RAAGMALIKA IN FILM 'SWADESH'

 MUSIC DIRECTOR-- A.R.RAHMAN

This ragmalika is like an oasis in the wide spread desert of Hindi film music.We are listening to a raagmalika  in a Hindi film after a very long gap of several years.The composition includes the raagas:- आसावरी , पीलू-खम्माज ,जैजैवंती ,बहार ,यमन-कल्याण and खम्माज  in a sequence.Music Director A.R.Rehman has shown his creativity and has done a memorable job for the lovers of classical music.The video clip presents the raagmalika from the film SWADESH. 

The playback singers are:Madhushree,Vijay Prakash and Ashutosh Gowarikar .The lyrics of raagmalika are as follows:

पल पल है भारी वो विपदा है आयी ,मोहे बचाने अब आओ रघुराई !

आओ रघुवीर आओ रघुपति राम आओ 

मोरे मन के स्वामी मोरे श्रीराम आओ 

राम राम जपती हूँ सुन लो मेरी राम जी !

बजे सत्य का डंका ,जले पाप की लंका !!

इसी क्षण तुम आओ मुक्त कराओ ,

सुन भी लो अब मेरी दुहाई !

पल पल है भारी वो विपदा है आयी ,मोहे बचाने अब आओ रघुराई !!

राम को भूलो ये देखो रावण आया है ,

फ़ैली सारी श्रृष्टि पर जिसकी छाया है !

क्यों जपती हो राम राम तुम ,क्यों लेती हो राम नाम तुम ?

राम राम का रटन ये जो तुमने है लगाया सीता,

सीता तुमने है राम में ऐसा क्या गुण पाया ?

गिन पायेगा उनके गुण कोई क्या,इतने शब्द ही कहाँ है ?

पहुचेगा उस शिखर पे कौन भला, मेरे राम जी जहाँ है !

जग में सबसे उत्तम है मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम हैं ,

सबसे शक्तिशाली हैं फिर भी रखते संयम हैं !

पर उनके संयम की अब आने को है सीमा,रावण समय है मांग ले क्षमा !!

बजे सत्य का डंका जले पाप की लंका ,

आयें राजा राम करें हम प्रणाम 

संग लायें लक्ष्मण जैसा भाई !

पल पल है भारी वो विपदा है आयी,मोहे बचाने अब आओ रघुराई !!

राम में शक्ति अगर है, राम में साहस जो, 

क्यों नहीं आये अभी तक वो तुम्हारी रक्षा को?

जिनका वर्णन करने में थकती नहीं हो तुम यहाँ,

ये बताओ वो तुम्हारे राम हैं इस पल कहाँ ?

राम हैं मेरे हृदय में,राम ही धड़कन में हैं ,

राम मेरी आत्मा में राम ही जीवन में हैं ,

राम हर पल में हैं मेरे राम हैं हर श्वास में,

राम हर आशा में मेरी राम ही हर आस में!!

हो,राम ही तो करुणा में हैं शांति में राम हैं ,

राम ही हैं एकता में प्रगति में राम हैं 

राम वश भक्तों नहीं शत्रु के बीच चिंतन हैं 

देख तज के पाप रावण, राम तेरे मन में हैं! 

राम तेरे मन में हैं राम तेरे मन में हैं ,

राम तो घर घर में हैं राम हर आँगन में हैं ,

मन से जो रावण निकाले राम उसके मन में हैं !!

पल पल है भारी वो विपदा है आई मोहे बचा ने अब आओ रघुराई !!

सुनो राम जी आये ,गुण राम के गायें 

राजा रामचंद्र आये ,श्री रामचंद्र आये 

राम जी आये गुण राम के गायें ......!!               

  

ONE OF THE BEST KATHAK DANCES OF HINDI CINEMA. FILM :KOHINOOR(1960)

RAFI REHERSING WITH NAUSHAD

(

SHAKEEL

This is one of the rarest and best कत्थक  dance and singing जुगलबंदी  ,ever presented on the screen of Hindi Cinema.The application of त्रिवट  and चतुरंग   style in singing has made it a unique composition in राग  हम्मीर.The selection of this raga was most suitable for this कत्थक  dance of बनारस  घराना .Singer Mohammad Rafi is at his best in classical singing and music director नौशाद  has also created it in राग  शुद्ध हम्मीर .The sitar was played by USTAD ABDUL HALEEM ZAFAR KHAN.Actor दिलीप  कुमार  learnt playing sitar for six months to give a correct action of fingers on sitar on the screen.The typical Taans before the Tarana singing by Rafi, picturised on Mukri ,were sung by vocalist Pt; KRISHNA RAO CHONKAR.
The dance direction was given by great exponent of Banaras Gharana of Kathak,SITARA DEVI,She is well known heroine of Forties  and Fifties era of Hindi cinema.I think Rafi is at his best in classical singinf of this song,which is as follows:
मधुबन में राधिका नाचे रे |
गिरधर की मुरलिया बाजे रे ||
पग में घुँघर बांध के,घुंघटा मुख पर ड़ाल के ||
नैनन में कजरा लगा के रे , मधुबन में राधिका नाचे रे ||
डोलत छम छम कामिनी चमकत जैसे दामिनी ||
चंचल प्यारी छवि लागे रे ,मधुबन में राधिका नाचे रे || 
मृदंग बाजे तिरिकित धूम तिरिकित धूम ता ता ,
नाचत थुम थुम तथई तथई ता ता ,थुम थुम तनाना थुम \
कडान धा कडान धा कडान धा , ध ध धा ,मधुबन में राधिका .....  
The dancer is KUMKUM who was playing the role of a dancer in the film.   

ONE OF THE BEST DANCE COMPETITIONS IN HINDI FILM:KALPANA (1960)

This is one of the most beautiful music compositionsd in राग  ललित  ,ever created for a Hindi film.Its picturisation on a marvellous भरत  नाट्यम  dance competition, between Travancore Sisters:PADMINI AND RAGINI ,in Hindi film KALPANA,made it immortal on screen. Since dancers are praying to Lord SHIVA, music director O.P.NAYYAR has used कोमल  धैवत  in राग  ललित  ,to create the devotional mood of the song.The befitting lyrics were written by QAMAR JALALABADI (OM PRAKASH BHANDARI).The singers are MANNA DEY and MOHAMMAD RAFI, presenting one one of their best jugalbandi ,in raga lalit.
For dancer PADMINI vocal support is given by Manna Dey:
नमस्कार महादेव की नमस्कार नटराज |
काला पुजारिन आयी है इन चरणों में आज ||
Then Mohd.Rafi sings for dancer RAGINI :
नमस्कार भगवान को जिसने बनाई प्रीत |
एक देवता दो पुजारिने किसकी होगी जीत ?
After these introductory lines main song is sung in जुगलबंदी :
तू है मेरा प्रेम देवता ,इन चरणों की दासी हूँ मैं |
मन की प्यास बुझाने आयी ,अंतर घट तक प्यासी हूँ मैं ||
मैं गौरी तू कंत हमारा ,मैं गंगा तू मेरा किनारा |
अंग लगाओ प्यास बुझाओ ,नदिया होकर प्यासी हूँ मैं ||
मन की प्यास बुझाने आयी,अंतर घट तक प्यासी हूँ मैं ||
डम डम डम डम डमरू बाजे,मैं नाचूँ शंकर के आगे |
होके रहेगी जीत उसी की ,जिसकी कला से शंकर जागें ||
मन की प्यास बुझाने आयी ,अंतर घट तक प्यासी हूँ मैं ||
तू है मेरा प्रेम देवता ......
The overall combination of singing and dance is unique and superb.Once you enjoy it,you may never forget it.           

USTAD BADE GHULAM ALI KHAN SANG IN ONLY ONE HINDI FILM:MUGHAL-E-AZAM

A STILL FROM THE SONG "PREM JOGAN BAN KE.."

COVER OF A 3-LP SET OF SOUNDTRACK

SHAKEEL BADAYUNI

Ustad BADE GHULAM ALI KHAN Saheb contributed his singing of Patiala Gharana in one and only one Hindi film: MUGHAL-E-AZAM.He sang one ठुमरी  in राग  सोहिनी  and one composition in राग : रागेश्वरी  ,picturised on actor SURENDRA playing as TANSEN in the film.Though Khan Saheb was always reluctant towards singing for films, but due to very keen request of the film's music director NAUSHAD and producer-director K.ASIF ,the 'King of Thumris' agreed for it.Thus we got his two rare recordings for this grand film. 
The composition in raga Rageshwari is sung by Tansen in the film ,when we see the return of young prince Saleem, after many years of gap.The whole palace is in a rejoicing mood to celebrate this moment.The song is:
"शुभ दिन आयो राजदुलारो,   
  साहेब आलम जग उजियारो ।
  महाबली को नन्दन,
  जोधा को नैनन तारो ।।
  शुभ दिन आयो राजदुलारो,

  शुभ दिन आयो। ...."
The second composition is the famous thumri,composed in raga Sohini,picturized on prince Saleem and Anarkali, in the the most talked about sequence of the film,when they are together from midnight till early hours of the dawn.The lyrics of this Thumri are:
 "प्रेम जोगन बन के।
   जोगन प्रीतम ओर चली,
   प्रेम जोगन बन के ...।
   सुंदरी पिया ऒर चली,
   प्रेम जोगन बन के।
   साजन सो जो नैन मिले,
   तो मन की प्यास बुझी,
   प्रेम जोगन बन के ।
   पी संग सगरी रैन गुजारी,
   बैरन भोर भई,
   प्रेम जोगन बन के.....।" 

MUSIC DIRECTOR - NAUSHAD

USTAD BADE GHULAM ALI KHAN

Here is the audio clip of the complete song in raga Rageshwari, since in video clip it is shown partially as the scene required.

"MATHURA SHYAM CHALE.." IN HINDI FILM :SHOLA AUR SHABNAM(1959)

GEETA DUTT

MANNA DEY

KAUMUDI MUNSHI

This composition was presented in the form of a ballet on the stage.Music was composed by KHAYYAM, using four ragas.The singers are MANNA DEY, GEETA DUTT and KAUMUDI MUNSHI.

Khaiyyam

 This composition shows the departure of Krishna from Gokul to Mathura ,leaving behind Radha ,Gopikas and all his childhood friends forever.There is a hidden pathetic atmosphere in this song ,which begins with the souleful singing of मन्ना  डे:

"मथुरा श्याम चले ,मथुरा श्याम चले 
सावन घन सा उमड़ पड़ा ब्रज ,
मथुरा श्याम चले |
रथ से लिपटी ,पथ से लिपटी ,बावरिया ब्रजनारी ,

बोली राधा प्रेम अगाधा ,ना जाओ गिरधारी ,ना जाओ गिरधारी ,
मथुरा श्याम चले..||"

Now Geet Dutt sings for Radha:

"कैसे जाओगे कन्हाई ,कैसे जाओगे 
जाने नाही दूंगी ,पग धरुँगी,ना डरूँगी,
संवारे मैं तेरी राह में मरूंगी ,ना डरूँगी ,ना डरूँगी हो ,
कैसे जाओगे कन्हाई कैसे जाओगे|"

Radha comments on Krishna:

"तन के कारे रहे तुम कान्हा,
  मन के कारे बनो नहीं श्याम,
  तुम बिन होगा जीवन सूना,
  नरक बनेगा गोकुल धाम | 
  कैसे जाओगे कन्हाई कैसे जाओगे ...?"

There are some dialogues from Radha. And again from background Manna Dey sings:

मथुरा श्याम चले ,मथुरा श्याम चले ,
सावन घन सा उमड़ पड़ा ब्रज ,मथुरा श्याम चले ||

Now for the Bansuri (flute) of Krishna,singing has been done by Kaumudi Munshi as:

"बाजूँ राधे जो भगवान बजाये |
  वो ही बोली बोलू राधे,
  जो भगवान् बुलाये ||"

Then Radha says that,now I have come to know that we can get close to God by eliminating ourselves.
Then Krishna consoles Radha by saying that her name will always be taken before his name.And says to repeat with him:
राधे -कृष्ण ,
राधे -कृष्ण ,
राधे -कृष्ण ,
राधे -कृष्ण ||
This continues in Kirtan style reaching to its higher pitch.
This a unique creation of music director Khaiyyam,which is capable of drawing the whole episode before our eyes,whenever we listen to it.Evening time ragas Kafi and Bhimpalasi have been used to create the devotional atmosphere in the song.
The lyrics of this song were penned by Pt.Ram Murti Chaturvedi.   

'ABHIGYAN SHAKUNTAL': A TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER Pt.BHUVANESH MISHRA 'SHASTRI'

Pt. BHUVNESH MISRA 'SHASTRI'
(17 June,1923 ---9 December,1995)

MY FATHER PT. भुवनेश  मिश्र  शास्त्री , WAS A GREAT SCHOLAR  AND व्याकर्नाचार्य OF संस्कृत  LANGUAGE.HE WAS BORN IN SIDDHARTH NAGAR(U.P.) ON 17 JUNE,1923. 

IN HIS CHILDHOOD,HE WAS SENT TO STUDY IN A 'गुरुकुल ' IN अयोध्या.HE HAD SUCH A STRONG MEMORY THAT,THE BOOK 'लघु  सिद्धांत  कौमुदी ' WAS ON HIS TIPS.IN HIS GURUKUL DAYS HE LOST HIS MOTHER.

FOR HIS FURTHER STUDIES,HE WAS TAKEN TO  LAHORE ( now in Pakistan ) ,BY HIS MATERNAL UNCLE,WHO WAS A FREEDOM FIGHTER.BUT DURING THE DAYS OF PARTITION OF THE COUNTRY,LEAVING HIS STUDIES,HE  HAD TO COME BACK TO INDIA AND GET SETTLED IN THE CITY OF  KANPUR (U.P.).

HE GOT FIRST POSITION IN  THE AGRA UNIVERSITY IN HIS M.A. IN SANSKRIT .HE COULD SPEAK FLUENTLY IN SANSKRIT,AS WELL AS IN HINDI AND ENGLISH.

HE GOT ENGAGED IN TEACHING  SANSKRIT IN A LOCAL COLLEGE.LATER HE JOINED , CENTRAL SCHOOLS ORGANISATION ( केंद्रीय  विद्यालय  संगठन  ) IN 1963 AND GOT RETIRED IN 1983 WORKING AS A 'PRINCIPAL'.SANSKRIT LANGUAGE WAS INTRODUCED IN THE CURRICULUM OF CENTRAL SCHOOLS, DUE TO HIS PROPOSAL,UNDER THE 'THREE LANGUAGE FORMULA'.

HE LIKED MOST, THE WORKS OF  कालिदास  AND बाण  भट्ट  AND KALIDAS'S PLAY 'अभिज्ञान  शाकुंतल ' WAS ONE OF HIS MOST FAVOURITES.HERE I AM GIVING THE CLIP OF THAT PLAY FROM HINDI FILM: कवि  कालिदास  , AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS DEVOTION  AND DEDICATION FOR POPULARISATION OF संस्कृत  LANGUAGE.

HE ALSO LIKED THE FILMS RAM RAJYA(1943),BAIJU BAWRA (1952) ,BASANT BAHAR (1957) ,JAGRITI (1958) AND KAVI KALIDAS (1959).

  HE LEFT US FOR HIS HEAVENLY ABODE ON 9th, DECEMBER,1995.  

'BHARAT RATNA' PT.BHIMSEN JOSHI'S CONTRIBUTION TO HINDI CINEMA

Pt. BHIMSEN JOSHI was a great classical singer ,representing the KIRANA Gharana of Hindustani Classical Music.Born in Dharwad  district of KARNATAKA on 22nd Feb.,1922, he left this world forever on 24th,Jan.,2011. He was honoured with'BHARAT RATNA' the greatest civilian award,by the President of Govt.of India, in the year,2008 .Due to his great contribution, in the field of Hindustani Classical Vocal Music, he will remain  immortal.Very few people know that, he contributed his classical singing to some Hindi films also,such as : PATIVRATA(1953) ,BASANT BAHAR(1956), SANT TULSIDAS (1972) and ANKAHEE(1981) .His most popular song was in film 'BASANT BAHAAR':केतकी,ग़ुलाब,जूही,चम्पक बन फूले ..'

 This was sung in राग  बसंत - बहार and Manna Dey was his cosinger.He also sang a जुगलबंदी  in राग  मालकौंस  alongwith Pt .जसराज  ,in film 'BIRBAL MY BROTHER'. It was his already famous  द्रुत  ख्याल  " रंग  रलियाँ  करत  सौतन  के  संग ..." .In film पतिव्रता  with classical singer  लक्ष्मी  शंकर ,he sang "ए  री  माई आज शुभ मंगल गाओ ...",in राग मियां की तोड़ी (Audio clip given here). 

He sang two  Bhajans in film ANKAHEE , beautifully composed by music director JAIDEV.One was Tulsidas's famous bhajan "रघुवर  तुमको  मेरी  लाज .." and the second was an enchanting devotinal song,sung in Kirtan style "ठुमक  ठुमक  पग, घूमत कुञ्ज मग ,चपल चरण हरि आये  ...., हरि आओ ,हरि  आओ .." .Both of them became very popular. He sang five compositions in film संत  तुलसीदास  for music director RAM KADAM giving playback to actor Sahu Modak in the role of Sant Tulsidas.The songs are:
1.पिता मातुश्री बंधु कांता प्रजा के सुखदाता  ...
२.बोलो भाई राम की दोहाई.......
३.रामाय राम भद्राय रामचन्द्राय ......जानकी पतिव्रता नारी ...
४.ग्रन्थ ज्ञान के बरव सोरठ ....इन ग्रंथो से भक्ति भावना सारे जग में ...
५.राम प्रभु आधार जगत के राम जीवनाधार, राम एक आदर्श हमारे (Audio clip given here) ....  
I feel myself lucky that I could attend to his live concert at Kanpur in 1989,that was his last visit to this city.It was 15th October.You can see his autograph, given on one of his LP records of my collection.   

RAAGMALIKA IN HINDI FILM 'CHAAR DIL CHAAR RAAHEN' (1959)

This is another melodious creation of veteran music composer श्री  अनिल  बिस्वास .Tis film was also produced and directed by ख्वाजा  अहमद  अब्बास .It was a social satire.The raagmalika  presented here begins with  राग  विहागडा  and ends on राग  कलिंगडा , a morning raga.In between composer has presented राग यमन कल्याण  and बिहाग .स्वर  कोकिला  लता  मंगेशकर  has done beautiful rendering of the verses expressing the ragas very truely and correctly.This is one of the best songs of both, लता  जी  and अनिल  बिस्वास  .

The suitable lyrics were written by great shayer साहिर  लुधियानवी .The whole episode is picturised on actress निम्मी  and अनवर  हुसैन . The Lyrics are:
 जब  मै कहती हूँ  के किस रोज़ हुज़ूर आयेंगे | दिल ये कहता है के इक रोज ज़ुरूर आयेंगे ||    ( राग विहागडा )    
 इंतज़ार और अभी  और अभी और अभी , इंतज़ार और ...|
 साँझ की लाली  सुलग सुलग कर बन गयी काली धूप                                                ( राग यमन कल्याण ) 
 आये न बलम बेदर्दी मै चुनती रह गयी  धूप  || इंतज़ार और अभी  और अभी .....

 रैन भई बोझिल अंखियन में चुभने लागे तारे |                                                                 ( राग विहाग )                                                                            
 देस में मै परदेसन हो गयी,जब से पिया सिधारे|| इंतज़ार और अभी  और अभी ...
 भोर भई पर कोई न आया ,सूनी सेज बसानी |                                                                 ( राग कलिंगडा )                                          

 तारे  डूबे  दीपक  बुझ  गए राख हुए  परवाने || इंतज़ार और अभी और अभी और अभी ,इंतज़ार और ||   

SUPERB SINGING AND DANCING IN RAGA 'GAUD-SAARANG' Film:PARDESI(1958)

MUSIC DIRECTOR ANIL BISWAS

LATA MANGESHKAR

PREM DHAWAN

When we refer to an example of Raga Gaud-Saarang in Hindi Film music,everyone quotes "Allah tero naam ishwar tero naam..." sung by LATA Ji for Music Director JAIDEV in film 'HUM DONO'.It is an all time masterpiece.But now you will  see another forgotten masterpiece, composed in the same raga.It was in Khwaza Ahmad Abbas's classic film 'PARDESI'(1958), in which Lata Ji sang  a song "Naa Jaa Naa Jaa Balam..." composed by veteran music director Shri ANIL BISWAS, in raga Gaud-Saarang.The lyrics of the song were written by Prem Dhawan.

The song was picturised on actress PADMINI who danced so well that overall combination of song and dance became an unforgettable masterpiece on Hindi film screen.This movie was made in INDO-USSR collaboration and hero was a Russian artist.Nargis and Balraj Sahni were in lead roles.The treatment of raga in singing and Bharat Natyam dance on it,create a unique atmosphere.