959 movie Anari and has the title of the movie in the mukhada. It also is in Raag Bhairavi. Even the song Satyam Shivam Sundaram had the title of the 1978 movie Satyam Shivam Sundaram in it, though composed in Darbari Kanada by Laxmikant Pyarelal after Jaikishan was no more. The song Mera naam Raju gharana anaam had the name of the 1960 movie Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behati Hai and was also in Raag Bhairavi. One can safely conclude that it was more of a rule than exception.

Before we actually take up the song, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. We have already taken up quite a few Tala or Taals or Tals. Today, we shall take up Ektal. We took up a song in this tal on the 47th day: Man Mohana bade jhuthe. It was in Raag Jaijaivanti. The 1956 movie Basant Bahar’s best song Ketaki, gulab, juhi, champak ban phule was also in Ektal.

Ektal is a very popular tal.  It is common in classical music such as the khayal, and semiclassical forms such as Rabindra Sangeet.

It has a simple structure:  12 matras divided into of six vibhags of two matras each.  Its clapping arrangement is clap, tap, wave, tap, clap, tap, wave, tap, clap, tap, clap ,tap.

It is most associated with the khayal style of singing.  A particular movement known as bada kheyal or vilambit kheyal is performed almost exclusively in very slow ektal.  However, ektal is also performed in fast khayal as well.

The name “ektal” literally means “one-clap”.  How the name came is a mystery since it has four claps:

clap, 2, wave, 2, clap, 2, wave, 2, clap, 2, clap, 2

The Theka is:

Theka for ektal

As I said, today’s song is in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Kaherava.

Raag Bhairavi is the basic raag of the Bhairavi Thaat. Bhairavi makes use of all the komal swars, Rishabh, Gandhar, Dhaivat, Nishad. When singing compositions in Bhairavi raag, the singers however take liberty to use all the 12 swars. Bhairavi raag is named after the shakti or feminine aspect of the cosmic life force, which is personified as a consort to Lord Shiva. Bhairavi is a powerful raag filled with devotion and compassion. Its Jati is Sampurna – Sampurna, which means all seven swar (heptatonic) both in Aaroha and Avaroha. I have already told you that in a concert Bhairavi is usually the concluding raaga since it is supposed to cure mistakes of the earlier performances. Hence, if a concert has started at night (which is usually the case), Bhairavi would be played in the wee hours of the morning.

A pleasant sobering atmosphere full of love and piety is created with this raag and one feels so close to the Supreme. Its compositions include several Thumris, Bhajans, Ghazals, Songs etc. Since it is an ocean of immense possibilities the melodic combinations can include all the twelve notes with skill.

I am not giving you again a list of songs composed in Raag Bhairavi as I have already given you this elsewhere.

The song Sab kuchh seekha hamane na seekhi hoshiyari is from the 1959 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Anari starring Raj Kapoor and Nutan. It received five Filmfare awards, three for this song: Lyricist, Singer and Composer. The others were: Actor Raj Kapoor and Supporting Actress Lalita Pawar.

Please enjoy in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Kaherava: Sab kuchh seekha hamane na seekhi hoshiyari…….

Sab kuchh siikhaa hamane naa siikhii hoshiyaarii
Sach hai duniyaavaalo.n ki ham hai.n anaa.Dii

Duniyaa ne kitanaa samajhaayaa
Kaun hai apanaa kaun paraayaa
Phir bhii dil kii choT chhupaa kar
Hamane aapakaa dil bahalaayaa
Khud pe mar miTane kii ye zid thii hamaarii (2)
Sach hai duniyaavaalo.n ki ham hai.n anaa.Dii

Asalii nakalii chehare dekhe
Dil pe sau sau pahare dekhe
Mere dukhate dil se puuchho
Kyaa kyaa khvaab sunahare dekhe
TuuTaa jis taare pe nazar thii hamaarii (2)
Sach hai duniyaavaalo.n ki ham hai.n anaa.Dii

Dil kaa chaman uja.Date dekhaa
Pyaara kaa ra.nga utarate dekhaa
Hamane har jiine vaale ko
Dhan daulat pe marate dekhaa
Dil pe marane vaale mare.nge bhikhaarii (2)
Sach hai duniyaavaalo.n ki ham hai.n anaa.Dii

 

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

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. On the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.
  71. On the seventy-first day, we learnt about Sangita Makarand.
  72. On the seventy-second day, we learnt about TaalMala an Android application for personalized accompaniment of musical instruments during Riyaaz or even during Concert.
  73. On the seventy-third day, we learnt about Indian Classical Ragas, an Android application for mobile phones.
  74. On the seventy-fourth day, we learnt about Saregama Classical, another application for Classical Raagas.
  75. On the seventy-fifth day, we learnt about a free online service available to learn Indian Classical Music.
  76. On the seventy-sixth day, we learnt about List of Hindustani Classical Musical Festivals in India and Abroad.
  77. On the seventy-seventh day, we learnt about List of Carnatic Musical Festivals in India and Abroad.
  78. On the seventy-eighth day, we learnt about Jhaptal.
  79. And today, on the seventy-ninth day, we learnt about Ektal.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

AS ABSURD AS IT CAN GET

As soon as you start talking about absurdity, you are reminded of the German writer Franz Kafka. Even though he lived in the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, many of his novels are famous and relevant even now such as Der Process that was translated into The Trial (I still have a personal copy). He didn’t complete any of his novels and burnt 90 percent of his drafts. Even at that, Franz Kafka was so important that there is a word called Kafkaesque which is translated into: characteristic or reminiscent of the oppressive or nightmarish qualities of Franz Kafka’s fictional world.

Now why did I labour to give you a run-down on Franz Kafka? Whenever you think of absurd, bizarre or even surrealistic  scenarios, you automatically think of Kafka. I thought about him for greater part of my career in the Indian Navy. I thought about him whilst writing my first blog on retirement about my time in the Navy: ‘I Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest – Did I?‘ I thought about him when a C-in-C issued me a Letter of Severe Displeasure for having brought out that a fire-fighting system wasn’t ever working since its so-called commissioning by the MES (and then had his minions struggling to prove that it became non-functional only during my tenure, by my oversight). I thought about him when I saw the 1983 Kundan Shah movie Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro wherein the complainants against corruption in Indian politics eventually found themselves behind bars. And I thought about him during and after the incident I am about to describe.

After many many months of waiting we had finally got a house in New Delhi. When we were posted at Naval Headquarters, two years was as fast as any Shatabdi (Centenary) Express could get (no one had heard of Dorontos and Bullet Trains). Our house was in SP Marg Defence Officers Residential Area. SP Marg is, of course, named after the Iron Man of India: Vallabhbhai Patel or simply Sardar Patel. We, in our area, were there to live SP’s legacy.

At the first meeting of the members of our Residential Area or Park, various office bearers were chosen: the Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer and inevitably a Security Chief. RR was to be our Security Chief. He looked tough and exuded confidence. Within no time he issued detailed instructions about how Security was to be maintained in the Park. He followed it up with series of shibboleths about how ‘Security was Everybody’s Concern’ and how it was incumbent upon people like us engaged in national security to have our house in order. Those were the days when terror and jihad had been contained in J&K only and SP Marg Defence Officers Residential Area was as far from terror as India was from winning a Gold at Olympics. However, within no time all of us agreed that security had been tightened in our area. The most vociferous were the ladies who carried grocery and vegetables and fruits bags through the gate and were asked to show security passes with their third hands. They were the terror.

Every committee meeting of our area commenced with congratulating RR for having plugged all security loopholes and leaving no stone unturned in raising the level of security awareness amongst the denizens. Naturally, RR basked in this adulation and had put on a few inches of height.

One Sunday forenoon (Sundays were the days of the committee meeting), the Chairman once again welcomed everyone and started adding another few hundred words about the commitment and dedication of RR. We noticed that instead of being joyous about it, RR had an air of extreme sadness about his praise and every word made him wince. The Chairman noticed it too and asked RR to explain.

It appeared from his painfully recited account that just a few days before the meeting there was a huge theft at his house and everything precious had been taken.

Chairman: But how did the thieves enter? Your house is on the third floor.
RR: Through the door.
Chairman: But, wasn’t the door locked?
RR: Yes, Sir, it was. The thieves removed the door from its hinges, removed the lock and then carted everything such as TV and VCR on the door itself.
Chairman: And where were you at that time?
RR: We had gone to the market to buy locks for the cupboards that used to be earlier unlocked but with the new security instructions…..

The Chairman didn’t ask but I knew the next obvious question would have been: But, didn’t they know that you are the Security Chief?

By now you are scratching your head and unable to make out the preamble about Franz Kafka, isn’t it? I don’t blame you. FK was yet to make his appearance. FK appeared when RR went to the MES office to have them put up a door, in place of the missing door, so that the family could sleep secure at night.

The MES man told them that it couldn’t be done since their records showed there was already a door there.

RR (Enraged): But, goddammit, there isn’t one now.
MES Man (Calmly): Sorry, Sir, our records show each house has been provided with a door.
RR (Cooling down, realising the impending night was only a few hours away): Listen, we have to sleep at night and we need a front door badly. Can’t you do something about it?
MES Man (Always so helpful): Yes, Sir, first you pay the barrack damages for the existing door and then it can be replaced provided a spare one is available.

I remember how Franz Kafka’s Das Schloss (The Castle) ended (or was supposed to end since I have already told you he didn’t complete any of his novels). A character called ‘K’ was often the hero of his novels and stories. As the story of The Castle unfolded, K arrived in a village and went through reams of bureaucratic red-tapism to ask for full rights to stay in the village from authorities that controlled the village from a castle. After series of struggles, in the end, the Castle authorities notified him on his death-bed that his legal claim to live in the village wasn’t a valid one (as per their records), but he was being temporarily allowed to reside there considering the special circumstances.

P.S. (Please also read: ‘Three Things I’d Like To Change If I Were To Join The Armed Forces Again – Part I‘, which is about ‘Bureaucratic Red-Tapism’ in the armed forces).
P.P.S. Even though the incident about RR is a real one, please don’t start seeing parallels between this and security breaches elsewhere, say, in Kargil or Pathankot and the follow-up actions taken by us to plug the loopholes.

MEN IN LUNGI VERSUS MEN IN UNIFORM

Lets face it, the guys (or girls or whosoever) who designed uniforms for the armed forces, did a smart job of it and rejected our heritage of combat in dhoti, langote, lungi and the like. Guru Gobind Singh was the first one to signal departure from d.l.l. and the like in his army that fought the mughals and directed the Khalsa to assimilate five Ks so as to have smart turnout in battle.

Lets also face it, you can’t be in uniform throughout, certainly not on Sundays when you want to relax. That’s the time when some of us return to our roots or d.l.l. and let it all hang down or up, depending upon what we are wearing. Of course there is a joke – now hackneyed – of this Punjabi in his vest and one of the Ks on a sunday but still sporting a neck-tie. When asked about the strange combination, he replied with aplomb that the former was for relaxing on a sunday and the latter just in case some guests came visiting.

Seeing an officer in d.l.l. can be a very comical sight especially if you are accustomed to seeing him in smart naval uniform and especially if he is an officer much senior to you. One can imagine that with one small item missing from the uniform such as name-tally or tag, one can earn a rebuke of “being naked on parade”. Hence, a man in dhoti or lungi without shirt and footwear would be much closer to being undressed.

My better half has all the good qualities of being a good naval wife except that she can’t make out one rank from the other (Please also see: ‘Married To The Mob‘). Her difficulty, such as the way it is, is multiplied manifold if the officer is not in uniform. Her good qualities include being very social otherwise and always able to help out the neighbourhood with whatever is required to make life amiable and comfortable.

Hence, when a new officer and family shifted in our neighbourhood, Lyn put on her Girl Scout’s act and knocked at their door to ask if we could do anything to make their shifting in our neighbourhood easier. She returned after a while red-faced and said that she was very embarrassed. My probing brought out that she had knocked at the door and their servant in lungi and vest opened the door and she asked him, “Sahib aur mem-sahib ghar mein hain kyaa?” (“Are the sahib and mem-sahib at home?”) and this servant responded, “Tell me what can I do for you, lady?”

A Navy man, with his brother officer slighted (to be thought of as a servant because he was dressed in lungi and vest), doesn’t take very kindly to the lack of respect for rank prevalent amongst people. Therefore, I let her have it for her inability to recognise an officer just because he wasn’t in uniform. I told her that it took ages to have the air of an officer and uniform only added to the demeanour that is so typical. “Shame on you”, I concluded, “For having been a navy officer’s wife for seven long years and still not being able to read the tell-tale signs of an officer.”

She was taken aback by my strong reaction. However, I felt that like any other officer worth his salt, I must send a signal to take officers and their ranks seriously.

That same evening there was an electric supply failure in our building. Like any other Indian faced with this frequent situation, I looked out of the window and found that other buildings had lights. During those days I was a telly fan and my favourite programme was to start in fifteen minutes. We didn’t have a residential telephone (I was only a Commander whereas such perks as residential telephones and staff-cars were given to only Commodores and above). Hence, I went to the neighbour’s and phoned up the MES complaints Room. Fifteen minutes later the TV programme would have started and yet there was no sign of the MES Electrician. Hence, once again I went to the neighbour’s house to make another call to him. I had to repeat this another three times at fifteen minutes intervals. The MES man kept saying that he would reach our building any time; however, he was more difficult to sight than the moon is for those ladies who keep a fast for Kadwa Chauth. With each phone call, I would lose my temper more and more until I was competing with those who had etched their names in golden letters (or is it bloody letters?) in the list of those who had touched absolute rock bottom in losing temper.

A little later I was hit by Tsunami of a brain wave though nobody had heard of Tsunami at that time (indeed anything Japanese was Greek to us at that time). Could it be possible that this MES bijli-wala had gone straight to the Fuses and Meters Room in the building especially since the power failure was not at my house level but at the building level? So, I took an electric torch and headed to this room. My anger preceded me by a few steps. And sure enough, there was this MES man in his lungi and vest with a pen-torch stuck in his mouth, repairing the fuse. Good. However, since it was already more than an hour after my original call and since he appeared to have just arrived, I thought of giving him a piece of my mind. “Abhi aa rahe ho?” I began, “Kam se kam paanch baar phone kar chuka hoon main aur do ghante (a good naval officer must always exaggerate to bring home a point) ho chuke hain. Isiliye to Hindustan tarakkee nahin karta.” (“So, now you arrive? At least five times I phoned you and two hours have elapsed. This is the main reason for India not progressing as a country.”

This MES man calmly took out the pen-torch from between his teeth, turned the torch towards me and asked, “So, what can I do for you, young-man?”

I uttered garbled apologies to our new neighbour and hurried back home. By then, he had repaired the fuse and once again there were lights. This helped me to look at my wife Lyn’s earlier-in-the-day encounter with this officer in a new light. I profusely apologised to her since she was still sulking from my forenoon chastisement.

When I went to sleep that night I thanked God for having given me G.O.D., that is, Gyan Of the Day: ‘Lungis and vests, or for that matter all d.l.l. are great equalisers indeed.’

P.S. To make up for my inability, that night, to recognise demeanour that is so typical of an officer, I have been saluting everyone wearing a lungi and vest, until recently a certain Salman Khan lifted his lungi over his vest, showed me his Dixcy Scott and burst into euphoric, “Pehante hain Sirjee, pehante hain.” Ugh.

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #78

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Tu chanda main chandani ….
Raag Mand, Tal Dadra

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s song is special on several counts. Here are some of them in no particular order. The first reason is the composer Jaidev. He did it to Sunil Dutt and Waheeda Rehman in the 1963 movie Mujhe Jeene Do with the song: Raat bhi hai kuchh bheegi bheegi. Eight years later, he did it again in the 1971 movie Reshma Aur Shera with this song.

Jaidev and Lata Mangeshkar

The second reason is the singing in Raag Mand by Lata Mangeshkar. She is my favourite female singer and she simply floored me with her singing as she did in the 1999 movie Lekin’s song in the same raaga and tal that I gave you earlier: Kesariya balma (Please see: Raaga Based Song Of The Day #24). The third are the histrionics of Sunil Dutt and Waheeda. Eight years ago they did it in Moni Bhattacharjee’s Mujhe Jeene Do. Here they are back with Reshma Aur Shera, a movie produced and directed by Sunil Dutt.

One of the more significant reasons is known to my close friends, which is my number one theme in songs: Chand. In my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne (actually its predecessor Dil Ki Nazar Se), the very first Fest theme was Chand (Please see: Hindi Songs And The Importance Of Chand). Indeed, Sunil Dutt is picturised with Madhubala in a fantasy scene of mine (Boat in a lake on a full moon light) in a song put together by lyricist Shailendra, composer SD Burman and singers Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle: Chand sa mukhada kyun shrmaaya.

We have completed seventy-seven days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our seventy-seventh post or the last post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #77 and the song was a Vani Jairam song from the 1971 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Guddi starring Jaya Bahaduri in the title role and Dharmendra: Bole re papihara, papihara. It is in Raag Mian Ki Malhar, Tal Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Bhimpalasi – Part I‘.

In the last seventy-seven days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas, Shankara, Bahar, Nand and Mian Ki Malhar; making it a total of 61 raagas. The raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, Gara, Basant Mukhari, Malkauns and Bhairavi. Today, I am repeating Raaga Mand.

(Pic courtesy: Patrika)

Today’s song has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar on the lyrics of Balkavi Bairagi and composition by Jaidev. As I said, it is in Raag Mand, Tal Kaherava. Finally, lets talk a bit about Balkavi Bairagi, poet, writer, and lyricist. He was born in village Rampur in Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh. Besides this song, he has another to his credit, also composed by Jaidev: Mujhako bhi Radha bana le Nandlal for the 1984 movie Ankahee.

Before we actually take up the song, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. We have already taken up quite a few Tala or Taals or Tals. Today, we shall take up Jhaptal. We haven’t taken up a single song in this tal but we shall do so shortly.

Jhaptal is one of the most common talas in Hindustani music after Tintal or Teental. It is a ten beat tal. These ten beats are arranged in four vibhags comprising clap, clap, wave, clap respectively. Jhaptal is used in a variety of classical and semiclassical settings.  It may be found in the Khayal, Tarana, Bhajan, and Rabindra Sangeet, all of which we have learnt earlier. Series of Claps and Waves are: clap, 2, clap, 2, 3, wave, 2, clap, 2, 3. The Theka is:

Theka for jhaptal

Some of the songs with Jhaptal are: Awaz deke hamen na bulaao (Raag Shivaranjani), Aansu bhari hain ye jeevan ki raahen (Raag Kalyan), Bhaye bhanjana (Raag Mian Ki Malhar), Chali re chali re main to des praaye (Raag Tilak Kamod), Ghayal hiraniya (Raag Tilak Kamod), Masoom chehra (Raag Bhimpalasi), Pyara hamara munna (Raag Brindavani Sarang), Savere ka suraj tumhaare liye hai (Raag Kalyan), Sharaabi sharaabi ye sawan ka mausam (Raag Gaur Malhar), Sudh bisar gayi ajaa (Raag Hemant), Tumhen zindagi ke ujaale mubarak (Raag Darbari Kanada), and Zamaane ka dastoor hai ye puraana (Raag Kalyan).

As I said, today’s song is in Raag Mand, Tal Kaherava.

Raag Mand belongs to Bilawal Thaat. The other raagas belonging to this thaat are: Deskar, Hamsadhwani, and Bihag. In Bhatkhande’s system, the most basic Thaat is Bilawal. Raag Bilawal occurs in Sri Guru Granth Sahib exactly half way through, that is, it is the 16th raaga out of 31 raagas in SGGS. It occurs from page 795 to 859. In an Akhand Paath (unbroken recital), it normally occurs on the next day morning and hence it is easy to conclude that it is an early morning raaga.

Being the most basic Thaat, Bilawal is used as a reference Thaat for all other thaats. A thaat must have seven notes (swar) out of a total of twelve notes (seven shuddha, four komal (Re, Ga, Dha, Ni) and one teevra (Ma) placed in an ascending order. Hence, a thaat has only aaroha. It would be easy to visualise that thaats by themselves are not sung but the raagas belonging to them are sung. I have already told you that thaats are named after the popular raaga of that thaat; eg, Bhairavi is a thaat named after the raag Bhairavi.

One reason for Bilawal being the basic thaat is because all the swars in the thaat are shuddha, ie, in their natural scale. One never hears of Bilawal raaga these days except in SGGS. However, a variation of the raag called Alhaiya Bilawal is very common.

Raag Mand, belonging to Bilawal Thaat has all shuddha swar too. Its Jati is is Sampurna-Sampurna (Vakra). The best part of the raaga is that it is a light melody that sounds very natural (shuddha swar) but is rendered with great difficulty. No bandishes like bada-khayaals are rendered in this raaga. It is aptly suited for bhajans and ghazals. The basic format belongs to the folk tune of Rajasthan, which is the sung during festive occasions like birthdays, and marriages.

In the 1991 movie Lekin, a song in Raag Mand, Tal Dadra was sung by Lata Mangeshkar, my favourite female singer in the movies, ie, Kesariya baalma. Indeed, if you look at the list of songs in Raag Mand, you would see that most of these have been sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Here is a representative list:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Kise Karta Moorakh
Mushqil Hai Bahut Muhkil
Bachpan Ki Mohabbat
Dekh Liya Main Ne
Jo Main Janati
Bala Main Bairagan
Do Dil TooteAb To Hai Tumse
Thade Rahiyo
Aaj Sach Hua
Kesariya Balamaa
Aao gori Aao Shyama
Achhuut Kanya
Mahal
Baiju Bawara
Deedar
Shabab
Meera
Heer RanjhaAbhimaan
Pakeezah
Swarg Narak
Lekin
Tansen
Ashok Kumar
Lata
Lata
Lata, Rafi
Lata
Vani Jayaram
LataLata
Lata
Lata
Lata
Khursheed
(Poster courtesy: Wikipedia)

The song Tu chanda main chandani is from the 1971 Sunil Dutt movie Reshma Aur Shera starring Sunil Dutt and Waheeda Rehman. It was well received by the critics internationally and was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival. It was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 44th Academy Awards but was not accepted as a nominee.

Please enjoy in Raag Mand, Tal Kaherava: Tu chanda main chandani…….

Tuu cha.ndaa mai.n chaa.ndanii, tuu taruvar mai.n shaakh re
Tuu baadal mai.n bijurii, tuu pa.nchhii mai.n paat re

Naa sarovar, naa baava.Dii, naa koI Tha.nDii chhaa.nv
Naa koyal, naa papiiharaa, aisaa meraa gaa.nv re
Kahaa.N bujhe tan kii tapan, o saiyaa.n siramol
Cha.ndra-kiran to chho.D kar, jaae kahaa.N chakor
Jaag uThii hai saa.nvare, merii kuaa.nrii pyaas re
(Piyaa) a.ngaare bhii lagane lage aaj mujhe madhumaas re

Tujhe aa.nchal mai.n rakhuu.Ngii o saa.nvare
Kaalii alako.n se baa.Ndhuu.Ngii ye paa.nv re
Chal baiyaa.N vo Daaluu.n kii chhuuTe nahii.n
Meraa sapanaa saajan ab TuuTe nahii.n
Me.nhadii rachii hatheliyaa.N, mere kaajar-vaale nain re
(Piyaa) pal pal tujhe pukaarate, ho ho kar bechain re

O mere saavan saajan, o mere si.nduur
Saajan sa.ng sajanii banii, mausam sa.ng mayuur
Chaar pahar kii chaa.ndanii, mere sa.ng biThaa
Apane haatho.n se piyaa mujhe laal chunar u.Dhaa
Kesariyaa dharatii lage, ambar laalam-laal re
A.ng lagaa kar saahib re, kar de mujhe nihaal re

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. On the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.
  71. On the seventy-first day, we learnt about Sangita Makarand.
  72. On the seventy-second day, we learnt about TaalMala an Android application for personalized accompaniment of musical instruments during Riyaaz or even during Concert.
  73. On the seventy-third day, we learnt about Indian Classical Ragas, an Android application for mobile phones.
  74. On the seventy-fourth day, we learnt about Saregama Classical, another application for Classical Raagas.
  75. On the seventy-fifth day, we learnt about a free online service available to learn Indian Classical Music.
  76. On the seventy-sixth day, we learnt about List of Hindustani Classical Musical Festivals in India and Abroad.
  77. On the seventy-seventh day, we learnt about List of Carnatic Musical Festivals in India and Abroad.
  78. And today, on the seventy-eighth day, we learnt about Jhaptal.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #77

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Bole re papihara, papihara ….
Raag Mian Ki Malhar, Tal Kaherava

Vasant Desai with Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Vani Jairam and others in the recording studio (Pic courtesy: Hamara Photos)

Having raaga based songs of the day, without these two Vs – that is Vani Jairam and Vasant Desai – sounds a bit out of place. They featured together in the 1971 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Guddi that starred Jaya Bahaduri in the title role with Dharmendra as film-star Dharmendra that she was fascinated by as any young girl of her age. The song was penned by Gulzar.

First, a word about Vani Jairam. Vani Jairam or Jayaram is known as the Meera of modern India. In her four and half decades of singing career she has recorded more than 10000 songs in over 1000 Indian movies including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malyalam, Maratha, Odiya, Bengali and Gujarati. She has been awarded the National Award for Best Female Playback Singer three times and has won two Filmfare Awrads: One for Best Female Playback Singer in 1980 (for Meera’s song Mere to Giridhar Gopal composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar in Raag Khammaj, Tal Dadra/Hinch) and one in 2013, the South India Filmfare Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Vasant Desai lived between 9th June 1912 and 22 Dec 1975. Everyone has heard his song: Ai malik tere bande ham penned by Bharat Vyas for the 1953 V Shantaram movie Do Aankhen Barha Haath. I have already given you a song from his 1959 Vijay Bhatt movie Goonj Uthi Shehnai: Tere sur aur mere geet (Raag Bihag, Tal Dadra). He also composed for 1955 V Shantaram movie Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje and a number of other movies.

We have completed seventy-six days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our seventy-sixth post or the last post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #76 and the song was a Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1966 Raj Khosla movie Mera Saya starring Sunil Dutt and Sadhana: Tu jahan jahan chalega mera saya saath hoga. It is in Raag Nand, Tal Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Bhairavi – Part III‘.

In the last seventy-six days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas, Shankara, Bahar and Nand; making it a total of 60 raagas. The raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, Gara, Basant Mukhari, Malkauns and Bhairavi. Today, I am giving you a new Raag Mian Ki Malhar. That makes it a total of 61 raagas so far.

Gulzar

Today’s song has been sung by Vani Jairam on the lyrics of Gulzar and composition by Vasant Desai. As I said, it is in Raag Mian Ki Malhar, Tal Kaherava. Finally, lets talk a bit about Gulzar, the most versatile Lyricist that we have had in Hindi films: He has been poet, lyricist, director, dialogue, story and screen-play writer. He was awarded Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award — the highest award in Indian cinema. He has won several Indian National Film Awards, 20 Filmfare Awards, one Academy Award and one Grammy Award.

Shall we go head-long into the song? No, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. We have already taken up the list of Hindustani Classical Music Festivals in India and Abroad. Today, we shall take up the list of Carnatic Classical Music Festivals in India and Abroad.

So, today, you are really interested in Indian Classical Music and would like to attend a festival near your place. Here is a list of festivals that are held in India for Carnatic Classical Music (Source: Wikipedia):

Sl. No. Festival Name Ist Yr Country State City
1. Tyagaraja Aradhana 1846 India Tamilnadu Thiruvaiyaru
2. Chembai Sangeetholsavam 1910 India Kerala Guruvayur
3. Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh 1920 India U.P. Varanasi
4. Madras Music Season 1927 India Tamilnadu Chennai
5. Kalasagaram Annual Cultural Festival 1967 India A.P. Secunderabad
6. Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival 1978 USA Ohio Cleveland
7. Parampara Series – Andhri 1997 India Telengana Hyderabad
8. Swathi (Navarathri) Sangeethotsavam India Kerala Thiruvanthapuram
9. Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru 2005 India Tamilnadu Chennai
10. Theerthapada Sangeethotsavam 1988 India Kerala Thiruvanthapuram

As I said, today’s song is in Raag Mian Ki Malhar, Tal Kaherava.

Raag Mian Ki Malhar is a variation of Raag Malhar that belongs to Kafi Thaat. Earlier, I had given you a song in Raag Megh Malhar: Dukh bhare din beete re (Please see: Raaga Based Song Of The Day #20). Its Jati is Shadhav – Audhav. Mian Ki Malhar is a variation introduced by Mian Tansen (one of the ratnas in the court of the Emperor Akbar), which follows the swaras: S R g m P D n N. Though Mian Ki Malhar and Raga Bahar have the same tone material, the melodic movements in Mian Ki Malhar are rather serious and slow, moving more in the lower tetra-chord, whereas movements in Bahar are more sprightly and centre around the high Sa. Bhatkhande describes this raag as a mixture of Malhar and Kanada. This melody is associated with torrential rain and can thus be sung during rains at any time.

Some other songs composed in Raag Mian Ki Malhar are: Baadal ghumad bhar aaye (Tal Tintal), Bhaye bhanjana…darasa tere maange main tera pujari (Tal Jhaptal), Karo sab nichhavar (Tal Jhaptal), Na na barso baadal (Tal Kaherava), Nach mere mora zara nach (Tal Dadra), and Nach re mayur (Tal Kaherava).

(Poster courtesy: Amazon)

The song Bole re papihara, papihara is from the 1971 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Guddi starring Jaya Bahaduri and Dharmendra. It was later remade in Tamil as Cinema Paithiyam (1975) starring Jayachitra and Kamal Haasan.

All three songs of the movie were sung by Vani Jairam. Besides the song that I am giving you, the other two are: Hari bin kaise jiyun, and Hamako man ki shakti dena.

Please enjoy in Raag Mian Ki Malhar, Tal Kaherava: Bole re papihara, papihara…….

Bole re papiiharaa papiiharaa
Nit ghan barase, nit man pyaasaa
Nit man pyaasaa, nit man tarase
Bole re…

Palako.n par ik buu.Nd sajaae
BaiThii huu.N saavan le jaae
Jaae pii ke des me.n barase
Nit man pyaasaa, nit man tarase
Bole re…

Saavan jo sa.ndesaa laae
Merii aa.Nkh pe motii chhaae
Jaae mile baabul ke ghar se
Nit man pyaasaa, nit man tarase
Bole re…

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. On the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.
  71. On the seventy-first day, we learnt about Sangita Makarand.
  72. On the seventy-second day, we learnt about TaalMala an Android application for personalized accompaniment of musical instruments during Riyaaz or even during Concert.
  73. On the seventy-third day, we learnt about Indian Classical Ragas, an Android application for mobile phones.
  74. On the seventy-fourth day, we learnt about Saregama Classical, another application for Classical Raagas.
  75. On the seventy-fifth day, we learnt about a free online service available to learn Indian Classical Music.
  76. On the seventy-sixth day, we learnt about List of Hindustani Classical Musical Festivals in India and Abroad.
  77. And today, on the seventy-seventh day, we learnt about List of Carnatic Musical Festivals in India and Abroad.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #76

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Tu jahan jahan chalega mera saya saath hoga ….
Raag Nand, Tal Kaherava

Lata Mangeshkar flanked by Laxmikant Pyarelal with Sadhana and Raj Khosla on the right (Pic courtesy: Learning and Creativity)

Some of Lata Mangeshkar’s best songs are picturised on Sadhana. These include: O sajana barkha bahar aayi, Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki kasam, Nainon mein badra chhaye, Lag jaa gale  ke phir, Naina barse rimjhim rimjhim and Tera mera pyaar amar phir kyun mujhako lagata hai dar. Many of these have been composed by Lata ji’s “Madan bhaiyya”, ie, Madan Mohan. Many of these are from Raj Khosla movies; he made a triology of suspense movies starring Sadhana: Woh Kaun Thi, Mera Saya and Anita. This one is from his 1966 movie Mera Saya, the title song of the movie. Sadhana had Sunil Dutt opposite her in the movie.

We have completed seventy-five days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our seventy-fifth post or the last post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #75 and the song was a Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1961 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Chhaya starring Sunil Dutt, Asha Parekh and Nirupa Roy: Chham chham nachat aayi bahar. It is in Raag Bahar, Tal Tintal, Punjabi Theka, Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Bhairavi – Part II‘.

In the last seventy-five days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas, Shankara and Bahar; making it a total of 59 raagas. The raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, Gara, Basant Mukhari, Malkauns and Bhairavi. Today, I am giving you a new Raag Nand. That makes it a total of 60 raagas so far.

Today’s song has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar on the lyrics of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and composition by Madan Mohan. As I said, it is in Raag Nand, Tal Kaherava.

However, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. Today, we shall learn about list of Hindustani Classical Music Festivals in India and Abroad.

So, now, you are really interested in Indian Classical Music and would like to attend a festival near your place. Here is a list of festivals that are held in India for Hindustani Classical Music (Source: Wikipedia):

Sl. No. Festival Name Ist Yr Country State City
1. Rajarani Music Festival

(Annual Event)

India Odisha Bhubaneswar
2. Qutub Festival India Delhi New Delhi
3. Karikan Parameshwari moonlight Sangeeta Festival India Karnataka Honnavar
4. Gunidaas Sangeet Samaroh India Maharashtra Mumbai
5. Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan 1875 India Punjab Jalandhar
6. Tansen Samaroh 1950s India M.P. Gwalior
7. Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan 1952 India Maharashtra Mumbai
8. Dover Lane Music Conference 1952 India West Bengal Kolkata
9. Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival 1953 India Maharashtra Pune
10. Uttarpada Sangeet Chakra 1955 India West Bengal Uttarpada
11. Sabrang Utsav 1968 India Delhi Delhi
12. ITC SRA Sangeet Sammelan 1971 India Various Various
13. Pandit Motiram Pandit

Maniram Sangeet Samaroh

1972 India A.P. Hyderabad
14. Saptak Festival of Music 1980 India Gujarat Ahmedabad
15. Ganga Mahotsava 1985 India Various Varanasi
16. Nila Festival, Kerala

Kalamandalam

1986 India Kerala Cheruthuruthy
17. Pandit Chatur Lal Festival 1990 India New Delhi Delhi
18. Sangeet Martand Ustad Chand

Khan Music Festival

1992 India New Delhi Delhi
19. Virasat 1995 India Various Various
20. Ruhaniyat – The All India Sufi & Mystic Music Festival 2001 India Various Mumbai/Various
21. Jahan-e-Khusrau 2001 India New Delhi Delhi
22. Sitar in Petersburg 2008 Russia NW District St. Petersburg
23. SwaraZankar Music Festival 2009 India Maharashtra Pune
24. Riwaayat 2010 India A.P. Hyderabad
25. Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow

Festival

2010 India U.P. Lucknow
26. Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant Festival 2010 India Maharashtra Mumbai
27. Chaturprahar 2011 India Maharashtra Mumbai
28. Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen

Festival, Hyderabad

2012 India A.P. Hyderabad
29. Swara Samrat Festival

(One time event)

2013 India West Bengal Kolkata
30. Tihai, Shatatantri Media September 18-20 2014 USA San Francisco California

As I said, today’s song is in Raag Nand, Tal Kaherava.

Raag Nand belongs to Kalyan Thaat. Its Jati is Shadhav – Sampurna Vakra (Rishabh Varjya in Aaroha, Both Madhyams. Rest all Shuddha Swaras). Raag Nand is also known as Anandi, Anandi Kalyan or Nand Kalyan. This melody impresses instantly and without any difficulty creates its own unique mood. It is to be performed during the second prahar of the night, ie, 9 PM to Midnight.

I do not know of any other song composed in Raag Nand.

(Poster courtesy: Wikipedia)

The song Tu jahan jahan chalega mera saya saath hoga is from the 1966 Raj Khosla movie Mera Saya starring Sunil Dutt and Sadhana. The film was inspired by Marathi film called Pathlaag (Chase) but Mera Saaya was remake of Tamil film Idhaya Kamalam.

The movie had beautiful songs penned by Raj Mehdi Ali Khan and composed by Madan Mohan. Besides this, the movie had others:

1 “Jhumka Gira Re” Asha Bhosle 03:29
2 “Aap Ke Pahloo Mein” Mohammed Rafi 03:32
3 “Mera Saaya Saath” Lata Mangeshkar 06:02
4 “Nainon Mein Badra” Lata Mangeshkar 03:34
5 “Nainon Wali Ne” Asha Bhosle 02:56
6 “Mera Saaya Saath – 2” Lata Mangeshkar 04:21

Please enjoy in Raag Nand, Tal Kaherava: Tu jahan jahan chalega, mera saya saath hoga…….

Tuu jahaa.N jahaa.N chalegaa, meraa saayaa, saath hogaa
Meraa saayaa, meraa saayaa

Kabhii mujhako yaad karake, jo bahe.nge tere aa.Nsuu
To vahii.n pe rok le.nge, unhe.n aake mere aa.Nsuu
Tuu jidhar kaa rukh karegaa, meraa saayaa, saath hogaa …

Tuu agar udaas hogaa, to udaas huu.Ngii mai.n bhii
Nazar aauu.N yaa naa aauu.N, tere paas huu.Ngii mai.n bhii
Tuu kahii.n bhii jaa rahegaa, meraa saayaa, saath hogaa …

Mai.n agar bichha.D bhii jaauu.N, kabhii meraa Gam na karanaa
Meraa pyaar yaad karake, kabhii aa.Nkh nam na karanaa
Tuu jo mu.Dake dekh legaa, meraa saayaa, saath hogaa …

Meraa Gam rahaa hai shaamil, tere dukh me.n, tere Gam me.n
Mere pyaar ne diyaa hai, teraa saath har janam me.n
Tuu koI janam bhii legaa, meraa saayaa saath hogaa …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9ENm1Frqxc

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. On the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.
  71. On the seventy-first day, we learnt about Sangita Makarand.
  72. On the seventy-second day, we learnt about TaalMala an Android application for personalized accompaniment of musical instruments during Riyaaz or even during Concert.
  73. On the seventy-third day, we learnt about Indian Classical Ragas, an Android application for mobile phones.
  74. On the seventy-fourth day, we learnt about Saregama Classical, another application for Classical Raagas.
  75. On the seventy-fifth day, we learnt about a free online service available to learn Indian Classical Music.
  76. And today, on the seventy-sixth day, we learnt about List of Hindustani Classical Musical Festivals in India and Abroad.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #75

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Chham chham nachat aayi bahar ….
Raag Bahar, Tal Tintal. Punjabi Theka, Kaherava

Yesterday, I gave you one of Mohammad Rafi’s best raaga based songs: Nache man mora magan dhig dha dhigi dhigi. That got me started on other Nach (Dance) songs and then I realised that I haven’t given you, so far, any song in Raag Bahar, Basant Bahar, and Basant.

Dancing Queen Asha Parekh

I have taken this song from the 1961 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Chhaya starring Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh; Asha Parekh being the same actress who gave us that delightful dance on Nache man mora. It is not a surprise that she was known as the Dancing Queen. The songs of this movie were composed by Salil Chowdhury. One of the movie’s songs: Itna na mujhase tu pyar jata was composed by Salil da on Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 since he was influenced by his father’s collection of Western Classical Music. It is remarkable to see that in the same movie Salil da has this beautiful raaga based song too, proving his versatility.

Lata Mangeshkar with Salil Chowdhury

Yesterday, I also mentioned how it is fashionable amongst some people to suggest that some other male singer, eg Manna Dey, perhaps, sang classical songs better than him; which is not really true. In the same manner, there are people who compare Lata to Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle and tend to tilt in favour of the latter. I for one have both Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar as my favourites and would like to bring out that Lata was the composers’ delight in singing and delivered 100 percent of times, whatever be the genre’ of music, which includes even singing “sexily” that OP Nayyar accused her of not having the ability of (Please listen sometimes to ‘Aankhon mein aankhen naa daalo mujhe kuchh hota hai’, a composition of Shankar Jaikishan for the 1969 movie Tumse Achha Kaun Hai; the title itself being so apt for Lata ji). Chham chham nachat aayi bahar has been sung beautifully by the Nightingale of India: Lata Mangeshkar.

We have completed seventy-four days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our seventy-fourth post or the last post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #74 and the song was a Mohammad Rafi song from the 1963 RK Rakhan movie Meri Surat Teri Ankhen starring Ashok Kumar, Asha Parekh and Pradeep Kumar: Nache man mora magan dhig dha dhigi dhigi. It is in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Tintal/Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Bhairavi – Part I‘.

In the last seventy-four days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas and Shankara; making it a total of 58 raagas. The raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, Gara, Basant Mukhari, Malkauns and Bhairavi. Today, I am giving you a new Raag Bahar. That makes it a total of 59 raagas so far.

Today’s song has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar on the lyrics of Rajendra Krishan and composition by Salil Chowdhury. As I said, it is in Raag Bahar, Tal Tintal, Punjabi Theka, Kaherava.

However, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. Today, we shall learn about one of the free online services available to learn Indian Classical Music.

The organisation is called Sharda with this link: https://www.sharda.org/ and the description given by them is:

“Through small video clip lessons where you can actually view and listen as if face to face how to sing & play. Also complete notations and explanations are given.There is no substitute to a good teacher or coach (a guru) near you. These lessons will help if you can not find any music teacher or coach near you.

If you want to learn Indian Music in any form – Classical or light e.g. Raag or Ghazal/film songs, it is important to learn basics of Indian Hindustani Classical Music in a systematic way through Sa Re Ga Ma Pa … and Raag. Our lessons at Sharda will help you to learn from beginning for beginners and advanced for those who have already learned in easy to follow step by step lessons. These lessons are for all ages. More and more lessons are added every month.

With Free lessons there will be Premium Lessons for which you will need to pay just $5 per month or less to view ALL Premium lessons for Vocal and Sitar both. This is just to cover the costs. There are more discounted Membership Options.”

Raag Bahar belongs to the Kafi Thaat. Raga Kafi has a direct lineage with the folk music of India. Folk music in Tappa, Hori, Dadra, Kirtan and Bhajans from different parts of India have been composed in this raga form for ages.

The Jati of Raag Bahar is Audhav-Shadhav Vakra (Rishabh and Pancham Varjya in Aaroha, Dhaivat Varjya in Avroha. Gandhar Komal, both Nishads. Rest All Shuddha Swaras. The time for performing this raag is second prahar of the night, ie, from 9 PM to midnight and the season is Spring. Raag Bahar is a beautiful Raag that most appropriately brings out nature’s beautiful blessings.

Some of the other songs composed in Raag Bahar are:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Baag Laga Doon
Kaliyan Sang
Chham Chham Nachat
Bahar Aayi
Pawan Deewani
Chit Nandan
Aaye Hoon Main
Woh Chup Rahein
Sooni Sooni Saans
Aayi Bahar Aaj
Khil Gayi Kaliyaan
Preet Basi Hai
Saaz Ho Tum, Awaaz Hoon Main
Kahay Ghata Mein
Jhuka Jhuka Ke Nigahein
Tansen
Shaap Mochan
Chhaya
Jai Hanuman
Dr. Vidya
Do Kaliyaan
Do Anjaane
Jahan Ara
Laal Patthar
Aarzoo
Sau Saal Baad
Neela Aakash
Saaz Aur Awaaz
Suvarn Sundari
Miss Coca Cola
K L Saigal
D. V. Paluskar
Lata
Asha, Mahendra
Lata
Asha
Lata
Lata
Asha
Chorus
Lata, Manna Dey
Asha
Rafi
Lata, Rafi
Asha, Mukesh
(Poster courtesy: MusicIndiaOnline)

The song Chham chham nachat aayi bahar is from the 1961 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Chhaya starring Sunil Dutt, Asha Parekh and Nirupa Roy, who received the Best Supporting Actress Award for the movie. Besides Itna na mujhase tu pyar jata sung by Talat Mehmood and Lata Mangeshkar, based on Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, the movie had another beautiful number in Aansu samajh ke kyun mujhe aankh se toone gira diya.

Please enjoy in Raag Bahar, Tal Tintal, Punjabi Tekha, Kaherava: Chham chham nachat aayi bahar…….

Chham chham naachat aaI bahaar – 2
PaaT paaT ne lii anga.DaaI
Jhuum rahii hai Daar Daar
Chham chham naachat aaI bahaar – 2

(Mahak rahii hai phulavaarii
Nikharii kyaarii kyaarii ) – 2
Phuul phuul par joban aayaa
Kalii kalii ne kiyaa si.ngaar
Chham chham naachat aaI bahaar – 2

(Man matavaaraa Dole
Jaane kyaa kyaa bole ) – 2
NaI navelii aashaa jaagii
Jhuumat manavaa baar baar
Chham chham naachat aaI bahaar – 2

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. On the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.
  71. On the seventy-first day, we learnt about Sangita Makarand.
  72. On the seventy-second day, we learnt about TaalMala an Android application for personalized accompaniment of musical instruments during Riyaaz or even during Concert.
  73. On the seventy-third day, we learnt about Indian Classical Ragas, an Android application for mobile phones.
  74. On the seventy-fourth day, we learnt about Saregama Classical, another application for Classical Raagas.
  75. And today, on the seventy-fifth day, we learnt about a free online service available to learn Indian Classical Music.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #74

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Nache man mora magan dhig dha dhigi dhigi ….
Raag Bhairavi, Tal Tintal/Kaherava

I feel that I haven’t given you enough of what is known as the Queen of Melodies: Raag Bhairavi. So far I have given you just two songs: Babul mora naihar chhooto hi jaaye, one of the finest examples of this raag (Tal Kaherava; ‘Please see: Raaga Based Song Of The Day #11′); and Tumhi ho mata pita tumhi ho after I lost my mother on 09 Aug 17 (Tal Kaherava; Please see:Raaga Based Song Of The Day #57). I haven’t given you, for example, any of Jaikishan songs; he was so fond of Bhairavi that he named his daughter Bhairavi. Indeed, so popular is this raaga for composing Hindi songs that for the next hundred days I can keep giving you songs in this raaga and will still have some songs left.

This one is a favourite on many counts. The first one is Mohammad Rafi, the best male singer that we ever had and perhaps shall ever have. It is fashionable for people to say, without knowing enough, that perhaps Manna Dey was a better singer of classical songs. I like Manna Dey too but he is nowhere near the range of Rafi Saab. The second is the superb composition by SD Burman not only for this song but in other songs of the movie Meri Soorat Teri Aankhen such as Poochho na kaise maine rayn bitayi (I have already given you this, in Raag Ahir Bhairav; Please see: ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #22’) and Tere bin soone nain hamare (Raag Pilu, Tal Dadra). Indeed, composers like SD Burman and Naushad are the reasons I started learning about raaga based songs.

(Pic courtesy: Indianetzone)

The third reason is that Tabla accompaniment to Mohammad Rafi was Pandit Samta Prasad (Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri), a legend in his own right. Please recall what I told you about Taal (Rhythm) in the beginning (Please see: Raaga Based Song Of The Day #2). I told you that Taal or Tal has literally come from Taali (Clap) and that’s how rhythm used to be kept at one time. Nowadays, Tabla does it but you still see, in concerts, people keeping rhythm by Clap or Wave of the hand. That’s the importance of Tabla for you. This song has two different Tal at two different stages of the song: Tintal and Kaherava. In addition, this song has so much dependance on Tabla that only a maestro could have done justice to it. Pandit Samta Prasad (by the way, he was RD Burman’s guru in music) did it so exellently.

We have completed seventy-three days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our seventy-third post or the last post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #73 and the song was a Mohammad Rafi song from the 1957 Kedar Kapoor movie Miss Bombay starring Ajit, Nalini Jaywant and Rehman: Zindagi bhar gham judaai ka mujhe tadpaayega. It is in Raag Malkauns, Tal Rupaktal.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: ‘The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Yaman – Part III‘.

In the last seventy-three days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas and Shankara; making it a total of 58 raagas. The raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, Gara, Basant Mukhari and Malkauns. Today, I am repeating Raag Bhairavi.

Today’s song has been sung by Mohammad Rafi on the lyrics of a great lyricist: Shailendra (he was the lyricist (together with Hasrat Jaipuri) for one of the best Raaga Based Songs movies Basant Bahar with compositions by Shankar Jaikishan. Interestingly, Pandit Samta Prasad played Tabla in that movie too) and on a composition by SD Burman. As I said, it is in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Tintal/Kaherava.

However, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. Today, we shall learn about Saregama Classical, another application available on Google Play with subscription (Free trial available). Here is the description:

Saregama Classical App, the one stop destination for Indian Classical music with 10,000 music compositions featuring 400 artistes, 50 editor’s choice channels and 14 instruments.

Activate your free trial from your first registered device

This app features:
50 Curated Editor’s Choice Stations:
– Listed basis artistes and instruments
– Enjoy unique commentary by musicologists, aficionados and specialists. Includes anecdotes, information on Raagas, and biographical bites
– Get information on Raaga and Taala of the currently playing song

Rich Content:
– Carnatic Artistes include: M.S. Subbulakshmi, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, T.M. Krishna, M.S. Gopalakrishnan, U. Srinivas, and many more
– Hindustani artistes include: Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ustad Amir Khan, , Pt. Jasraj, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Rahul Sharma, and many more
– Instrumental Radio Stations include: Violin, Veena, Mandolin, Mridangam, Tabla, Guitar, Sarangi, Flute, Nadaswaram, Sitar and Shehnai
– Raagas library include: Bhairavi, Marwa, Indira Kalyan, Megh Malhar, Jog, Pilu, Darbari, Hamsadhwani, Dhanyasi, Mohanam and many more
– Songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam

Film Music:
– Listen to Bollywood and Tamil film songs based on raagas
– Each song is complemented by a commentary that describes how the raaga has been used in that specific song

Classical Studio:
– Watch videos of Indian classical maestros deliver soulful music

Other Features:
– Link up to 4 mobile devices to a single subscription account
– Use our Offline feature and listen to your favourite songs without being connected to the internet
– Tune into the ‘What’s new section to listen to the newest tracks added on the app
– Listen to the songs recommended by our editor under the Specials section of the app
– Value for money subscription plans available in monthly, semi-annual or annual options

Remember! Your subscription automatically renews at the prevailing subscription rates for Google Play & PayTM account users.
If you have paid through Google Wallet, go to subscription list in your Google Play account, to turn off auto renewal.
If you have paid through PayTM, go to ‘My Account’ under the main menu of the app & tap Cancel Subscription.
No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period.
Subscribe to Saregama Classical for as low as Rs. 99 for a month, Rs. 199 for 3 months, Rs. 495 for 6 months and Rs. 890 for a year (within India). If you are from US, plans start from $2.99 for a month.
Please go to http://www.saregama.com/classic-static/privacy_policy and http://www.saregama.com/classic-static/faq for more information.
All content available on this application is legitimate and owned by publisher, Saregama India Ltd.

– For Android: 4.0 and above.

As I mentioned, today’s song is composed in Raag Bhairavi Tal Tintal/Kaherava.

Raag Bhairavi is the basic raag of the Bhairavi Thaat. Bhairavi makes use of all the komal swars, Rishabh, Gandhar, Dhaivat, Nishad. When singing compositions in Bhairavi raag, the singers however take liberty to use all the 12 swars. Bhairavi raag is named after the shakti or feminine aspect of the cosmic life force, which is personified as a consort to Lord Shiva. Bhairavi is a powerful raag filled with devotion and compassion. Its Jati is Sampurna – Sampurna, which means all seven swar (heptatonic) both in Aaroha and Avaroha. I have already told you that in a concert Bhairavi is usually the concluding raaga since it is supposed to cure mistakes of the earlier performances. Hence, if a concert has started at night (which is usually the case), Bhairavi would be played in the wee hours of the morning.

A pleasant sobering atmosphere full of love and piety is created with this raag and one feels so close to the Supreme. Its compositions include several Thumris, Bhajans, Ghazals, Songs etc. Since it is an ocean of immense possibilities the melodic combitions can include all the twelve notes with skill.

Some of the other songs composed in Raag Bhairavi are:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
Baat Chalat Nayi Chunri
Kaisay Jaaoon Jamuna Kay Teer
Chod Gaye Baalam
Sudh Bisar Gayee
Baat Chalat Nayi
Saanwaray Saanwaray
Phul Gendwa Na Maaro
Laga Chunari Mein Daag
Hato Kaahe Ko
Jo Tum Todo Piya
Meray Aey Dil Bata
Mori Cham Cham Bajay
Tu Ganga Ki Mauj
Sun Neel Kamal
Madhukar Shyam Hamaray
Babul Mora Naihar
Mat Ja Jogi
Bhagwan Do Ghadi
Ab Teray Siva Kaun
Dheeray Dheeray Aaray
Piu Piu Bol
Aaee Diwali
Hamein To Shamein Gam
Akeli Mat Jaeeyo
Kya Mil Gaya Bhagwan
Main To Girdhar
Saiyan Ho Tose
Bujhti Hui Is Jot
Bajuband Khul Khul
Tu Pyar Kare Ya
Armaan Bhare Dil
Shri Ram Bhajo Such Mein
Piya Ji Main To
Karam Gati Tare
Dekho Ji Bahar Aayi
Aaya Hai Mujhe Phir
Dil Ka Khilona Haye Toot Gaya
Kaise Samjhaoon
Duniya BananewalayNa Tufan Say KheloTumharay Sang Main Bhi
Khamosh Hai Khewanhar
Do Hanso Ka Joda
Main Pyar Se Teray
Tumhee Ho Mata, Pita Tumheen Ho
Main Dekhoon Jis Or Sakhi
Insaaf Ka Mandir
Main Zindagi Mein
Jot Se Jot Jagaatay Chalo
Sajna Kahe Nahin
Babul Mora
Shyam Mohe Chakar
Aaja Sawariya
Ladki
Devta
Barsaat
Sangeet Samrat Tansen
Rani Roopmati
Anuradha
Dooj Ka Chand
Dil Hi To Hai
Manzil
Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje
Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje
Ghoonghat
Baiju Bawara
Chitralekha
Bhakt Surdas
Street Singer
Jogan
Bahar
Kismat
Kismat
Bandhan
Ratan
Jugnu
Lalat
Anmol Ghadi
Jogan
Nai Raahein
Lajawab
Bajuband
Dekh Kabira Roya
Ambar

Milan
Milan
Azaad
Devar
Goonj Uthi Shehnai
Suraj
Teesri KasamUdan KhatolaSohni Mahiwal
Amar
Ganga Jamuna
Saathi
Main Chup Rahoongi
Anita
Amar
Barsaat
Sant Gyaneshwar
Badnam Basti
Avishkar
Meera
Gaman
Geeta Roy
Lata Mangeshkar
Mukesh, Lata
Manna Dey
Krishnrao, Mohd.Rafi
Lata
Manna Dey
Manna Dey
Manna Dey
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata, Manna Dey
Lata Mangeshkar
Rafi, Lata
Ram Dulari
K. L. Saigal
K. L. Saigal
Geeta Roy
Geeta Roy
Amirbai Karnataki
Arun, Amir
Pradeep
Zohrabai Ambalawali
Noorjahan
Heerabai Barodkar
Noorjahan
Geeta Roy
Rafi , Asha
Geeta Roy
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Geeta Dutt, Talat Mehmood
K. C. Dey
Lata Mangeshkar
Manna Dey
Lata Mangeshkar
Mukesh
Lata Mangeshkar
Rafi, Lata
MukeshMohd. RafiLata
Lata
Lata
Lata
Lata
Lata
Mohd. Rafi, chorus
Mohd. Rafi
Lata & Mukesh
Ghulam Mustafa
Jagjit & Chitra Singh
Vani Jayaram
Hiradevi Mishra
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
110.
Aapki Yaad Aati Rahi Raat Bhar
O Bansi Bajaiya
Ho Gori Tori Baanki
Jara Man Ki
Satyam Shivam Sundaram
Jo Tum Todo
Rang Mahal Kay
Kanha Re Peed Sahi Na Jaye
Meri Jaan
Aey Ji O Dekha Pyar
Hai Re Main To
Jo Bhajay Hari Tero Naam
Dil Ka Na Karna Aitbar
Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath
Suno Choti Si Gudiya Ki
Sar Pay Kadam Ki Chaiya
Sun Le Baapu Ye Paigam
Meray Man Ki Ganga
Mujhko Is Raat Ki
Chhaliya Mera Naam
Ek Paisa Day Day
Main Chali Main Chali
Garib Jaan Kay
Chahe Koi Mujhay
Sur Badle Kaisay
Piya Te Kahan Gayo
Ye Zindagi Kay Melay
Aey Dil Ab Kahin
Yahi Hai Vo Sanjh Aur Savera
Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayee
Shisha-e-dil Itna Na
Mera Naam Raju
Hothon Pe Sacchai Rehti Hai
Hai Aag Hamare Seene Mein
Sab Kuch Seekha Hamne
Tu Hindu Banega Na
Dil-e-betaab Ko
Tera Jaadu Na Chalega
Waqt Se Din Aur Raat
Mera Rang De Basanti
Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat
Ek Dil Aur Sau Afsane
O Shama Mujhe Phook De
Main Aashiq Hoon
Barsaat Mein
Kehta Hai Joker
Mera vichada yaar milaaday
Mera Joota Hai Japani
Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya
Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua Hai
Teri Nigahon Pe
Bane To Ban Jao
Jis Dil Mein Basa
Ae Mere Dost Ae Mere
Pagdi Samhal
Gaman
Sapne Suhane
Aadhi Raat Ke Baad
Kohinoor
Satyam Shivam Sundaram
Silsila
Satyam Shivam Sundaram
Aakrosh
Anubhav
Dekha Pyar Tumhara
Bedag
Taqdir Ka Badshah
Halaku
Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath
Seema
Bhakt Surdas
Balak
Sangam
Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere
Chhaliya
Vachan
Professor
Chhoo Mantar
Junglee
Barkha
Toofan Aur Diya
Mela
Bluff Master
Sanjh Aur Savera
Dil Apna Aur Preet Paraee
Dil Apna Aur Preet Paraee
Jis Des Mein Ganga Behti Hai
Jis Des Mein Ganga Behti Hai
Jis Des Mein Ganga Behti Hai
Anari
Dhool Ka Phool
Palki
Guest House
Waqt
Shaheed
Aah
Ek Dil Aur Sau Afsane
Aashiq
Aashiq
Barsaat
Mera Naam Joker
Sohni Mehiwaal
Shri 420
Shri 420
Shri 420
Shabnam
Dulha-Dulhan
Saheli
Meherbaan
Shaheed
Chhaya Ganguli
Suman Kalyanpur
Manna Dey
Mohd. Rafi
Lata
Lata
Lata , Nitin
Vandana Purandare
Geeta Dutt
Suman Kalyanpur
Manna Dey
Lata
Lata
Lata
Lata
Sehgal, Rajan
Hemlata
Mukesh
Mukesh
Mukesh
Asha Bhosle
Lata, Rafi
Mohd. Rafi, Geeta Dutt
Mohd. Rafi
Lata
Lata
Rafi
Hemant Kumar
Asha , Rafi
Lata
Lata
Mukesh
Mukesh
Manna Dey, Mukesh, Geeta, Lata
Mukesh
Rafi
Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur
Lata
Rafi
Rafi
Lata
Lata
Lata, Mukesh
Mukesh
Lata
Mukesh
Lata
Mukesh
Rafi, Lata, Mukesh
Manna Dey, Lata
Mukesh
Lata, Mukesh
Mukesh
Rafi
Rafi
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156.
April Fool Banaya
O Jane Wale Jao
Aa Asmaan Wale
Mera Rang De Basanti Chola
Manzil Ki Dhun Mein
Mehtaab Tera Chehra
Dhanya Bhagya Sewa Ka
Chali Pee Ke Nagar
Nain Mile Chain Kahan
Dhire Dhire Chal Chand
Mile Jo Kadi Kadi Ek
Matwala Jiya
Aana Hai To Aa
Tumko Hamari Umar lag
Ae Qaatibe Taqdir
Jab Dil Hi Toot GayaBacchhe Man Ke Sacchhe
Reshmi Salwar Kurta
Tu Pyar Kahe
Khushiyon Ke Phool
Suno Chhoti Se Gudiya
Kisi Ne Apna
Main Piya Teri
Jaise Radha Ne Maala Japi
Ae Dil Tujhe Kasam
Jeet Hi Lenge Baazi
Main Piya Teri Tu
Dil Ka Khilona
Ja Re Ud Ja Re
Baki Kuch Bachaa
Doli Chadte Hi
Beshak Mandir
Chal Chal Ae DilYeh Pyar Vyar Kya Hai
Chingari Koi Bhadke
Dil Aaj Shayar Hai
Kisi Baat Par Main
Ae Mere Dil Kahin
Ae Mere Dost
Bhor Bhaye Panghat Pe
Garibon Ki Suno
Ek Tara Bole
Jai Bolo Beimaan
Jiya Jale Jaan Jale
April Fool
Mother India
Pardes
Shaheed
Anokhi Ada
Aashiq
Sur Sangam
Sardari Begum
Basant Bahar
Love Marriage
Kasme-Vaade
Mother India
Naya Daur
Aayee Milan Ki Bela
My Sister
ShahjahanDo Kaliyan
Naya Daur
Dekh Kabira Roya
Mayurpankh
Seema
Patita
Basant Bahar
Tere Mere Sapne
Dulari
Shola Aur Shabnam
Basant Bahar
Goonj Uthi Shehnai
Maya
Roti Kapda Aur Makaan
Heer Ranjha
Bobby
Jheel Ke Us PaarDarar
Amar Prem
Gambler
Bemisal
Daag
Meherbaan
Satyam Shivam Sundaram
Dus Lakh
Yaadgaar
Beimaan
Dil Se
Rafi
Lata
Lata
Rafi, Mukesh
Mukesh
Mukesh, Lata
Kavita Krishnamurti
Aarti Anklikar
Lata, Manna Dey
Lata, Rafi
Kishore
Rafi, Lata
Rafi
Lata
K. L. Saigal
K. L. SaigalLata
Asha, Shamshad Begum
Lata
Lata
Lata
Lata
Lata
Lata
Lata
Rafi, Lata
Lata
Lata
Lata
Mukesh
Lata
Narendra Chanchal
LataAbhijeet,Alka Yagnik
Kishore
Kishore
Kishore
Talat Mehmood
Rafi
Lata
Rafi, Asha
Mahendra Kapoor
Mukesh
Lata
(Poster courtesy: LyricsBogie)

The song Nache man mora magan dhig dha dhigi dhigi is from the 1963 RK Rakhan  movie Meri Surat Teri Ankhen starring Ashok Kumar, Asha Parekh and Pradeep Kumar.

Please enjoy in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Tintal/Kaherava: Nache man mora magan dhig dha dhigi dhigi…….

aa aa aa…

Naache man moraa, magan, dhiigadhaa dhiigii dhiigii -2
Badaraa ghir aaye, rut hai bhiigii bhiigii
Naache man moraa magan, dhiigadhaa dhiigii dhiigii -2
Dhiigadhaa dhiigii dhiigii, dhiigadhaa

Bansuri: tana~~N … tan tan tan tuu~~~~N tuu
Sitar: tain tain tain, tataNtaN, tataNtaN, tataNtaN, tataNtaN

Kuhuke koyaliyaa, kuhuke koyaliyaa, kahii.n duur papiihaa pukaare
daNaNaNaNaNaN
Jhuulaa jhuule.n sakhiyaa.N, jhuulaa jhuule.n sakhiyaa.N, ke ghar aajaa baalam hamaare
Ghir aaye, badaraa ghir aaye, rut hai bhiigii bhiigii
Naache man moraa, magan, dhiigadhaa dhiigii dhiigii
Naache re man moraa re
Naache man moraa, magan…

Tan ta tan taNa tanatu tan~~ tanatu
Tainta taiN, tainta taiN

Yahii.n ruk jaaye, yahii.n ruk jaaye, ye shaam aaj Dhalane na paaye
DaNaNaNaNaNaN
TuuTe na ye sapanaa, TuuTe na ye sapanaa, ko_ii ab mujhe na jagaaye
Ghir aaye, badaraa ghir aaye, rut hai bhiigii bhiigii
Naache re man moraa, dhiigadhaa dhiigii dhiigii
E, naache man moraa re
Naache man moraa, magan…

Bansuri and sitar duet
Tain tain tain, tataNtaN, tataNtaN, tataNtaN, tataNtaN
DaNandaNandaNang DHUNg

Chhup chhup aise me.n, chhup chhup aise me.n, ko_ii madhur giit gaaye
Chhanchhanchhanchhan chhananchhan
Giito.n ke bahaane, giito.n ke bahaane, chhupii baat ho.nTho.n pe aaye
Ghir aaye, badaraa ghir aaye, rut hai bhiigii bhiigii
Naache re man moraa, dhiigadhaa dhiigii dhiigii
E, naache man moraa, aa aa
Naache man moraa, magan…

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. On the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.
  71. On the seventy-first day, we learnt about Sangita Makarand.
  72. On the seventy-second day, we learnt about TaalMala an Android application for personalized accompaniment of musical instruments during Riyaaz or even during Concert.
  73. On the seventy-third day, we learnt about Indian Classical Ragas, an Android application for mobile phones.
  74. And today, on the seventy-fourth day, we learnt about Saregama Classical, another application for Classical Raagas.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #73

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Zindagi bhar gham judaai ka mujhe tadpaayega….
Raag Malkauns, Tal Rupaktal

Asad Bhopali

I have told you several times that I am basically a Lyrical man. On Facebook, I run a page titled Lyrical as tribute to the least remembered people in the making of songs: the Lyricists. For the Birth Centenary of my favourite lyricist, Shakeel Badayuni, I did a tribute to him on my blog in six parts. This was reconstruction of my posts (three per day) on Lyrical‘. Everyday, I would also take up, a lyricist with somewhat matching lyrics to those of Shakeel. I kept two of the best in the end: Asad Bhopali and SH Bihari. On the 30th, out of 31 days, it was Asad Bhopali with his best: Woh jab yaad aaye bahut yaad aaye. Today, I have for you a song that has been penned by Asad Bhopali as well as Prem Dhawan, the lyricst who gave us: Seene mein sulagate hain armaan for the 1951 movie Taraana starring Dilip Kumar and Madhubala (one of their rare movies that didn’t have songs penned by Shakeel).

Hansraj Behl

Hansraj Behl composed the song in Raag Malkauns. I remember him best for two numbers: One, Jahan daal daal par sone ki chidhiyan karti hain basera; and two, one of my father’s favourites: Jab raat nahin katati, zindagi kaise kategi? I also remember those super hits that he composed for 1959 Punjabi movie Bhangara that I saw with my parents with such unforgettable songs as: Jatt kudiyan to darda maara, Batti baal ke banere utte rakhdi haan, Been na bajayin mundeya meri gutt sapani ban jaayegi, Rut hai milaapan wali chann mera door ni, Rabb na kare meri akh phadke, and that beautiful number: Mull wikda sajan mil jaave lai lavan main jind bech ke. The best part is that I saw this movie as a child and 58 years later I still remember the magic of those songs; that’s Hansraj Behl for you.

So far, I have given you just one song in Raag Malkauns, the best ever by Shakeel-Naushad-Rafi: Man tadpat Hari darsan ko aaj (Tal Tintal; Please see: ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #23‘).

We have completed seventy-two days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our seventy-second post or the last post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #72 and the song was a Lata Manheshkar song from the 1949 Kamal Amrohi movie Mahal: Mushkil hai bahut mushkil chaahat ka bhula dena. It is in Raag Basant Pahadi, Tal Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: ‘The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Yaman – Part II‘.

In the last seventy-two days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas and Shankara; making it a total of 58 raagas. The seven raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, Gara and Basant Mukhari. Today, I am repeating Raag Malkauns.

Today’s song has been sung by Mohammad Rafi on the lyrics of Asad Bhopali and Prem Dhawan and on a composition by Hansraj Behl. As I said, it is in Raag Malkauns, Tal Rupaktal.

However, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. Today, we shall learn about Indian Classical Ragas, an Android application for mobile phones.

Here is the description from Google Play Store:

“Raga” is a melodic mode used in Indian classical music. It is a rhythmic expression of a mood in Indian melody. “Indian Classical Ragas” is an e-Learning application where you can learn the Ragas by knowing Aaroh, Avaroh, Vaadi, Samvaadi, Prahar and some more information. Application also displays the list of famous hindi songs based on the ragas for reference.

We are in continuous process of adding more and more songs to the application hence you can expect more frequent updates to the application. Application works very well on mobile devices as well as tablet devices.

Application shows few Devnagari letters like “Swara’s”. To view them correctly; we would recommend using the application on Android version 4.2+; though few earlier versions are able to render the application without any issues. Our recommendation to use 4.2 is because; Android has officially started supporting Indic Fonts from version 4.2″

As I mentioned, today’s song is composed in Raag Malkauns, Tal Rupaktal.

Raag Malkauns or Malkaush belongs to the Bhairavi Thaat. Bhairavi makes use of all the komal swars, Rishabh, Gandhar, Dhaivat, Nishad. When singing compositions in Bhairavi raag, the singers however take liberty to use all the 12 swars. Bhairavi raag is named after the shakti or feminine aspect of the cosmic life force, which is personified as a consort to Lord Shiva. Bhairavi is a powerful raag filled with devotion and compassion.

Malkaush is another raag dedicated to Lord Shiva like Bhairav; however, to his consort Parvati. The name Malkaush is derived from the combination of Mal and Kaushik, which means he who wears a garland of snakes; ie, Shiva. It is believed that the raaga was composed by Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati to calm him down. As a matter of interest all pentatonic raagas belong to Shaivait musical school and so does Malkaush.

Its Jati is Audhav-Audhav. The five notes used are: Sa, komal Ga, shuddh Ma, komal Dha, and komal Ni. The two notes that are totally omitted are: Re (Rishab) and Pa (Pancham).

Malkaush is a late night raaga and is calming, soothing and even intoxicating. One would use such a raaga in deep and serious meditation.

Some of the other songs composed in Raag Malkauns are:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
Zindagi Mujhko
Man Tarpat Hari
Ankhyan Sang
Zindagi Bhar Gam
Chhup Chhup Chhaliya
Aadha Hai Chandrama
Balma Mane Na
Saawan Ki Raat Kari
Pag Ghungaroo Bole
Meri Jhansi Nahin
Rangraliyan Karat
Vandau Raghupati Karuna
Pag Laagan De
Chham Chham Baje Re
Yeh Kahani Hai
Sau Baar Janam Lengay
Sapna Ban Saajan
Mane Na Mane Na
Bichhua Mane Na
Badi Der Bhayee
Sur Ke Panchhi Aaye
Gori Tera Gaon
Hey Mahadev meri
Jane Bahar HusnTera
O Rimima Jhimimwa
Aaj More Ghar Aaye
Saanjh Aur Savera
Baiju Bawara
Bada Aadmi
Miss Bombay
Suwarn Sundari
Navrang
Opera House
Meherbaan
Dev Kanya
Ladki Sehyadri Ki
Birbal My Brother
Tulsidas
Basant Bahar
Jaane Anjane
Toofan Aur DiyaShokhiyan
Madam XYZ
Guest House
Basant Bahar
Sur Sangam
Chitchor
Tulsidas
Preet Na Jane Koi
Harishchand Taramati
Imaandaar
Rafi
Rafi
Rafi
Rafi
Lata
Asha, Mahendra
Lata
Asha
Mahendra, Asha
Asha
Jasraj, Bhimsen Joshi
Rafi
Bhimsen Joshi, Manna Dey
Manna Dey
Manna Dey
Rafi
Lata
Lata
Lata
Rafi
Rajan, Saajan
Yesudas
Rafi
Rafi
Lata
Sadhna S., Suresh Wadekar
(Poster courtesy: Lyrics Bogie)

The song Zindagi bhar gham judaai ka mujhe tadpaayega is from the 1957 Kedar Kapoor movie Miss Bombay starring Nalini Jaywant, Ajit and Rehman.

Please enjoy in Raag Malkauns, Tal Rupaktal: Zindagi bhar gham judaai ka mujhe tadpaayega…….

Badalaa to aise badalaa hai kuchh ra.ng-e-gulasitaa.N
Ik phuul pe bahaar hai ik phuul pe Kizaa.N

Zindagii bhar Gam judaa_ii kaa mujhe ta.Dapaa_egaa
Har nayaa mausam puraanii yaad lekar aa_egaa
Zindagii bhar Gam …

Hai.n vahii raahe.n vahii galiyaa.N magar sunasaan hai.n
Tuu nahii.n to dil kii saarii bastiyaa.N viiraan hai.n
Dil me.n hai jo Gam teraa vo jaan lekar jaa_egaa
Zindagii bhar Gam …

Ho.n mubaarak tujhako Kushiyaa.N aur mujhe rusavaa_iyaa.N
Tujhako teraa ghar salaamat aur mujhe tanahaa_iyaa.N
Marate-marate bhii teraa hii naam lab pe aa_egaa
Zindagii bhar Gam …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Zxb41yevg

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. On the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.
  71. On the seventy-first day, we learnt about Sangita Makarand.
  72. On the seventy-second day, we learnt about TaalMala an Android application for personalized accompaniment of musical instruments during Riyaaz or even during Concert.
  73. And today, on the seventy-third day, we learnt about Indian Classical Ragas, an Android application for mobile phones.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #72

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Mushkil hai bahut mushkil chaahat ka bhula dena….
Raag Pahadi, Tal Kaherava

Am I tethered to Raag Pahadi, the raaga of my place in the hills? It appears so considering the alacrity with which I revert to this raag every now and then. This one is special not just because it is a fine example of Pahadi; but, because its lyrics are so good and apt. For example, taste this:

Ye khel nahin lekin ye khel hai ulfat kaa
Roton ko hansaa denaa hansaton ko rulaa denaa.

These remarkably beautiful lyrics have been penned by Nakshab who gave us such songs as Badi mushkil se dil ki beqraari ko qaraar aaya, Aayega aayega aanewala aayega, and Zindagi hai yaa koi toofaan hai. These were composed by Khemchand Prakash who lived between 12 Dec 1907 to 10 Aug 1950 and who gave us several unforgettable songs such as: Diya jalao jagmag jagmag, Baraso re baraso re, Ghata ghanghor ghor mor machaye shor, and Kyaa hamane bigaada hai kyun hamako satate ho.

So far, I have given you the following songs in Raag Pahadi: Aaj ki raat piya dil na todo (Tal Dadra; Please see: ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #7‘), Zara sun haseena-ai-nazneen (Tal Rupaktal; Please see: ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #8‘), Chal udd ja re panchhi (Tal Kaherava; Please see: ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #32‘), and O door ke mussafir (Taal Kaherava; Please see: ‘Pleaser See: ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #55 – A Tribute To My Late Mother‘).

We have completed seventy-one days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our seventy-first post or the last post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #71 and the song was a Lata Manheshkar song from the 1968 Amar Kumar movie Mere Hamdam Mere Dost: Chalo sajana jahan tak ghata chale. It is in Raag Basant Mukhari, Tal Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Yaman – Part I‘.

In the last seventy-one days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas and Shankara; making it a total of 58 raagas. The seven raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, Gara and Basant Mukhari. Today, I am repeating Raag Pahadi for the fifth time.

Today’s song has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar on the lyrics of Nakshab and on a composition by Khemchand Prakash. As I said, it is in Raag Pahadi, Tal Kaherava.

However, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. Today, we shall learn about TaalMala.

If you remember just three days ago (Please see: ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #69), I told you about Raaga Quest, a mobile application for identifying raagas. Today, I tell you about another free Android application available for providing accompaniment of musical instruments whilst doing Riyaaz or even during a Concert. Here is the description:

“TaalMala provides personalized accompaniment of Tabla, Pakhawaj, Manjeera, Tanpura, SwarMandal and Lehra/Nagma on Santoor and Harmonium. Use TaalMala for your daily riyaaz or live concerts. With high-quality Tabla, Pakhawaj, Manjeera, Tanpura, SwarMandal, Santoor and Harmonium sounds sampled from real instruments, huge library of 340+ pre-composed Taals, 240+ pre-composed Lehra/Nagma compositions and 450+ SwarMandal sequences in 41 most popular Ragas, TaalMala provides a complete practising solution for any Indian musician.

With TaalMala Composer, you can compose Taals, Lehras/Nagmas and SwarMandal patterns by simply entering the notation. For example, enter “Dha Dhin Dhin Dha” and TaalMala will play those bols, 1 beat each. Enter “S R G M P M G R” and TaalMala will play those notes. With a powerful sequencer, you can compose your own sequences of fixed or randomized Taal, Lehra/Nagma and SwarMandal patterns.

If you have the Windows desktop version of TaalMala, you can import your compositions from Windows to your Android device and play them on the Android device.

TaalMala features:

– High-quality studio-recorded Tabla, Pakhawaj, Tanpura, Santoor, Harmonium and Manjeera (Zanj) sounds
– Two sets of Tabla/Dagga sounds and ability to choose and mix-match between the two sound sets
– 340+ pre-composed Taals and Taal sequences, including most popular Taals and their variations
– 240+ pre-composed Lehra/Nagma compositions and sequences in multitude of ragas and Taals
– 450+ pre-composed SwarMandal patterns and sequences in 45+ Hindustani Ragas
– New Taals, Lehras and compositions added frequently as free updates
– Automatic Manjeera/Zanj accompaniment synchronized with the Tabla/Pakhawaj Taals
– Adjustable tempo from 10 bpm to 2000 bpm for Taal and Lehra
– Pitch control (+/- 0.5 octave), with independent fine-tuning of all instruments for precise matching with your scale
– Compose your own Taals using notation for the Taal
– Compose your own Lehras/Nagmas and SwarMandal patterns using notation
– Powerful sequencer to compose fixed and automatically randomized sequences from the Taals, Lehras and SwarMandal library
– Independent volume/level balance for Tabla/Pitch, Dagga/Bass, Manjeera, Lehra/Nagma and SwarMandal
– Ability to import and use your own Tanpura sounds and loops
– Choose between chromatic or just/harmonic tuning for all instruments
– Up to 2 simultaneous Tanpura playback
– High-quality Tanpura sounds with all popular Tanpura patterns included
– Adjustable Tanpura tempo
– Adjust strumming speed of 4 Tanpura strings independently
– Option to slightly vary the Tanpura plucking delays randomly for better realism
– Tap on the screen twice to set exact tempo
– Set start beat (matra) of the Taal, particularly useful in live concert mode if your composition starts from middle of a Taal cycle OR if composition is Vilambit (slow tempo)
– Compose your own Taals using our Windows desktop application and play them on your Android device

This is a trial version of the application with following limitations:

– Playback restricted to 5 minutes every hour
– Trial expires after 14 days from first use. To continue use after 14 days, you must purchase the licensed edition of the application.
– Trial period resets 74 days after the date of first installation, in case you had tried an older version and want to install and try the upgraded version now.
– To unlock full functionality and remove the time-limit, click “Upgrade” option on the main screen and purchase a license.

Web-site: http://www.taalmala.com

As I mentioned, today’s song is composed in Raag Pahadi, Tal Kaherava.

Why do I have this urge to get back to Pahadi? On the tenth day, I had covered for you, the sources of names of raagas and mentioned that raagas like Marwa, Jaunpuri, Mand and Pahadi were named after places. Pahadi is not a place, in the same manner, as Marwa, Mand and Jaunpur. You should expect Pahadi anywhere you see pahad or hills but actually the name is from hills in Himalayas, my home place. It is a light raaga and is more akin to being a dhun.

Pahadi is a very beautiful raag. Soundofindia.com describes it beautifully: the raga is like a lover, unruffled in union, serene in separation, powerful enough to achieve eternal union, but resigned to the painful parting ordained by destiny.

All raagas are supposed to transport you to the mood of the raaga (bhaav). But, none other does it better than Pahadi: you can’t escape the freshness, quiet, wetness, echoing effect and palpable romance of the hills. It is as if the raaga says to you: ‘Love is in the air’.

Today, once again, I take recourse to being resigned to the painful parting ordained by destiny, another beautiful facet of Pahadi.

Pahadi is a very popular raag for composing songs in Hindi movies. Some of the other songs composed in Raag Pahadi are:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
Parbaton Ke Pedon Par
Chahoonga Main Tujhe
Baharon Mera Jeevan
Jawa hai Muhobbat
Chhod Babul Ka Ghar
Chaudhavi Ka Chand Ho
Tujhko Pukare Mera
Door Koi Gaye
Karvatein Badalte Rahe
Meri Aankhon Mein
Suhani Raat Dhal
Tod Diya Dil MeraJane Kya Dhoonhati
Tum Apna Ranj-o-Gam
Apne Aap Raaton Mein
Patta Patta Boota Boota
Kahan Hai Tu
Tum Na Aaye Sanam
Deewana Mujhsa Nahin
Sun Mere Saajana
Saeeyan Bina Ghar
Piya Bin Jiya
Mehelon Ne Chheen
Dil Ne Phir
Aaja Re
Chhoomkar Raat Sulaye
Kaheen Ek Masoom

Mere Mundere Na Bol
Aao Mil Jaayen
Saanjh Bhayee Nahin Aaye
Neela Aasma So gaya
Ih hawaon Mein
Main Tulsi

Main Teri Chhoti Behena
Kabhi To Milegi Bahaaron Ki
Kanchi Re Kanchi Re
Tum Jahan Ho
Jeevan Se Na Haar
Aawaz De Kahan Hai
Isharon Isharon Mein

Shagun
Dosti
Aakhri Khat
Anmol Ghadi
Babul
Chaudhavi Ka Chand
Neel Kamal
Baiju Bawara
Aapki Kasam
Barsaat
Dulari
AndaazShola Aur Shabnam
Shagun
Shankar Husain
Ek Nazar
Afsana
Bhootnath
Teesari Manzil
Goonj Uthi Sehnaibr
Aangan Ki Kali
Dasi
Jabak
Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya
Noorie
Razia Sultan
Shankar Husain

Parwana
Prem Geet
Shama Parwana
Silsila
Gumrah
Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki

Soutan
Aarti
Hare Rama Hare Krishna
Road To Sikkim
Door Ka Rahi
Anmol Ghadi
Kashmir Ki Kali

Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur
Rafi
Lata
Noorjahan
Shamshad
Rafi
Rafi
Shamshad, Lata, Rafi
Kishore, Lata
Lata
Rafi
LataRafi
Jagjeet Kaur
Lata
Lata, Rafi
Lata
Lata
Rafi
Lata, Rafi
Lata, Bhupendra
Bhupendra
Lata, Mukesh
Rafi, Suman, Mukesh
Lata, Nitin Mukesh
Lata
Rafi

Suraiya
Suresh Wadekar, Anuradha
Nirmala Devi
Lata & Amitabh
Mahendra, Asha
Lata

Lata
Lata
Kishore, Lata
Mukesh
Kishore
Noorjahan, Surendra
Rafi, Asha

The song Mushkil hai bahut mushkil chaahat ka bhula dena is from the 1949 Kamal Amrohi movie Mahal starring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala. One other song from the movie that became super-hit was: Aayega aayega aane wala aayega.

Please enjoy in Raag Pahadi, Tal Kaherava: Mushkil hai bahut mushkil chaahat ka bhula dena…….

Mushkil hai .a .a

Mushkil hai bahut mushkil chaahat kaa bhulaa denaa
Aasaan nahii.n dil kii ye aag bujhaa denaa

Ye khel nahii.n lekin ye khel hai ulfat kaa
Roto.n ko ha.Nsaa denaa ha.Nsato.n ko rulaa denaa
Mushkil hai bahut mushkil …

Dilavaalo.n kii duniyaa me.n hai rasm ke jab ko_ii
Aa_e to
Aa_e to qadam lenaa, jaa_e to duvaa denaa
Mushkil hai bahut mushkil …

Ulajhan hai bahut phir bhii ham tum ko naa bhuule.nge
Tum ko naa bhuule.nge
Mumakin to nahii.n lekin tum ham ko bhulaa denaa
Mushkil hai bahut mushkil …

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. On the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.
  71. On the seventy-first day, we learnt about Sangita Makarand.
  72. And today, on the seventy-second day, we learnt about TaalMala an Android application for personalized accompaniment of musical instruments during Riyaaz or even during Concert.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

MAA MUSIC FEST WITHOUT MAA

माँ के बगैर अब गीत भी न मुझको भाये,
पढ़ने लिखने में भी बस आंसू ही निकल आये,
कहने को तो उन्हीं के नाम का संगीत Fest है,
क्या करे कोई जब उनकी याद फिर सताये?

वह मासूम चेहरा, वह मंद सी मुस्कान,
वह बचपन मेरा, वह मीठे मीठे पकवान,
उन्ही की हौंसला अफ़ज़ाई के असर से,
एक दिन हो गया मैं काबिल और जवान I

उनके इशारे से, सब कुछ था मुमकिन,
माँ के संग कुछ भी न लगता था मुश्किल,
वह थी मेरी ताक़त, मेरी उम्मीद – ऐ – कामयाबी,
अब कौन जाने कैसे कटेगी ज़िन्दगी उन बिन?

एक दिन सबको जाना है, उनको भी था जाना,
मेरे पास Fest के लिए बहुत सुन्दर था गाना,
पर क्या करूँ, दिल कहीं है और जज़्बात कहीं और,
उन्ही के Fest में उनके बाद मुझे नहीं है आना I

एहसान मंद हूँ आपका, आपके बेनज़ीर प्यार के लिए,
माँ होती तो खुश होती मुहब्बत – ऐ – इज़हार के लिए,
मुझे माफ़ करना मैंने गीत नहीं अश्क़ ही दिए हैं,
पर दुआ ज़रूर करना मेरे दिल – ऐ – बेक़रार के लिए I

 

 

Maa ke bagair ab geet bhi naa mujhako bhaaye,
Padhne likhne mein bhi bas aansu hi nikal aaye,
Kehne ko to unhin ke naam ka sangeet Fest hai,
Kyaa kare koi jab unaki yaad phir sataaye?

Woh masoom chehra, woh mand si muskaan,
Woh bachpan mera, woh meethe meethe pakwaan,
Unhi ki haunsla afzayi ke asar se,
Ek din ho gaya main kaabil aur jawaan.

Unake ishaare se, sab kuchh tha mumkin,
Maa ke sang kuchh bhi na lagta tha mushkil,
Woh thi meri taaqat, meri umeed-e-kamyaabi,
Ab kaun jaane kaise kategi zindagi un bin?

Ek din sabako jaana tha, unako bhi tha jaana,
Mere paas Fest ke liye bahut sundar sa tha gaana,
Par kyaa karun, dil kahin hai aur jazbaat kahin aur,
Unake Fest mein unake baad mujhe nahin hai aana.

Ehsaan mand hoon aapka, aapke benazir pyaar ke liye,
Maa hoti to khush hoti muhabbat-e-izhaar ke liye,
Mujhe muaaf karna maine geet nahin ashq hi diye hain,
Par dua zaroor karna mere dil-e-beqraar ke liye.

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #71

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Chalo sajana jahan tak ghata chale….
Raag Basant Mukhari, Tal Kaherava

One more song composed in Basant Mukhari. But, once again a reminder that films songs composers are not sticklers to purity of any raaga in their compositions. It is not their aim. Their aim is to come up with tunes for songs that would be popular. As far as popular tunes are concerned, Laxmikant Pyarelal came up with such hit songs in this movie, penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri, that these are still fondly remembered some 50 years after the movie Mere Hamdam Mere Dost was released. This was sung by Lata Mangeshkar. For me, it is indeed a nostalgic song as it was shot in the lawns of Palace Hotel in Chail, on the hill across from my house in Whispering Winds, Kandaghat (Please see: Home Is Where The Heart Is: Kandaghat In Shimla Hills).

The scene of the song: the lawns of Palace Hotel, Chail fifty years after the song was shot there. One of the most popular locales for Hindi movies.

If you recall, on the 50th day, I had given you a song in Basant Mukhari composed by the best music duo ever: Shankar Jaikishan: O basanti pawan paagal (Please see: Raaga Based Song Of The Day #50). That time, I missed giving you this; as I said, a song shot on the hill opposite Whispering Winds, Kandaghat. Hence, here I am, again with the same raaga.

We have completed seventy days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our seventieth post or the last post was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #70‘ and the song was a Mubarak Begum song from the 1966 Mahendra Pran movie Sushila: Bemuravvat bewafa begaana-e-dil aap hain. It is in Raag Shankara, Tal Dadra.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Todi‘.

In the last seventy days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas and Shankara; making it a total of 58 raagas. The six raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, and Gara. Today, I am repeating Raag Basant Mukhari.

Today’s song has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar on the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri and on a composition by Laxmikant Pyarelal. As I said, it is in Raag Basant Mukhari, Tal Kaherava.

However, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. Today, we shall learn about Sangita Makarand.

Narada, the author of Sangita Makarand and inventor of Veena, our most ancient musical instrument)

I had mentioned Sangita Makarand in the passing earlier; an ancient work on classical music penned by Narada. For those of you who don’t know about Narada (and I can’t think of many), Narada is a Vedic sage, famous in Hindu traditions as a traveling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. When I was small, we used to read about Narada Muni both as wise and as mischievous. I recall that when I read Mahabharta and Ramayana as a child, Narada appeared out of nowhere chanting his famous: Na-ra-in, Na-ra-in (God Vishnu).

As far as music is concerned, you would recall that I told you that our most ancient musical instrument Veena was invented by Narada (Please see: Raaga Based Song Of The Day 48). Coming back to Sangita Makarand, this work is a rare collection of definitions, descriptions and comments on all the essentials music by other ancient reputed authors from Bharata Muni to Sharangdeva. Its main feature is the treatiment of Raagas; categorizing them as male, female and neuter. The treatise circa 1100 CE is the earliest text where rules similar to the current Hindustani classical music can be found. Narada actually names and classifies the system in its earlier form before the advent of changes as a result of Persian influences.

There have been three distinct stages in Raaga nomenclature:

  1. Named after Swaras. This stage occurred prior to 2nd Century BC. For example, after Shadaj swara, originated the name of the Raaga called Shadaji.
  2. Named after different Janas (Tribes or Clans) in different locations. For example Shakatilak Raaga was named after Shaka tribe.
  3. Named after Janapada or desh or country of their origin. Therefore, Bengal Raaga originated in Bengal.

The idea of giving you above was to tell you, yet another time, about the richest and most ancient musical tradition in the world.

As I mentioned, today’s song is composed in Raag Basant Mukhari, Tal Kaherava.

Raag Basant Mukhari belongs to the Bhairav Thaat. Coming at the heels of Raag Shankara in Bilawal Thaat, let me tell you that Bhairav is one of the names of Lord Shiva especially in his powerful form as a naked ascetic with matted locks and body smeared with ashes. The raag too has some of these masculine and scetic attributes in its form and compositions. That’s exactly like Shankara in description of name only. However, the difference is that though Basant Mukhari it is a Sampurna-Sampurna raag, Rishabh, Dhaivat and Nishad Komal. Rest All Shuddha Swaras; whereas in Bilawal Thaat, all swaras are Shuddha.

Basant Mukhari is performed during the second prahar of the day; ie, 9 AM to Noon. Raag Basant-Mukhari is a sweet melodious form among morning Raagas. It is however difficult to render smoothly.

Other songs composed in Raag Basant Mukhari are: Dekho bijali dole (Tal Tintal; Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon), O basanti pawan paagal (Tal Rupak Tal; Jis Des Mein Ganga Behati Hai), and Wada kar le sajana (Tal Kaherava; Haath Ki Safai).

The song Chalo sajana jahan tak ghata chale is from the 1968 Amar Kumar movie Mere Hamdam Mere Dost starring Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Rehman and Mumtaz. The movie had seven songs. All of them were super hits:

1. “Chhalka Yeh Jaam” Mohammad Rafi 04:50
2. “Chalo Sajna Jhahan Tak” Lata Mangeshkar 04:48
3. “Na Ja Kahin Ab Na Ja” Mohammad Rafi 06:19
4. “Allah Yeh Ada Kaisi” Lata Mangeshkar 07:11
5. “Hui Sham Unka Khayal Aa Gaya” Mohammad Rafi 04:31
6. “Hamen To Ho Gaya Hai Pyar” Lata Mangeshkar 04:01
7. “Tum Jao Kahin” Lata Mangeshkar 05:08

As I said, all the songs were penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal.

Please enjoy in Raag Basant Mukhari, Tal Kaherava: Chalo sajana jahan tak ghata chale…….

Chalo sajanaa jahaa.N tak ghaTaa chale
Lagaakar mujhe gale
Chalo sajanaa jahaa.N tak ghaTaa chale

Su.ndar sapano.n kii hai ma.nzil kadam ke niiche
Fursat kisako itanii, dekhe jo mu.Dake piichhe
Tum chalo ham chale.n, ham chale.n tum chalo
Saavan kii havaa chale
Chalo sajanaa jahaa.N…

Dha.Dakan tumare dilakii, ulajhii hamaarii laT me.n
Tumare tan kii chhaayaa, kaajal banii palak me.n
Ek hai.n do badan, do badan ek hai.n
Aa.Nchal ke tale-tale
Chalo sajanaa jahaa.N…

Patthariilii raaho.n me.n tum sa.ng mai.n jhuum luu.Ngii
Khaaoge jab Thokar, ho.nTho.n se chuum luu.Ngii
Pyaar kaa aaj se, aaj kaa pyaar se
Hamase silasilaa chale
Chalo sajanaa jahaa.N…

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. On the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.
  71. And today, on the seventy-first day, we learnt about Sangita Makarand.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #70

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Bemuravvat bewafa begaana-e-dil aap hain….
Raag Shankara, Tal Dadra

Jaan Nisar Akhtar flanked by Naushad and RD Burman. Also in the picture are Sahir and Majrooh

Third consecutive day of another new Raag. Since the time I have discovered raaga based songs, I like composition of songs by various music directors in Hindi films. However, I am primarily a Lyrical man. On Facebook, I run a page titled ‘Lyrical‘. This song has been penned by Jaan Nisar Akhtar and is indeed one his best. It is also one of the best of the singer Mubarak Begum.

We have completed sixty-nine days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our sixty-ninth post or the last post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #69 and the song was a Suresh Wadkar song from the 1984 Girish Karnad movie (Shashi Kapoor production) starring starring Rekha , Shekhar Suman, Shashi Kapoor, Shankar Nag, Amjad Khan and Anuradha Patel: Sanjh dhale gagan tale hum kitane ekaki. It is in Raag Vibhas, Tal Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Pilu – Part I‘.

In the last sixty-nine days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada and Vibhas. The six raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, and Gara. Today, I am giving you a new Raag Shankara. That makes it a total of 58 raagas so far.

Today’s song has been sung by Mubarak Begum on the lyrics of Jaan Nisar Akhtar and on a composition by C Arjun. As I said, it is in Raag Shankara, Tal Dadra.

However, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. Today, we shall learn about Melakarta.

I introduced you to Melakartha or Melakarta when I told you about Carnatic Music (Please see: Raaga Based Song Of The Day #62). Melakarta is a collection of fundamental raagas (musical scales) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). Melakarta raagas are parent ragas (hence known as janaka ragas) from which other ragas may be generated. A melakarta raga is sometimes referred as mela, karta or sampurna as well, though the latter term is inaccurate, as a sampurna raga need not be a melakarta (take the raga Bhairavi, for example).

It would be easy to guess that it is similar to Thaat in Hindustani music.

I had also told you that there are 72 Melakarta raagas whereas Bhatkhande brought down the number of Thaats to merely 10.

Ragas must contain the following characteristics to be considered Melakarta.

  • They are sampurna raagas – they contain all seven swaras (notes) of the octave in both ascending and descending scale.
  • They are krama sampurna raagas – that is the sequence is strictly ascending and descending in the scales, without any jumps or zig-zag notes.
  • The upper shadjam is included in the raaga scale. (raagas like Punnagavarali and Chenchurutti are not melakarta as they end with nishadam)
  • The ascending and descending scales must have the same notes.

The mela system of ragas was first propounded by Raamamaatya in his work Svaramelakalanidhi, c. 1550. He is considered the father of mela system of ragas. Later, Venkatamakhin, a gifted musicologist in the 17th century, expounded a new mela system known today as melakarta in his work Chaturdandi Prakaasikaa. He made some bold and controversial claims and defined somewhat arbitrarily 6 swaras from the known 12 semitones, at that time, to arrive at 72 melakarta ragas.

Melakarta Raagas as per Katpayadi Sankhya system (Picture courtesy: Wikipedia)

A hundred years after Venkatamakhin’s time the Katapayadi sankhya rule came to be applied to the nomenclature of the melakarta ragas. The sankhya associates Sanskrit consonants with digits. The digits corresponding to the first two syllables of the name of a raga, when reversed, give the index of the raaga. Thus the scale of a melakarta raga can be easily derived from its name.

For example, Harikambhoji raaga starts with syllables Ha and ri, which have numbers 8 and 2 associated with them. Reversing them we get 28. Hence Harikambhoji is the 28th melakarta raaga. Have a look at the attached picture to understand it more.

As I mentioned, today’s song is composed in Raag Shankara, Tal Dadra.

Raag Shankara belongs to the Bilawal Thaat, the most basic of the ten thaats, which are, according to Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, the basis of almost all raagas in Indian Classical Music. Why is it most basic? Simple, Bilawal is the thaat that has all swars (notes) shuddha or in their natural scale. Raagas based on Bilawal are generally rich and sensuous. The Jati of Raag Shankara is Audhav-Shadhav Vakra, that is, five notes in Aaroha (Rishabh and Madhyam Varjya) and six notes in Avaroha (Madhyam Varjya). Dhaivat note is weak, ie, occasional.

Shankara, as you would have guessed it, is an epithet of Lord Shiva whose primal association with music & dance have long been a source of inspiration to Indians. The image of Shiva as Nataraja has moved millions of hearts and fired the imagination of artists through the ages. This leitmotif is a powerful stimulus to many an intoxicated soul, a spoor to the creative impulse as it searches for the ideal sounded in the famous apothegm: Satyam Shivam Sundaram (Truth Divinity Beauty).

Raga Shankara’s immense popularity and prestige derive not merely from a share in the Lord’s name. The raaga is the musical embodiment of His personality, comporting with all its attributes: raudra, veera, irrascible, volatile, capricious and, above all, cool. Veer-Rasa (Raudra Roop for Tandav of Lord Shankara) is the best expression of this Raag. You wake up from a stupor or disturbed state of mind upon hearing this Raag which implies as surge of the life force with the sharp rather bold pronunciation of notes in this melody.

The time for rendering this raag is the last phase of night.

Other songs composed in Raag Shankara are: Bolo bolo Kanha bolo chhaliya (Tal Dadra; sung by Runa Laila in 1960 movie Chhaliya), Desh pradesh (Tal Kaherava; sung by Kishore Kumar in 1978 movie Desh Pradesh), and Rumjhuma rumjhuma chala tihari (Tal Tintal; sung by KL Saigal in 1943 movie Tansen).

The song Bemuravvat bewafa begaana-e-dil aap hain is from the 1966 Mahendra Pran movie Sushila about which nothing much is known except that the movie had two other songs that were excellent: Gham ki andheri raat mein sung by Talat Mahmood and Mohammad Rafi, and Nazar nawaz nazaron mein kho gaya hoon main sung by Mahendra Kapoor.

All the song were penned by Jan Nisar Akhtar and composed by C Arjun.

Please enjoy in Raag Shankara, Tal Dadra: Bemuravvat bewafa begaana-e-dil aap hain…….

Dard-e-dil dard-e-vafaa dard-e-tamannaa kyaa hai
Aap kyaa jaane.n mohabbat kaa takaazaa kyaa hai

Bemuravvat bevafaa begaanaa-e-dil aap hai.n -2
Aap maane yaa na maane mere qaatil aap hai.n
Bemuravvat bevafaa

Aap se shikavaa hai mujh ko Gair se shikavaa nahii.n -2
Jaanatii huu.N dil me.n rakh lene ke qaabil aap hai.n
Bemuravvat bevafaa

Saa.Ns letii huu.N to yuu.N mahasuus hotaa hai mujhe -2
Jaise mere dil kii har dha.Dakan me.n shaamil aap hai.n
Bemuravvat bevafaa

Gam nahii.n jo laakh tuufaano.n se Takaraanaa pa.De -2
Mai.n vo kashtii huu.N ki jis kashtii kaa saahil aap hai.n

Bemuravvat bevafaa begaanaa-e-dil aap hai.n
Aap maane yaa na maane mere qaatil aap hai.n
Bemuravvat bevafaa

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. On the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.
  70. And today, on the seventieth day, we learnt about Melakarta Raagas.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Raaga Based Song Of The Day #69

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Sanjh dhale gagan tale hum kitane ekaki….
Raag Vibhas, Tal Kaherava

Suresh Wadekar with Laxmikant Pyarelal, Lata and Raj Kapoor (Photo courtesy: hamaraphotos.com)

Well, another new Raag today. Three days ago, when I put up a list of Raagas, you would have noticed one spelt Vibhas at one place and Bibhas at another. That’s the raag that Laxmikant Pyarelal used for composing two of the four songs in the 1984 Girish Karnad movie Utsav, a Shashi Kapoor production. Suresh Wadkar sang it.

We have completed sixty-eight days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge.  It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our sixty-eighth post or the last post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #68 and the song was a Mohammad Rafi song from the 1958 Bimal Roy movie Madhumati starring Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala and Pran: Toote huye khwaabon ne. It is in Raag Darbari Kanada, Tal Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Jhinjhoti – Part II.

In the last sixty-eight days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang and Manj Khammaj. The six raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, and Gara. Today, I am giving you a new Raag Vibhas. That makes it a total of 57 raagas.

Today’s song has been sung by Suresh Wadkar on the lyrics of Vasant Dev and on a composition by Laxmikant Pyarelal. As I said, it is in Raag Vibhas, Tal Kaherava.

However, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. Today, we shall learn about a mobile application to help identify raagas.

This was launched on Independence Day, 2013.

To the untrained enthusiast, Indian classical music can be daunting. Some can’t tell Raag Bhairav from Raag Bhairavi, others can’t tell any raagas at all. Even music students find it challenging to identify complex raagas.

Now, a mobile application launched on Independence Day aims to make raaga identification much easier. The app, called Raga Quest, uses a hangmanstyle game to help users guess the name of the raga being played in a 30-second sound clip.

It has been created by Indian Raaga, a Boston-based company launched in November 2012 to promote Indian classical music through digital technology. The app is available on the iOS AppStore and can be downloaded for free. It can be used on Android phones and Windows phones in addition to iOS.

“Identifying ragas is not something that comes naturally to everyone, but one can get better at it with practice,” said Sriram Emani, 27, co-founder of Indian Raaga and an MBA student at Boston’s Massachusettes Institute of Technology. “The app will be a simpler, fun way to practice raaga identification.”

With a user-friendly interface, Raga Quest can be used for both Hindustani and Carnatic music. Users can pick from a range of difficulty levels, and during the hangman game, can use a raga spelling guide to guess the raaga.

As I mentioned, today’s song is composed in Raag Vibhas, Tal Kaherava.

Raag Vibhas or Bibhas belongs to the Bhairav Thaat (that makes use of Komal Rishab and Komal Dhaivat. Bhairav is one of the names of Lord Shiva especially in his powerful form as a naked ascetic with matted locks and body smeared with ashes). Naturally, it makes one assume that the raag too has some of these masculine and ascetic attributes in its form and compositions.  Its Jati is Audhav-Audhav, that is five notes in Aaroha and Avaroha (five notes except Madhyam and Nishad). The time for singing this raag is first prahar of the day, that is 6 PM to 9 PM. As you can make out from the song itself, the raag has a heavy feel to it, perfect for Bhakti Ras.

One other songs composed in Raag Vibhas are: Neelam ke nabh chhayi (from the same movie).

(Poster courtesy: Wikipedia)

The song Sanjh dhale gagan tale hum kitane ekaki is from the 1984 Girish Karnad movie Utsav starring Rekha as Vasantsena, Shekhar Suman as Charudutt, Shashi Kapoor as Samsthanak, Shankar Nag as a thief named Sajjal, Amjad Khan as Vatsayana, author of Kama Sutra, and Anuradha Patel as Charudutt’s wife Aditi.
There were four songs in the movie. One of them, sung by sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle became a super-hit: Man kyun behka re behka aadhi raat ko. Another one Neelam pe naabh chhayee was also composed in Raag Vibhas. The song was penned by Vasant Dev who received Filmfare Award for having penned Man kyun behka re behka aadhi raat ko.

Please enjoy in Raag Vibhas, Tal Kaherava: Saanjh dhale gagan tale hum kitane ekaki…

Saa.njh Dhale gagan tale
Ham kitane ekaakii

Saa.njh Dhale gagan tale
Ham kitane ekaakii
Chho.D chale naino ko
KiraNo.n ke paakhii

Path kii jaalii se jhaa.Nk rahii thii.n kaliyaa.N – 2
Ga.ndh bharii gunagun me.n magan huI thii.n kaliyaa.N
Itane me.n Timir dasa sapane le nayano me.n
Kaliyo.n ke aa.Nsuo.n kaa koI nahii.n saathii
ChhoD chale nayano ko
KiraNo.n ke paakhii
Saa.njh Dhale gagan tale …

Juganuu kaa paT o.Dhe aayegii raat abhii – 2
Nishiga.ndhaa ke sur me.n kah degii baat sabhii
Kapata hai man jaise Daalii ambavaa kii
Chho.D chale nayano ko
KiraNo.n ke paakhii
Saa.njh Dhale gagan tale …

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

  1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
  2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
  3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
  4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
  5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
  6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
  7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
  8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
  9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
  10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
  11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
  12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
  13. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. On the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.
  48. On the forty-eighth day, we learnt about Veena.
  49. On the forty-ninth day, we repeated our learning of Veena with a small excitement added.
  50. On the fiftieth day, we learnt about Dilruba/Esraj.
  51. On the fifty-first day, we learnt about Jaltarang.
  52. On the fifty-second day we learnt about Qawwali.
  53. On the fifty-third day, we learnt about Sitar.
  54. On the fifty-fourth day, we learnt about Surbahar.
  55. On the fifty-fifth day, we learnt about Harmonium.
  56. On the fifty-sixth day, we learnt about Santoor.
  57. On the fifty-seventh day, we learnt about Swarmandal.
  58. On the fifty-eighth day, we learnt about the Shruti Box.
  59. On the fifty-ninth day, we learnt about Alankar.
  60. On the sixtieth day, we learnt about singing in Aakaar.
  61. On the sixty-first day, we learnt about the Classification of Indian Musical Instruments.
  62. On the sixty-second day, we learnt a little about Carnatic Music.
  63. On the sixty-third day, we learnt about Natya Shastra.
  64. On the sixty-fourth day, we learnt about evolution of musical instruments in India down the ages.
  65. On the sixty-fifth day, we learnt about Riyaaz.
  66. On the sixty-sixth day, we looked at a list of Raagas in Hindustani Classical Music.
  67. On the sixty-seventh day, we learnt about the health benefits of raagas.
  68. On the sixty-eighth day, we learnt a little more comprehensively about the moods and emotions that raagas evoke.
  69. And today, on the sixty-ninth day, we learnt about a mobile application to help identify raagas.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: