Raga Bhatiyar - Since morning time..

The Bhatiyar Raga, one of the more beautiful yet simple ragas I've heard is on my mind today since morning..

Knowing zilch on the grammar of Hindustani Classical music doesn't help when it comes to understanding the finer points, but so many of the Raga based songs that I discover are some of my all time favorites amongst the popular songs, and linking them to the raga, definitely helps, well atleast for me..


The details just for the more musically learned/inclined, even though there are dozens of epages on the subject.
Thaat ( Major Classification) : Marwa
Time of the Day : Dawn
Aaroha ( Ascending Scale) : S-r-S,S-m,P-G,M-D-S'
Avaroha (Descending scale) : S'-r'-N-D-P,D-P-m,P-G-r-S
Pakad (Generally accepted phrase) : S-D,m-P-G,P-G-r-S



Here is my R&D on the raaga ( Limiting to only the songs Ive heard before)..


Starting with one which any Doordarshan old timer would know.. The Rashtirya Saksharta ( National Literacy) Mission's "Purab Se Surya Uga" rendering of Kavita Krishnamurthy.. I think the raga fits fantastically to the cause and even to its video theme. It has both shades of the early morning freshness, the lively chirping and excitement for the day/future ahead, as well as undercurrent pining for something or the melancholic acknowledgment of some event that has gone by or is yet impending..

Purab Se Surya Uga

Here is Manna Dey's "Eki Apurba Prem" , one of my top favorites of MD songs.. q

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The last is the correct ( classical) representation of the raga by Kankana Banerjee ( which I found on the net)

Bhatiyar by Kankana Banerjee

Some verses from schooltime..

Trying out my first transliterated post , with this Hindi poem "Hum Panchhi Unmukt Gagan Ke" translated literally as "We birds, of the open skies". This is by SumitraNandan Pant , and I guess we had read this somewhere in our 7th-8th class school course books, and is probably one of the only 2-3 I remember still...

( Attempted translation will follow later.. )

हम पंछी उन्मुक्त गगन के ....

हम पंछी उन्मुक्त गगन के,
पिंजर बंध न गा पायेंगे,
कनक तीलियों से टकराकर,
पुलकित पंख टूट जायेंगे ..

हम बहता जल पीने वाले,
मर जायेंगे भूखे प्यासे,
कहीं भली है कटुक निबोरी,
कनक कटोरी की मैदा से ..

स्वर्ण श्रृंखला के बन्धन में,
अपनी गति उड़ान सब भूले,
बस सपनो में देख रहे हैं,
तरु की फुंगी, पर के झूले ..

ऐसे थे अरमान कि उड़ते,
नील गगन की सीमा पाने,
लाल किरण सी चोंच खोल,
चुगते तारक, अनार के दाने ..

होती सीमा हीन शितिज से,
इन पंखो की होडा-होडी,
या तो क्षितिज मिलन बन जाता,
या तंती साँसों की डोरी..

नीड़ न दो, चाहे टहनी का,
आश्रय छिन्न-भिन्न कर डालो,
लेकिन पंख दिए हैं तो,
आकुल उड़ान में विघ्न न डालो

- सुमित्रानन्दन पन्त

"Speculation"

Gulshan Ki Faqat - Saba Afghani - Ghazal rendering by Jagjit Singh - Desires (1994?)

- Apologies for the poetic license and just the daring to try and translate. Comments and suggestions welcome.


The beauty of a garden, is as much in its thorns, as in the bloom,
Likewise, required for the essence of life, is sorrows too alongside fortune..

Aye Ignorant Preacher, prophesize your sole day of resurrection,
Here its everyday that the eyes meet, here its resurrection everyday..

He comes to enquire for the gloom, do I tell ? or persist my restrain?
'Cause to keep silent is tormenting, but to reveal means to complain..

So I must, bear the agony, must I swallow these tears..
For to lament and to grouse, oh nescient, is sure the insult of love..

What wets your heart o Saba , is just water, dont call them tears
Those that dont spill over the eyes, are the ones who deserve the name..


From:

Gulshan ki faqat phoolon se nahin kaaton se bhi zeenat hoti hai,
jeene ke liye is duniya mein gham ki bhi zaroorat hoti hai.

Ae waaiz-e-naadan karta hai tu ek qayamat ka charcha,
yahan roz nigahen milti hain yahan roz qayamat hoti hai.

Wo pursish-e-gham ko ayae hain kuch keh na sakoon chup reh na sakoon,
khaamosh rahoon to mushkil hai keh doon to shikaayat hoti hai.

Karna hi padega zabt-e-alam peene hi padenge ye aansoo,
fariyaad-o-fugaan se aey naadaan tauheen-e-mohabbat hoti hai.

Jo aake ruke daaman pe ‘Saba’ wo ashq nahin hai paani hai,
jo ashq na chhalke aankhon se us ashq ki keemat hoti hai.

An accidental revisit to a loved song..

Today, somewhere in-between my office work, recollecting past experiences, envisaging future plans, and living the routine of life.... I accidentally stumbled upon one of my most loved songs of all time.. I heard this after maybe a year or more.. (what the heck was I doing?)...
Amazing lyrics coupled with probably music worth making it one the best 10 English songs of the last century, just love the start, the crescendo, and Edge's typical strumming.. ..

See the stone set in your eyes,
See the thorn twist in your side.
I wait for you....

Sleight of hand and twist of fate,
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait, without you....

With or without you....
With or without you....



Through the storm, we reach the shore,
You gave it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you....

With or without you....
With or without you....
I can't live with or without you.

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away

And you give, And you give.... And you give yourself away.


My hands are tied, my body bruised
She got me with nothing to win
And nothing left to lose.

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give, And you give.... And you give yourself away.

With or without you
With or without you, ohho...
I can't live
With or without you.

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you.

U2, I salute you..

The Sound of Silence .. Absolutely love this song..

Absolutely love this song to bits..

''
Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains Within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night And touched the sound of silence.


And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dare Disturb the sound of silence.


"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed In the wells of silence


And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written
on the subway walls And tenement halls."
And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.

"


- Paul Simon, 1964,
Paul Simon , Art Garfunkel ( Simon and Garfunkel)

Boss Kaun Hai... Malum hai kya?

Theme : Say it with Songs #9 ( As per Sam's request.. tho its totally different from the previous songs..)

History: Compilation of RD Songs over half a year.. just to select my best .. Some history tidbits n cookies.. from the internet and otherwise..



Name : Rahul Dev Burman... a.k.a. Pancham...
Resume: Sagar, Amar Prem, 1942 a Love Story, Yaadon Ki baarat, Sunny, Love Story, Ijaazat, Masoom, Parichay, Teesri Manzil, Anamika, Satte Pe Satta, Ghar , Aandhi, Sholay, Hum Kissi se Kum Nahin, Namak Haram,Khel Khel Mein,Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Kati Patang,Padosan, GolMaal... I CAN GO ON!!


Job to Do : Please help me select the best 10 out of these 50... I have failed repeatedly... Can you? :-) All comments welcome..



Here is the list of my favs.. Just have a look at the myriad of moods.. and the variety of music.. Just humm the first line itself... and you will get to know what I am saying :)




RD is All About Guitar !! And Soft Beats !!

1) Chura liya (Yaadon Ki Baaraat):
Asha at her best, and Zeenat too !!

2) Dum maro dum (Hare Krishna Hare Rama):
The beats, the start!! the ambience... its just awesome..

3) Ek main aur ek tu (Khel Khel Main):
It is one of the best songs of the young and naughty Rishi Kapoor-Neetu Singh pair!

4) Saagar Jaisi Aankhonwaali.... (Saagar)
Just look at the guitar piece at the start of this song !! Gives you goosebumps !!

5) Mehbooba Mehbooba (Sholay):
The strings, the beats and the vocals! Mehbooba was all about vivacity. And the icing is Helen... Just think about it... Sholay wouldnt have been sholay without this song.. No way.. Its still a super hit.. and will still be.. Just try pitting this against any of the item numbers that we have nowadays.. or for the last 15 years... and you wont have to decide ...

6) Jaane kaise (Shakti):
This upbeat romantic number was further enhanced by the use of 'wop wop' sounds in the orchestration. Trust RD to make music out of a racket.

RD is the depths of Passion..

1) Yaad aa rahi hai (Love Story):
This is Amit Kumar's best number.
The song even made (father) Kishore Kumar cry when he was recuperating at a hospital following a stroke.
" Yaad aane se, tere jaane se... Jaan... Jaa rahi hai..."
:)
Lovely.... Optimal Orchestra Utilization in this song....


Or if you want me to list "Kya hua .. tera waada" ,,, :) which onez better?

2) Saagar Kinaare ... (Saagar)
3) Kya yahi pyaar hai (Rocky): Mushy, sweet and melodious. Sanjay Dutt owes his first and most memorable love song to R D.

4) Mera kuch saamaan (Ijaazat):
This has a haunting melody. One of my all time favorites.. It is unbelievable how RD missed the National Award when
Asha Bhosle and Gulzar bagged it for this song. Ijaazat's songs cant be beaten.. I can never start listening to Ijaazat and not finish it totally before doing sumthing else..
"Ek akeli Chhatri mein jab aadhe aadhe bheeg rahe they"!!

5) Aise na mujhe tum dekho (Darling Darling):
For those who have only been exposed to the pathetic remix by Vikas Bhalla,
you must check out the original. It is mind-blowing.

6)Tere bina zindagi (Aandhi): All the songs of this film are great hits from the winning combination of lyricist Gulzar and RDB. Its immortalized by the phenomenal Suchitra Sen as the politician.. and Sanjeev Kumar as the estranged lover..

7) Jaane do naa (Saagar):
If a girl sings this way, who would let her go? LOL!! This song is among the most sensual ones.

8) Tumse milke aisa laga (Parinda): One of the most melodious compositions from RDB.. Suresh Wadkar at his best.. My friend, Akhil's fav song..


RD is melody personified in his songs

1) Jaane kya baat hai (Sunny):
What an immortal classic in Lata Mangeshkar's voice! I think this is very close to my best.. definitely in my top 10

2) Aapke aankhon mein kuch (Ghar): Even today, you can feel the freshness of RDB's music through this song.

3) Pyar hua chupke se (1942: A Love Story): All songs of 1942 are good .. Ek ladki ko dekha, Kuch na kaho and Yeh safar .. RD 's personal fav was "yeh Safar" !! Kavita Krish won the Filmfare for Pyar Hua.. remember?

4) Katra katra (Ijaazat): R D and Gulzar at it again. Asha Bhosle's beautiful voice and R D's zingy melody . The 2 Ashas singing effect is awesome

5) Tumne mujhe dekha (Teesri Manzil):
Although "O haseena zulfonwali" and "O mere sona re" were a rage, my personal favourite is the elegantly composed Tumne mujhe dekha.

6) Naam Gum jaayega !! With BHupinder and the immortal Lata.... (Kinara)

7) Diye jalte hain (Namak Haram):
One of the most beautifully written songs on friendship treated with complete justice by R D's gentle melody. This can be dedicated to your best friend anyday.. it says it all.
Just Remember kakaji singing and Big B with the mike.. two super heroes, and truly melodious


The Classical Rahul Dev

1) Beeti na bitaye raina (Parichay):
This song won Lata Mangeshkar and Bhupinder National Awards. From the famous Raag Behag..

2) Raina beeti jaaye (Amar Prem): Dont know the Raga
An unforgettable melody. Truly classic!
Please dont forget "Kuchhh to log kahenge..." and "Chingari Koi" !!

3) Mere naina sawan bhadon (Mehbooba)
Raag Shivaranjani.. one of the only semi classical songs sung by Koshore Kumar.. after days and days of practice..
R D captured the reincarnation theme of the film by lending a haunting touch and a sense of incompleteness to this song.

4) The essential Yaaman kalyan.. in "Huzur is kadar bhii na itraa ke chaliye..

5) Ghar aaja Ghir aayi.. in Raag Maalgunji... superb superb song :) too melodious ... RD's first hit with lata...


RD is subtelity

1) Do naina aur ek kahani (Masoom): Everything about Masoom rocks. Tujhse naraaz, Lakdi ki kaathi and Huzoor iss kadar are marvels in their own right. But the bedtime lullaby in Arati Mukherjis voice is a personal favourite.
everybody else's personal fav: Huzoor is Qadar i guess !!

2) Tu, tu hai wahee (Yeh Waada Raha):
This is a beautiful romantic duet. the film is okay too. Even the pathetic remix sounds good sumtimes! I remember how Rishi Kapoor got angry and retaliated.. when he first saw the pathetic remix..

3) Tujhse naaraaz nahin (Masoom): Another great hit from RDB.
Gum hai kisike pyaar mein (Rampur Ka Lakshman)


4) Iss mod se (Aandhi):


RD is Party !!

1) Pyaar me dilpe maar de goli (Mahaan):
Try and sing this song and you will see how charged you can get! One of my top dance hungama songs !!

2) Jahaan teri yeh nazar hai (Kaalia):
The perfect party track. Slow pace, yet it gets you to your feet!

3) Pyar karne waale (Shaan):
I remember my friend Yashodhara thru this song

4) Aaja aaja main hoon pyaar tera (Teesri Manzil):
The breathlessness of the singers was used as rhythm for this song. it made the legendary music composer Anil Biswas say, 'Had Pancham not been younger to me, I would have touched his feet.'

5) Aao twist karein (Bhoot Bungla):
The king of classical numbers Manna De sang this fresh pop number.
truly classic...


6) Dekha na (Bombay To Goa):
Fast-paced, foot-tapping and at times crazy, Dekha na had Amitabh Bachchan and the nation dancing to its tune! even now .. i guess.. people singing Hindi film songs together in any group anywhere sing this song...

7) Chadthi jawani teri (Caravan): Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle at their best under RDB, with foot-tapping music... Please dont listen to the remix..


8) Piya tu (Caravan)
:) Helen.. helen .. Helen...


RD is the whole spectrum moods.... (ALL MY BEST SONGS)

1) Kiska rasta dekhe (Joshila):
The song is a great blend of Kishore Kumar's voice and the haunting music of RDB. One feels the pain by simply listening to it.
"Bhooli duniya tujhe bhii mujhe.
Phir kyon aankh bhar aayi!!"

2) Kisi baat par mein kissi (Bemisaal): One of my favourites , a true proof of versatility... R D's brooding tune, Anand Bakshi's eloquent lyrics and Amitabh Bachchan's mysteriously sulky disposition make together this perfect song.

3) Phir Wohi Raat hai..
I cant explain this song.. Dont know the lyricist.. but amzing amazing words.. and only RD could put justice to the lyrics...

4) Musaafir Hoon Yaaron...
Aumkar, my friends.. song.. Aum Bhai, wont forget the road trip to Goa when you sang this

5) Jaane jaan doondtha (Jawani Deewani): Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle at their best, in this evergreen hit from lyricist Anand Bakshi.

6) O manjhi re (Khushboo): O manjhi re was more an experience than a song. It is so easy to imagine yourself on a boat philosophising about life and its musings.

7) Rimjhim Gire Saawan ! Sulag sulag jaaye man .. Bheege aaj is mausam mein... !!
Basu Chatterjee's classic Manzil.. I loved the film.. Amitabh at his best..



RD is Innovation

1) Ek chatur naar (Padosan): Who can forget this song? It's the greatest funny song composed in Hindi music.. Reach out for Kishore Kumar and Manna De, interspersed with Mehmood's Tamil touch..

2) Kasme wade nibhaayenge hum (Kasme Wade):
The reason i put this in this category is cos did you know this was composed in the kitchen of lyricist Gulshan Bawra. Even without much concentration, Pancham could compose such immortal tunes. But have a look at the simplicity yet the melody of the composition

3) Baahon mein chale aao (Anamika):
Check out Lata Mangeshkar's voice. Can one get any naughtier? And Jaya Bhaduri didnt have to show any cleavage and oomph like the remix girl does.. the song and the picturization .. (with Sanjeev Kumar) are really beautiful..
The remix and the original really bring out the change of taste of film directors..

4) Na jaa jaane jaa (Joshilay):
R D sang this song for Sunny Deol. He sang the mukhda in all possible permutations and combinations.
Just awesome .... Javed Akhtar??


5) Mamaiya kaiero mama (Arjun):
This song signifies youth. What attitude! Loved the young sunny deol..

6) Hum kisise kam nahin (Hum Kisise Kam Nahin):
Talk of qawwali, here comes the king.
The hit combination -- Majrooh Sultanpuri and RDB and Nasir Hussain. HKKN along with Yaadon Ki Baaraat and Zamane Ko Dhikhana.

7) Lalla lalla lori (Mukti):
This was the nation's lori (lullaby) composed by the legend.

8) Yeh dosti (Sholay)
Teri jeet meri jeet teri haar meri haar.. aisa apna pyaar. :)
The song that captured the whole theme of the mega movie..

9) Kaanchi re Kaanchi (Hare Rama Hare Krishna)
Lovely Pahadi theme interspersed with the film's screenplay..

10) Pyar humein kis mod (Satte Pe Satta):
:) One of the funniest.. . "Battiyan bujhaane waali jaane kab aayegi " ;-) ;-)

11) Yamma Yamma..
Lovely combination with Rafi Sa'ab.. RD with his Hoo - Haa !! a Blast-Off start to the song and the awesome pace...


Some other numbers (not so favorites personally , but huge hits):

1) Pyar diwana hota hai (Kati Patang)
2) Bade achche lagte hain (Balika Badhu)
3) Dilbar mere (Satte Pe Satta)
4) Hamen tumse pyaar (Kudrat)
5) Aane wala pal (Gol Maal)
6) Ek din bik jaayega (Dharam Karam)
7) Aanewaala pal (Golmaal):
9) Jiss gali mein tera ghar (Kati Patang): Mukesh and RD !!10)Yeh jo mohhabbat hai
11)Pyar diwana hota hain
12) Kehdoon tumhe (Deewar):
13) Hum bewafa (Shalimar):



RD is still the best... Even 5 films like Jhankaar Beats are not enough tribute to him..

I hope we have such a genius again in our lifetime.. or I will spend my life listening to his compositions only.. !!

Translating a genius, on love

What is anxiety my friend? Oh playmate, what is agony?
You all say day and night, 'love, love,love'
Tell me my playmate, what is love? Is it only torment?
It is only shedding tears? Is that only sorrow's breathing?
Why then, in what expectation of joy, people hopefully embrace such sorrow?


In my eyes all is handsome, All fresh, all spotless.
The blue sky, darkgreen wood, Liberal moonlight, the soft flowers - every thing like me.
They only smile, only sing,
and wish to die after a sportive game
(love) knows no pain, knows no crying, its above all kinds of agony.
Flowers laugh while they get shed, the moonlight smilingly disappears,
In the sea of light the star, all smiles, does his form abandon.


Who is happy like me? Come friend, come near to me
The joyous song of a happy heart will feed your mind with solace.
If everyday you cry, why not laugh for a single day
Forget all sadness for at least a day, let us sing together.


A Translation of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's "Sakhi Bhavana Kaharey Bale"
--- The adolescent knocking on the doors of womanhood, to her confidante, about her overwhelming yet ambivalent feeling of love...

Picturised on a early 20th century newly wed 16 year old girl talking to her friend who has come to visit her at her inlaws, over a moonlit gardenside...

Live Like you were dying

"He said, I was in my early forties, with a lot of life before me
when a moment came that stopped me on a dime"
" and I spent, most of the next days, looking at the x-rays
Talking bout the options and talking bout sweet time"

I asked him, when it sank in, that this might really be the real end
hows it hit you when you get that kinda news, man what'd you do?...

And he said ...

"I went sky diving ...
I went Rocky Mountain climbing ...
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named BluManchu ..."

"and I...
loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying"

And he said ...

" Someday I hope you get the chance....... To live like you were dying."
To live like you were dying. To live like you were dying.

Lovely Lovely Song.. Its just been the last 2 years since I have begun listening to US Country.. and boy Tim McGraw rules.. He does. Seriously. No wonder its the hottest thing on the radio charts right now. for months now. The best part is ... I have the uncanny knack of starting my car radio exactly half a minute before this plays... and the song simply makes me take in a breath of fresh air.. and shoo my lethargy of the morning or the tiredness of the evening away...


What do you think? What If.. you came to know.. You have just 30 days to live... What will you do? ... And I know you would definitely say.. I will enjoy life.. and I will roam around.. I would do this , that .. things I had kept for myself.. to be done later... I will shrug off all animosity.. all hate n jealousy..


This Song equates to images of the evergreen Kakaji In Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Anand.. .. his brisk strolling down a twilight red beach.. a bunch of balloons in hand.. .. and Manna Dey Crooning "Zindagi... Kaisi Hai Paheli.... Haay... "

It takes a time line for us to know .. and realize how important the small things of the world are .. It took "Anand" the protagonist, terminal cancer to appreciate the importance of bringing cheer and fun to his life and of others...
It takes disability for people like Hellen Keller to teach us repeatedly.. how to grasp the beauty of mother nature..

And here we are, millions of us.. sitting at our cubes.. day and night.. servicing Across Atlantic MNCs.. taking the project leader's order.. that "Oh .. You HAVE to do a Night - out today cos we have the delivery lined. up" ...

Most Germans in my company dont work after 3 pm on friday.. The holidays begin almost at Thanksgiving.. to "prepare for the Chistmas festivities" ... I know my American colleagues who would take out half a day out to attend his 8 year old's school baseball match, or his daughters presentation.. at university.

Can we Indian's deserve take some time for us ? e.g. Put our foot down and say.. THIS IS THE TIME FOR THE FAMILY UNION... All brothers from the US.. and the sister in Hyderabad, or the cousin in Bombay can maybe meet up..

To Give up our huge imposing professional burdens for a while.. and meet loved ones.. . Or to spend time for yourself.. say read a good book .. walk by the beach.. trek a mountain.. or in fact whatever you want..


"Skydiving , I went... Rocky Mountain Climbing.. I went 2.7 Seconds.. on a bull named.... "

:)

Anyways, for anyone in Bangalore reading this.. There is one more way .. to bring cheer to your inner self..
Its a pity the Silicon City of the world with billions of revenue generated and fatter paychecks than anywhere else in the country cant bring forth its residents to foster 1.1 million children living in abject poverty.. for a better life .. and education.. Bangalore boasts of a 30% illiteracy rate which is horrible in any urban standards of the world.. Do Check out the websites of Parikrama, the Human Foundation.. at http://www.parikramafoundation.org/halfday/htm They have come across a novel idea of providing Nutrition, Health Care and above all Education to the under - priveleged slum dwellers' children of the city.
As they say, provide these children a level - playing field.. and just sit back and watch what they will do to the country. I am going to donate half of my day's salary to them .. Cos thats just what they want .. from us for their cause.. ( THere is also apparently a 30th October Rock fest ticket that you get for this)..



The last line of the song is what gives ppl the goosebumps..
" Someday I hope you get the chance....... To live like you were dying."


Enjoy life pals !! Party hard.... Take a nap in office :) watch a movie.. play a prank on your boss :) (thats taking it too far I spose)
Enjoy every moment.. Cos you wont get back the time that you just spent..