RAAGMALIKA IN HINDI FILM: UMRAO JAAN ( 1982)

Rekha as UMRAO JAAN

KHAYYAM

GULAM MUSTAFA KHAN

COVER OF LP RECORD

उमराव  जान  (1982) was an award winning film for its music and songs.The atmosphere of the film was of mid-nineteenth century, during the reign of नवाब  of अवध  in लखनऊ .Umrao jaan was also a poetess as well as a trained singer and dancer of that time. In the film she is shown getting her basic training from a Ustad of Music,early in her childhood on a ‘kotha’ run by an old prostitute Khanum. Finding the proper situation in the film ,Music director खय्याम  composed a unique Raagmalika .Main singer is उस्ताद  ग़ुलाम  मुस्तफा  खान , whose lessons are repeated by singers शाहिदा  खान  and रुना  प्रसाद .
 रागमालिका  begins with an आलाप  and prayer:
 ”प्रथम  धर  ध्यान  दिनेश,
   ब्रह्मा विष्णु महेश …” in राग  भैरव.
Second song is:
 “अब मोरी नैय्या पार करो तुम,
   हज़रत निज़ामुद्दीन औलिया ..” composed in राग  तोड़ी.
 It is followed by a traditional composition in राग  केदार:
  “सगुन  विचार  आयो  बमना,
    कब  पिया  आये मोरे मंदिरवा  …”.
 In the mean time children are shown growing during their music and dance training and Raagmalika continues with the next number a होरी composed in राग  काफी :
“बिराज  में धूम मचायो कान्हा,
   कैसे कर जाऊं अपने धाम  ..”,
 followed by:
 “ दर्शन  दो  शंकर  महादेव |
    महादेव तिहारे दरश बिना,
    मोहे कल न परत घरी पल छिन दिन || …”
in राग  यमन  कल्याण  and on it the grown up 'उमराव  जान '(रेखा) is shown dancing on the steps of कत्थक.Along with dance steps both disciples further sing with their Ustad a मालकौंस  number:
 “ पकरत बैयाँ मोरी बनवारी,
    चुरियाँ करक दई  सारी अनारी ।।…”.
The Raagmalika concludes with a Holi Song in भैरवी :
“ बांसुरी बाज रही धुन मधुर कन्हैय्या की,
   खेलन जावत होरी …।।”.
 All the seven compositions reflect the talent and skill of musical genius खैय्याम ,the veteran music composer of Hindi films.