Everyone knows how fond I am of the combination of Shakeel Badayuni as a lyricist and Naushad Ali as a composer. This blog has more than twenty posts on them.
Whatever may be the origin of the festival of Holi, it is forever associated with Radhe and Krishna. Shakeel and Naushad have given us many a beautiful song about Krishna and the ras-leela of the eternal couple; one of the basic reasons for us to celebrate Holi.
It wasn’t a coincidence that when Mehboob Khan made his iconic movie Mother India in 1957 (the movie was so titled to counter American author Katherine Mayo’s 1927 polemical book Mother India, which vilified Indian culture), Nargis who enacted the title role was named Radha in the movie. Raaj Kumar as her husband (Radha and Krishna actually never married. Please read: ‘The Most Important Relations And Relationship(s)‘) was named Shamu, a variation of one of Krishna’s names: Shyam (dark-complexioned). Here is the Holi song that she sang on Holi (penned by Shakeel, composed by Naushad and sung by Shamshad Begum):
The team of Shakeel and Naushad were best in many ways. Shakeel made an unbroken hat-trick of Filmfare Awards and Naushad was not just the recipient of the highest award in cinematic excellence in India: the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, but also was instrumental in ushering in Raaga based songs in Hindi movies (his 1952 movie Baiju Bawra had each of the 13 songs in the movie based on a raaga).
The Sanskrit word Raaga means Colour or Hue or Dye. Hence, recalling a raaga on Holi is appropriate. As far as Indian Classical Music is concerned, music invokes into you varied colours (moods).
The Raaga or Colour that I have chosen for you today is Raag Gara and the Taal is Tintal and Dadra. The song is Mohe panghat pe Nand Lal chhed gayo re. It was sing in the 1960 movie Mughal-e-Azam produced by Shapoorji Pallonji and directed by K Asif. The song was put together by the team of Shakeel Badayuni and Naushad Ali.
In my Raaga Based Song Of The Day, I gave you Raag Gara based songs twice: the second sons on the series: Unake khayal aaye to aate chale gaye (Please see: ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #2‘) and the 67th song: Aise to na dekho (Please see: ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #67‘). The first one was in Tal Kaherava and the second in Tal Dadra.
Raag Gara belongs to the Khammaj Thaat. Its Jati is Shadhav-Sampoorna, that is six notes in Aaroha (five notes except Rishab) and has all seven notes in Avaroha. The time for singing this raag is second part of morning. Khammaj Thaat’s pictorial description is sensuous and raagas derived from it have a certain degree of flirtatious mood about it. Listen to the song that I have selected for you and you will know what I mean.
Some of the songs composed in Raag Gara 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. |
Mohe Panghat Pe Bol Mere Nandlala Deewana Kehke Aaj Is Paar Saajan Kabhi Khud Pe Tu Kahan Kho Gaya Unke Khayal Aaye Kasme Hum Unki Do Roz Mein Jab Jab Tumhein Jo Guzar Rahi Hai Chehere Se Apne Guzre Hain Aaj Aapki Nazaron Ne Aapki Baatein Karein Phir Woh Bhuli Si Mein To Tere Haseen Apni Khushi Se Aaya Koi Khayal Mera Mann Tera Pyasa Aise To Na Dekho Aajkal Humse Roothe Chhodo Baeeyan Hamari Aankhon Mein Teri Yaad Main Nigahein tere |
Mughal-E-Azam Bahana Mulzim Chori Chori Hum Dono Singapore Lal Pathar Mere Gareeb Nawaaz Pyar Ki Raahein Jahanara Mere Huzoor Paalki Dil Diya Dard Liya Anpadh Dil Ki Raahein Begana Sangraam Kunwara Badan Tarana Gambler Teen Deviyan Aamne Samne Tarana Hamari Yaad Aayegi Aapki Parchhaeeyan |
Lata Lata Rafi Lata Rafi Lata Rafi Anwar Mukesh Lata, Asha Rafi Rafi Rafi Lata Lata Rafi Rafi Lata Vani Jayram Rafi Rafi Rafi Aarti Mukesh Rafi |
Teental or Tintal is the most popular Tal in North India/Hindustani Music. It is also the most symmetrical. It has 16 beats in four vibhags. The period between every two beats is the same. We already know that the first beat is called Sam (to be pronounced like the English word Sum) and the ninth beat is Khali or empty. To perform the kriya of Tintal, one has to clap on the first beat, clap on the 5th beat, then waves on the 9th beat and lastly again claps on the 13th beat; these three claps give the rhythm its name: Teental or Tintal.
| dha | dhin | dhin | dha | | | dha | dhin | dhin | dha | | |
| x | 2 | ||||||||
| dha | tin | tin | ta | | | ta | dhin | dhin | dha | | |
| o | 3 |
This can also be shown using the following figure:
| Taal signs | X | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||
| Maatra | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| Bols | dha | dhin | dhin | dha | dha | dhin | dhin | dha | dha | tin | tin | ta | ta | dhin | dhi |
As far as Tal Dadra is concerned, Tal Dadra derives its name from Dadra style of singing prevalent in Dadra. It is a six or three beat Tal:
Clap, 2, 3, Wave, 2, 3; that is two vibhags of three matras each. The theka is:
Dhaa Dhin Naa Dhaa Tin Naa
Here is how the song was presented in the movie Mughal-e-Azam. Originally the song was a Black and White movie. The song was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and enacted by Madhubala as Anarkali in the court of Emperor Akbar and in love with Prince Salim (Dilip Kumar).
Please enjoy: Mohe panghat pe Nand Lal chhed gayo re…
मोहे पनघट पे नन्दलाल छेड़ गयो रे
मोरी नाजुक कलइया मरोड़ गयो रे
मोहे पनघट पे …
कंकरी मोहे मारी, गगरिया फोड़ दारी
मोरी साड़ी अनाड़ी भिगोय गयो रे
मोहे पनघट पे …
नैनों से जादू किया, जियरा मोह लिया
मोरा घूँघटा नजरियो से तोड़ गयो रे
मोहे पनघट पे …
Shapoorji Pallonji was not just the producer of the movie Mughal-e-Azam but the company called Shapoorji Pallonji Group is acknowledged as “India’s most valuable company”. In Mumbai alone, the company is responsible to have constructed Brabourne Stadium, Bombay Central Station and a host of other important buildings, particularly in the Fort area. In the year 2004, Shapoorji Pallonji Group completed a two year project to colourise and digitise Mughal-e-Azam and the colour version of the movie was released on 12 Nov 2004. Here is then our favourite song in colour:
Mughal – e – Azam was not just the costliest movie of its times (its 1960 budget was a massive Rupees 1.5 Crores), it was the most iconic movie ever made. Hence, down the ages, many artistes have evinced interest in reenacting the movie and its songs.
In Aug 2018, the actress Madhuri Dixit who rose to great heights of popularity reenacted Madhubala’s damce on Mohe panghat pe on Dance Deewane, a reality show she was judging with Tushar Kalia and Shashank Khaitan. Madhuri was seen wearing the same orange and silver embroidered lehenga and maroon coloured choli from the still that she had shared previously. The outfit harkened back to Madhubala’s costume from the legendary Mughal – e -Azam. Here is an excerpt from her dance uploaded by a fan:
Mugahl-e-Azam and particularly its songs continue to enchant audiences around the world. In 2016, the fruits of a ten month production by Shapoorji Pallonji Group were seen in the form of a stage play (musical) that was released on 21 Oct 2016. Shapoorji Pallonji Group had Feroz Abbas Khan directing the stage-play (imagine a stage play based on a movie). Since the lead actresses had to both sing and dance simultaneously, two actresses – Neha Sargam and Priyanka Barve – played the part of Anarkali alternatively; the role that was originally done by Madhubala. A separate video of this iconic song is not available. However, you would see it as part of the promo of the play:
One of the important personalities seen in this promo is the richest man in the country: Mukesh Ambani. Please see the promo at this stage and what he said because we shall come back to it a little later.
If you think that the interest in the songs of Mughal-e-Azam is restricted to film and stage personalities only, you have another guess coming. Mohe panghat pe is sung and performed as much in the temples as it was by a courtesan in Emperor Akbar’s darbar.
In Aug 2016, when my wife and I went to attend the Janamashtami celebrations in ISKCON temple (under construction) in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, we were pleasantly surprised to see it being sung there. Here is my recording of it:
And lastly we return to Mukesh Ambani and his charming wife Nita Ambani. On 12 Mar 19 we were invited to Jio World Centre for a reception for armed forces personnel for the marriage of their elder son Aakash with Shloka. In Shapoorji Pallonji Group’s promo on their play Mughal-e-Azam (Musical), you would have noticed Mukesh Ambani expressing his happiness at the play matching Broadway standards. Well, that evening, in the Dhirubhai Ambani Square of the Centre, a spectacular enactment of Radhe Krishna ras-leela was done and it would have surely set knew standards.
It didn’t come as a surprise that one of the songs selected for the ras-leela was Mohe panghat pe. Here is how it was performed:
The Ambanis are great devotees of Krishna. One of the most beautiful Krishna temples has been constructed by them at Vadodara. Here are two picture of the temple (you would notice that it is open all round):
Well, that was Mohe panghat pe down the ages a song by Shakeel Badayuni and Naushad Ali that would remind us of Radhe Krishna ras-leela for times to come.
In near future India is thinking of sending a manned mission to the moon. I am sure one of the first songs to be performed there would be Mohe panghat pe.
One small step for Shakeel – Naushad combine; one big leap for Indians.
