RAAGMAALIKA IN FILM 'SWEEKAAR KIYAA MAINE'(1983)

USHA KHANNA

USHA KHANNA COMPOSING MUSIC

SINGER HAIMANTI SHUKLA

SHABANA  AZAMI

A SCENE FROM FILM

This Raagmala is like गागर में सागर .It presents Eleven classical raagas in a sequence,within a short duration of about six minutes.Classical singer हेमंती शुक्ला has wonderfully rendered all the eleven compositions in a row maintaining purity and mood of the raagas,as well as melody of the song.The credit must be given to the film's music director Mrs.उषा खन्ना , for creating this raagmala, by including so many raagas in it very intelligently.The raagas are:भैरव ,गांधारी ,मालकौंस ,बागेश्वरी ,मुल्तानी ,हम्मीर ,सोरठ ,जैजैवंती ,दुर्गा ,बहार and बसंत .Frequent shifting from the mood of one raaga to another in continuation, is very difficult,but singer Haimanti Shukla has shown her ability and maturity of approach, doing this commendable job.The lyrics of this raagmala are as follows:
भोर भई भैरव गुन गाओ ,
गांधारी संग हैं सा सा रे नि सा रे ग म ,
मालकौंस गुनियनन बखाना ,म म ध ध ध गा म ध म ध सा नि ध नि ध ...मालकौंस गुनियनन बखाना ..,
अति सुंदर बागेश्वरी जानो .
प्रभु नवा में गा मुल्तानी , 
हम्मीर संग भेंटा भक्ति की ,
प्रभु भक्ति मिले सोरठ जानी .
जैजैवंती प्रिय रागिनी आ अ ....रे नि ध प् ध म गा रे गा म ध नि सा नि ध प् ध रे गा रे रे गा नि सा
 जैजैवंती प्रिय रागिनी ..., जय जय जय दुर्गे महारानी आ .. आ ..... आयी बहार सकल मन जानी ,
 छाई बसंत ऋतु मन भानी ,
 आ .. आ .....सा रे गा म .....म गा म ध सा.. .
You will definitely enjoy this raagmala with a blending of so many raagas.Interludes given by using Santoor and Saarangee create a very pleasing effect.I must thank Shri K.L.Pandey ji for providing its audio version.

RAAGMAALIKA IN FILM ' SANGEET SAMRAAT TAANSEN' (1962)

MANNA DEY

SHAILENDRA

A 'RAGA MALKAUNS' PAINTING

PT.S.N.TRIPATHI

A 'RAGA MALHAR' PAINTING

The era of Tansen was early sixteenth century,during the Mughal period,ruled by Akbar.This movie was dedicated to the life history of this great singer of all time,showing his childhood,musical training under the guidance of saint music guru of Vrindavan Swami Haridaas Ji and his selection as one of the Navaratnas of Akbar's court.The raagmaala presented here shows the complition of his music training.Taansen is shown growing up during the learning he concludes with  a prayer for his guru:" गुरुर  ब्रह्मा  गुरुर  विष्णुर  गुरुर  देवो  महेश्वरः , गुरु  साक्षात्  परब्रह्म  तस्मै  श्री  गुरवे  नमः "  singing When asked by Guru Haridaas Swami to express the Classical Raagaas ,he sings this रागमाला including six raagas: bhairav, malkauns, hindol, shree, deepak and megh malhaar .Taansen sings introductary verse: "राग  वर्णत  शास्त्र  मत  गुणि  जन  बखानत  ज्ञान  से " and then starts with raagmaala: " राग  भैरव  प्रथम  शांत  रस  जाके , शंकर  को  प्रिय  लागे  सुर  मधुर  वाके ,नि स ग  म प् ध नि स,स नि ध ध म ग रे स ,राग भैरव ...| सा रे ग म ध नि नि ता ,रे प् वरज कर वामे मध्यम चतुर्थ अंश मालकौंस पहचाने || हिंडोल के बोल ध ध म धी न म ग म ..,आरोह अवरोह रे प् वरज कर गाये || श्री राग अब जाग आरोह करके , पंचम ऋषभ सुर अति ही सुहावन |प् प् नि ध प् म रे म ग रे स ,स प् म नि ध....|| दीपक महाराग गावत जले ज्योति , आरोह षड ऋषभ अवरोह संपूर्ण | प् प् ग म सा रे ध नि ग प् ध ध ग म ध नि ध प् ...|| मेघ मल्हार सब 

गुनियन बखाने | नि ता रे म म प् नि प् प् नि स रे , प् प् नि ध .......मेघ मल्हार  सब गुनियन  बखाने .||"Great singer Manna Dey performed skillfully justifying the grammer and pattern of all the raagaas in dhrupad style.The whole credit should be given to film's Music Composer Shree NathTripathi , who created such a film, loaded with a number of marvellous music compositions.Typical and timely suitable lyrics were written by poet Shailendra.The video clip shows only beginning and end of Raagmaalika.It was completely given on gramphone records only. Credit goes to one of my learned friends Shri K.L.Pandey,IRTS,who has provided this recording,which is before you .This small raagmaala is like 'गागर  में  सागर'.I hope everyone will agree with me.

MY FIRST AWARDED HINDI POEM IN THE SCHOOL

MORNING PRAYERS IN THE SCHOOL

SWAMI VIVEKANAND

MY POEM AS PRINTED IN THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE 'SHRADHDHA'

When I was studying in class IX in राम  कृष्ण  मिशन हायर सेकंडरी स्कूल , कानपुर  ,a 'स्व-रचित काव्य प्रतियोगिता ' was organised by हिंदी  साहित्य  परिषद्  of the school.I used to write poems, when internally inspired by some situation.This time I wrote a poem and showed it to my Hindi teacher.He suggested some changes and then accepted it for competition.

In the Annual Function of the School,when my name was announced as First Prize winner in 'self created poetry competition', I was overwhelmed with joy.Today after 48 years, I wish to share those moments again with all of you, by reproducing that page of school's Annual Magazine 'श्रद्धा ', on which that poem was printed.
Next year I again grabbed the First Prize in the same competition.The title of the poem was :'मानव  मानवता  क्यों  छोड़े '.
Dr.R.C.Mishra

'RITU SAMHAAR' OF KALIDAS AS A RAAGMAALIKA IN FILM: KAVI KAALIDAS(1959)

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In India 12 months of the year are divided in six seasons( 6- ऋतुएं );Greeshma, Varsha,Sharad, Hemant ,Shishir and Basant.Their duration according to English Calendar is as follows:शिशिर (22 DEC.-- 19 FEB.),बसंत (20FEB.---21 APR.),ग्रीष्म ( 22 APR.---21JUN.),वर्षा (22 JUNE---21AUG.),शरद ( 22 AUG.---21 OCT.),हेमंत (22 OCT.---21 DEC.).The great Sanskrit poet कालिदास described these six seasons in his famous work 'ऋतु संहार '.On his life a Hindi Film कवि कालिदास was produced in the year 1959. श्री नाथ त्रिपाठी created Music for this film.Film shows the poet कालिदास narrating his verses of 'ऋतु संहार ' before a gathering of cotemporary Sanskrit scholars in काशी .In the available print of the movie description of only three seasons: ग्रीष्म ,वर्षा and शरद is present.I am giving the हिंदी version of 'Ritu Samhar' done by poet भरत व्यास for the film.कालिदास starts singing
" नए नए रंगों से लिखती धरती नयी कहानी ||
 तन मन को पल भर में बदल दें ऋतुएं बड़ी सुहानी ||
 ये ऋतुएं बड़ी सुहानी ||
  ग्रीष्म ऋतु is described as:
ग्रीष्म महीने में कामिनियाँ धूप लगे कुम्हलाय |
 इस ऋतु में वो अगर चन्दन का, अंग में लेप लगाए ||
 सूख गया है सरोवर का जल, सूख गयी सरिताएं || 
 सूख गए हैं पीपल के दल, मुरझाई हैं लताएँ || 
 जाने कहाँ घबरा के छुपी हैं, चंचल आज हवाएं || 
 ऊंघ रहे डालों पर पंछी ,पंखों में चोंच छुपाये || 
 अंग अंग में आलस छाया,अँखियाँ हैं अकुलानी ||
 तन मन को पल भर में बदल दें,ऋतुएं बड़ी सुहानी ||
 ये ऋतुएं बड़ी सुहानी ||
वर्षा ऋतु is described as:
उमड़ घुमड़ घन गरजत आये ,बरखा ऋतु सुखदायी || 
दादुर  मोर पपीहा बोले,हरी हरी धरती की चुनरिया डोले,
बिरहन को दुखदायी ||
भीगी नार खड़ी रसवंती, रिमझिम बरसे पानी || 
पल भर में तन मन को बदल दे, ऋतुएं बड़ी सुहानी || 
ये ऋतुएं बड़ी सुहानी ||
He describes शरद ऋतु as:
शरद सुहावन ऋतु मन भावन,  मदन बदन में अगन लगावन || 
कुञ्ज कुञ्ज में, वन निकुंज में,भ्रमर गुंज गुंजार करे || 
लहरों के चंचल अंचल में, शरद चंद्रिका प्यार भरे ||
पिया की बाहों में कसी कामिनी, ,मन ही मन सकुचानी ||
तन मन को पल भर में बदल दें, ऋतुएं बड़ी सुहानी ||
ये ऋतुएं बड़ी सुहानी....||  
This रागमालिका is  beautifully sung by veteran playback singer मन्ना डे ,expressing the भाव hidden in the verses very correctly.Music director S.N.Tripathi has composed the introductory lines in Raga GAUD SAARANG the ग्रीष्म ऋतु वर्णन in राग KHAMMAJ   .The lyrics of वर्षा ऋतु are composed in राग MIYAN MALHAAR and DESH and शरद ऋतु वर्णन is composed in राग KEDAAR .This  रागमालिका  ends with the narration of वसंत  ऋतु  sung in राग  बसंत .
The poetry is:
ऋतुराज आज सज के सिंगार,गरवा में डार फूलन के हार|
चले झूम झूम छलकाते प्यार |ऋतुराज...||
मंद पवन मकरंद कली में बंद मधुर मधु पान करे |
कुहू कुहू कोकिल  पंचम सुर में कूके ,मधु रस का दान करे||
लहराए हिया प्रीतम से प्रिया, मिल मिल के जिया में मान करे ||
यौवन की उमंग तरंग लिए अंग अंग पे वो अभिमान करे ||
 ऋतुराज आज ...  
{Audio clip - श्री के. एल. पाण्डे जी  के सौजन्य से }. 

MUSIC LESSON IN RAGA BHAIRAVI IN FILM:RANI ROOPMATI(1959)

रानी  रूपमती  (1959)was a period film in the backdrop of मांडू  Estate.Its ruler बाज  बहादुर  was a music lover and due to music he was in platonic love with RANI ROOPMATI.Both sang together and created some classical ragas also.Film's director and music composer श्री नाथ त्रिपाठी  created a situation in which BAJ BAHADUR(played by भारत  भूषण )is learning music from his Ustad and presented a traditional भैरवी  khayal in जुगलबंदी .Singers were पंडित .कृष्ण  राव  चोनकर  and मोहम्मद  रफ़ी .The traditional lyrics are:"बाट  चलत  नयी  चुनरी  रंग  डारी  रे , कैसो  है  बेदर्दी  बनवारी .एसो  है  निडर  डरत  न  काहू  सो  लंगर  अपने  धींगा  धीन्गी  करत  है  डगर ,हे  मोरे  राम ,हे  मोरे  राम ,हे  मोरे  राम  .बाट  चलत  इतने  दिनन  में  मोसे  कबहूँ  न  अटक्यो ,नित  प्रति  जात  गलिन  में  सुबह  शाम  .आवत  फागुन  इतरात  जात ,हे  मोरे  राम ,हे  मोरे  राम ,हे  मोरे  राम .बाट  चलत  नयी चुनरी रंग डारी रे .....".This lovely Bhairavi bandish in jugalbandi progresses beautifully fom vilambit towards drut layakaari and taans and is an unforgettable composition.

TEACHING 'TARANA' SINGING IN FILM:MAMTA(1966)

MUSIC DIRECTOR ROSHAN

SANDHYA MUKHERJEE

COVER OF FILM'S LP RECORD

The central character of film ममता  was देवयानी ,played by famous actress of Bangla Films:सुचित्रा  सेन .Trapped in a chain of tragic situations,Devyani attempts for suicide,but a cotraveller aged lady(played by छाया  देवी )saves her and gives shelter in her home.Devyani accepts her profession of singing.In this context dance and singing lessons are given to her.A very enchanting piece of Tarana was cmposed by learned music director ROSHAN, for this situation in the film.संध्या  मुखर्जी   sang for SUCHITRA SEN and for CHHAYA DEVI some unknown singer has sung superbly.Tarana is an ornamental part of traditional Aalap and Khayal singing in Hidustani Classical Music.You will appreciate this composition definitely.

TEACHING 'AALAP' IN RAGA MALKAUNS IN FILM:BASANT BAHAAR(1956)

MANNA DEY

PT.BHIMSEN JOSHI

LP RECORD - COVER

Music was the central theme of the film बसंत  बहार .The Chitradurg Estate Singer's son Malaiyya,when sings,he always twists the notes of every raga composition and distorts its correct form.His father sings for him to teach proper presentation of Aalap in राग  मालकौंस .The aalap in the film is sung by पंडित  भीमसेन  जोशी  with the traditional lyrics:"पग  लागन  दे  महाराज  के ...."for राज गायक  on the screen.मलैय्या  fails to adopt it,but Estate Astrologer's son Gopal(played by भारत  भूषण ) repeats the Aalap lesson correctly as it should be and gets appreciation for it .मन्ना  डे  gave playback for Bharat Bhushan in the film.It is a very rare piece of melody composed by Music Directors: शंकर -जयकिशन .

MUSIC LESSON IN RAGA TILANG IN FILM:MISS MARY(1957)

LATA and ASHA

Music Director:HEMANT KUMAR

Lyricist:RAJINDER KRISHAN

The title role of film मिस  मेरी   was played by मीना  कुमारी .Who works as a music teacher,giving music tutions to girls.This beautiful composition was framed in राग  तिलंग  by the genius music director of the film श्री  हेमंत  कुमार .Playback for Meena Kumari is sung by लता  मंगेशकर  and आशा   भोसले  sings for the girl student.The lyrics of song are:" सखी  री  सुन  बोले  पपीहा  उस  पार , बोलत  ऐसी  मीठी  बोली  छेड़े  मन  के  तार.....सखी री सुन बोले पपीहा उस पार.....पी  पी  की  जब  तान  सुनाये  बिरहन  मन  घबराये ,भूली  बतियाँ  याद  दिलाये  पापी  बारम्बार ..... सखी री सुन......."These  lyrics  were penned by राजिंदर  किशन .Singing concludes with beautiful layakari and taans.This is one of the best classical duets sung by Mangeshkar sisters in Hindi films so far.

PT. BHIMSEN JOSHI DEFEATED IN SINGING IN FILM:BASANT BAHAR(1956)

शैलेन्द्र 

जयकिशन 

शंकर 

भीमसेन जोशी 

मन्ना डे 

LP- RECORD COVER

This film had music as its central theme.It was based on the कन्नड़  उपन्यास  ' हंस  गीते'  by Taa  Raa Su.This episode shows a classical music competition organised by Chitradurga State in Tipu Sultan's dynasty.For the state singer's son playback singing was given in the voice of the stalwart of Kirana Gharana Pt.भीमसेन  जोशी  rendering राग  बसंत  बहार .The song was written by poet शैलेन्द्र  creating the atmosphere of Basant Ritu:"केतकी  गुलाब  जूही  चम्पक  वन  फूले , ऋतु  बसंत  अपनों  कंत  गोरी  गरवा  लगाये , झुलना  में  बैठ  आज  पी  के  संग  झूले .गैल  गैल  कुञ्ज  कुञ्ज ,गुन  गुन  भंवरों  की  गूंज ,राग  रंग  अंग  अंग ,छेडत  रसिया   अनंग , कोयल  की  पंचम  सुन  दुनिया  रुख  भूले ." while the singer is in full swing, exploring the raga vibrantly, the other competitor, hero of the film भारत  भूषण  takes entry with aalap in same raga Basant Bahar and  continues singing :" मधुर मधुर थोरी थोरी मीठी बतियों से गोरी ,चित चुराय हंसत जाय चोरी करे सिर झुकाय ,शीश झुके चंचल लट गालों को छूले .केतकी गुलाब जूही चम्पक वन फूले ..... " capturing   the attention of the King on the judge's seat.Singer मन्ना  डे  gave playback for the hero and singing beautifully the same song defeats his rival and gets the declared prize from the king. In reality Pt. Bhimsen Joshi could never be challenged at any level in classical singing by playback singer Manna Dey,but in film he was singing for the defeated artist.This makes it interesting to see in the film, the doyen of किराना  घराना  loosing his crown in singing to a playback singer. This song is still popular due to excellent vocal performances by both artists.Music directors of the film शंकर -जयकिशन  did superb job by creating many beautiful compositions in the film,like this song.

MEMORABLE CLASSICAL MUSIC COMPETITIONS IN HINDI FILMS (2) RANI ROOPMATI (1959)

रानी  रूपमती  (1959) was a period movie,belonging to sixteenth century,having classical music as its central theme.The ruler of मांडू  बाज  बहादुर  was in platonic love with रूपमती  because music was the strongest bond between them.When Mandu was to be attacked by some enemies ,to save it तानसेन ,the greatest musician of King AKBAR'S regime, came to test their real love for music.TANSEN was in disguise of an elderly musician.In the packed दरबार  of बाज  बहादुर  ,तानसेन  puts a challange before the musicians of मांडू ,to show the miracle of blossoming of lotus in night by their singing, so that insect(भ्रमर )trapped inside the petals of lotus may get free to fly away.When तानसेन  himself is requested to show it,he starts singing राग  दरबारी  " उड़  जा  भंवर  माया  कमल  का  आज  बंधन  तोड के,उड़ जा .| रंग इसका लाल है और रूप भी क्या कमाल है ,जिन पंखुरियों में तू झूमे वो तेरा जंजाल तेरा जाल है | कहीं और जा के दिल लगा कलियों की गलियाँ छोड़ के || उड़ जा ...|| देख वो सूरज की किरणे आ रही है झूमती , चल गगन की ओर तेरा मुख हवाएं चूमती || बावरे उठ  जाल से मखमल का घेरा दूर कर, तन है काला इसलिए मन का अँधेरा  दूर कर | तुझको बुलाये ....तुझको बुलाता है सवेरा देख मुखड़ा मोड़ के || उड़ जा भंवर , उड़ जा .... ..."(मन्ना  डे   gave the playback Taansen singing with perfection).The lotus is now shown blossoming due to  powerful and magical singing of तानसेन  and  भ्रमर trapped inside its petals flies away. Seeing this miracle रानी  रूपमती  stands up and starts rendering राग  सारंग:  "छोड़  चला  क्यों  ओ  निर्मोही  कैसा  तेरा  प्यार ,रो  रो  करे  पुकार  कमलिनी  बीती  जाए  बहार || आजा  आजा  भंवर  सूनी  डगर  सूना  है  घर  आ || न न जा  रे आ रे आ रे ,मोरी अँखियाँ उदासी तोरे दरस की प्यासी , पल पल छिन छिन देखे राह तिहारी || आ जा आ जा भंवर सूनी डगर ..|| गुन गुन धुन सुन सुन तेरी हरजाई , तन मन की न  रही  सुध बिसराई ||  आ रे आ ,  आ जा आ जा भंवर ." to call that भ्रमर  back to get itself trapped inside the lotus again.The effective singing of रानी  रूपमती (playback given by लता  मंगेशकर ) brings back the insect(भ्रमर )and it is trapped inside the closing petals of the lotus.Seeing this miracle तानसेन  discloses his identity and praises for the musical talent of Rani Rupmati.This competition's video clip is in two parts:first showing राग  दरबारी  and second राग  सारंग .Both in sequence present this competition which is enjoyable and worth listening too.The Music Director of this film श्री  नाथ  त्रिपाठी  was also the Director of this film.He was a great genious,who scored music for many memorable and hit film songs based on the classical ragas.The poetic and beautiful lyrics of the songs of this competition were penned by Poet भरत  व्यास .

MEMORABLE CLASSICAL MUSIC COMPETITIONS IN HINDI FILMS(1)BAIJU BAWRA

USTAD AMEER KHAN

D.V.PALUSKAR

In certain Hindi films having music as its central theme, we find very interesting situations of presenting the classical music skills of two stalwarts of music.Audience always enjoy such compositions.I would like to discuss a few musical competitions from the films like:BAIJU BAWRA,RANI RUPMATI,BASANT BAHAAR,KOHINOOR,DIL HI TO HAI,etc. बैजू  बावरा (1953):The story of this musical film at its climax shows a singing competition between तानसेन ,the famous singer and navratna of Akbar's court and BAIJU ,a disciple of Swami Haridas.Tansen also learnt music from स्वामी  हरिदास ,a saint musician of वृन्दावन  and devotee of Banke Bihari ji(Lord Krishna).In the competition, the condition was that,winner will be the singer,whose singing is so effective that a piece of stone kept before them melts also looser will loose his life and winner will get his any three wishes fulfilled.Both of them sing राग  देसी  TODI, a morning melody.The role of तानसेन  was played by famous hero of forties,सुरेन्द्र नाथ  and उस्ताद  अमीर  खान  gave playback for him.The role of बैजू  was played by भारत भूषण ,hero of the film,his playback was given by PT.D.V.PALUSKAR.Both singers sing the same song ,and start with praying to God:"तुम्हरे  गुन  गाऊं  रे  बिगरी  बना  दो  दाता  हमरी.Then Baiju sings;"आज  गावत  मन  मेरो  झूम  के , तेरी  तान  भगवान "These lines are repeated by Tansen alsoand further he sings;"हार गया सो जीवन जावे,जीता गायक दुनिया पावे,रखियो अब मोरी शान रे,आज गावत मन मेरो झूम के.Then Baiju sings:"प्रेम के कारन प्रेमी गावे,तानों से पत्थर पिघलावे,जगत में रहे मान रे,आज गावत मन मेरो झूम के.Near the climax of singing competition तानसेन  sings" सात  सुरों  के  मधुर  मिलन  में  जादू  आज  जगा  दे " and बैजू  continues with singing"बैजू  के  संगीत  सिधाता  जल  में  आग  लगा  दे ."Taking beautiful taans both singers reach the climax ,but a string of Tansen"s taanpura splits off and Baiju's taans flow like a fountain.The singing of both vocalists,was superb, reflecting the finesses of ग्वालियर-घराना  of पंडित डी.वी.पलुस्कर  and इंदौर  घराना  of उस्ताद  अमीर  खान  साहेब .In the end Baiju is shown as winner.This is one of the best singing composition created for films.Music director नौशाद  did a great job alongwith lyricist शकील  बदायूनी .Attached video clip gives a glimpse of it and keeps you spell bound.