Sangeeta Sudhaa Saara

Signing Off....

2010-11-18T06:32:00.000-08:00

Just from the blogger space :). Its really been a wonderful space to be in. Blogger has nurtured me so long, helped me put out the thoughts, rants, complaints, feelings and all that came to my mind on its space. As I read through the posts here, I can see a lot of things changing within me too. Now with all that baggage on my back, am shifting bases. Have bought a domain for myself! I guess thatz when you can believe that I've become pompous enough to take my writings with seriousness. LOL.. whatever, it is, blogger will always remain special for me.So my dear readears, if I may be so vain enough as to assume that you still visit these pages, I would request you to take a bit more of brunt and do come and visit me at my place on web - www.praveens.in :)

Hoping to continue to see you all there.....

Thanks blogger! :) Eternally indebted to you... :)

Appeal against Plagiarism

2010-01-20T08:06:00.000-08:00

Well, honestly, sometimes I do suffer from self-delusional beliefs that whatever I write in my blogspace is of prime importance, if not for the few surviving readers of mine, then atleast for me! Why else would I want to write about it?!! But there are certain occurrences that even defy the limits of this egoistic belief of mine, and validate it!! In simple words, it surprises me when some people actually give too much worth to what I write.

And that is what happened, when one fine day last month, I received an email from a wonderful friend of mine, telling me that my blog post was blatantly copied and posted in another blog by I guess a fellow 'blogger'... and I felt the first pang of being plagiarised hit me. Honestly, it was surprise that first took hold of me. I felt rather weird that someone would find the content worth copying and associating their name with it! But that is done already!

http://nimmaadiga.blogspot.com/2009/06/favorite-poetic-numbers-in-kannada.html

http://nimmaadiga.blogspot.com/2009/06/bhaavageete-soulful-songs.html

In the second post link, I haven't included the lyrics of the song in my original post. However, the content for both the posts have been completely lifted from this blogspace. The original posts have been mentioned below for the reference of my discerning readers:

http://allformusic.blogspot.com/2005/12/favorite-kannada-poetic-numbers-in.html

http://allformusic.blogspot.com/2006/02/bhaavageete-soulful-songs-for-hearfelt.html

Well, what is to be said for this?!! I dunno! I wrote an email politely asking him to take the posts off, or atleast mention the original source, but no action has been taken so far towards either of these steps. You know, its really flattering to think that someone will enmasse copy my words given that imitation is the best form of flattery. But I am not sure, if I am really happy about it. A lot of what I have written here, given that it is pertaining to music, is not entirely original. I have written about songs, meanings of these lyrics/compositions, and music personalities. Anybody can write about these, and I wouldn't claim these to be my sole ideas, but my feelings about these songs are mine. The emotions that I feel and I relate to through these songs, are mine. I am not so sure if someone can just copy them and claim them to be his own. May be am being too picky, or maybe I am being justified in my slight indignation about such behaviors. But the fact is that I do feel it is insensitive on a person's part to blatantly copy someone else's work (no matter how pedestrian it may be) and post it as his own.

I have no idea how many people take blogs seriously. Maybe none, or maybe negligibly few! Or if its someone like the Who's who of entertainment industry or politics, then maybe a lot of them would! I am just a small fish in this colossal school! But I take time to think about what I write about the songs that touch me, that move me, inspire me and prod me to write about them. And its just effin' irritatin' that a person can spend a bare minimum 5-6 minutes in copying the contents, and posting it on his blog and rudely ignore polite requests to pull it down!

Am I being a cry baby?!! Oh well who cares!

Btw. Sush.. a wonderful friend of mine and an even more chronic music buff.. introduced me to a wonderful song from the upcoming movie Ishqiya.... "Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji"... penned by Gulzar... thatz what is coming up next!! Thanks a lot for patiently listening to my rants .... if u have made it so far.. I guess u can stick around! Cheerio!!

Kelo Satcharitra - On pious lives and noble souls

2009-10-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

Usually, I receive a lot of requests either through comments or through emails for mp3 files or lyrics of songs. While it is extremely heartening to have readers who are drawn to this blog, and coax me into writing, I must at the same time, profusely apologize for the delay that invariably happens in materializing these requests.
The ones that are easily done, will surely be done. Some requests that ask for the lyrics and the meaning usually take time, and that is the first round of problem that I run into. I do want to eventually write on all the songs that I've been receiving requests on, and better late than never. So please do continue to visit...and ofcourse demand. If it can be met, it surely will :).

One of the requests I had received from a person (who didn't give me his email address while leaving the comment) was for the lyrics of a composition by Sri Purandara Dasa - Kelo Satcharitra. I had listed this song was one of my favorites that had been sung by the maestro Maharajapuram Santhanam. It is a bit tricky to be writing about this song, as I'll have to go into some nuances of the belief system held in Hindu tradition. I hope I can do some justice and would call upon any readers of mine, who have much more knowledge, to kindly add on to this, or correct me if I erred anywhere.

Kelo satcharitra manuja pa

O! Human! Listen to the lives of noble and pious people!

drudha bhaktiyindali hariya nenedare
koduva mokshave saakshi
drudha bhaktiyillade hariya nenedare
paduva narakave saakshi 1

When one prays to Lord Hari in steadfast devotion, the testimony for the same is provided by the salvation he obtains. Whilst the hell one suffers is proof of the person not being truly devoted to Lord Hari.

kanyaadaanava maadidavarige
hennina bhogave saakshi
kanyaadaanava maadadavarige
hennina kaatave saakshi 2

For people who give away their daughters in marriage, affluence and prosperity in their families holds the proof. (It is a belief that giving daughters in marriage is an act of great virtue and sanctity that brings immense goodwill and fortune to the doers, although in the present days, I am more akin to believing in the contrary!) Whereas those who do not indulge in this shall suffer from nagging women or women who shall cause their downfall. [If I can get on a lighter tone, it seems as if the best way to bring in fortune is to give away the women!!]

pankti vanchane maadidavarige
janma rogave saakshi
pankti vanchane maadadavarige
putra bhaagyave saakshi 3

Those who jump the order shall suffer from birth disorders. (pankti - is a term that is generally used for the rows of people who sit for dinner. There was an established order as to who follows who in the earlier days. It was believed that those who skip this order, or cheat on the order, shall have progenies with defects. It may also be interpreted as someone who skips the social order established in the society, and someone who transgresses this social order shall pay for it in their future generations). For those who do not skip the order, the testimony is provided by them bearing sons. (Typically considered to be the ones who continue the family legacy, birth of male child was regarded as an event of great auspiciousness for the family).

anna daanava maadidavarige
unnuva ootave saakshi
anna daanava maadadavarige
anna kalevude saakshi 4

The food one eats is proof that the individual also feeds others. There are several quotes in kannada and ofcourse in almost every language and culture that emphasise on the need to share food. Food has been considered one of the prime offerings that can be made to fellow human beings. Be it an occassion of celebration or one of mirth, offering food to others, has been held as a pious act since age immemorial. This stanza emphasizes the same by stressing that those who perform such offerings, shall also be blessed with an abundance of food. While those who do not share their food (or fortune) shall lose it, which is the proof of their greediness.

aadida maatige hariye saakshi
todida baavige jalave saakshi
maadida paapake manave saakshi
saatige purandara vithalana saakshi 5

The Lord is the witness for the words that are uttered as the water is the proof for the well that is dug! (When a well is dug well, it does hit the water spot, in the same way, words that are spoken well, with the best of the intentions and truthfully, shall please the Lord). The consciousness is the witness for the crimes that have been committed, while the Lord Purandara Vitthala is the witness for the truth. (Even if we may believe that no one is watching us, and resort to unlawful activities or bad actions, our consciousness shall always be aware of it, and hence its the true witness. Hence, the saying goes that character is what we do, when we think that no one is looking!)

One of the interesting aspects of the compositions by the dasas or the sharanas, is that it sheds a lot of light on the social structure and belief system held during those days. Ofcourse, many of it may seem irrelevant of even blasphemous now, but the underlying philosophy has indeed been noble.

Lost & Found..... :)

2009-07-19T10:53:00.001-07:00

Had been to Gramin - an aesthetic restaurant at the Raheja Arcade in Koramangala. Heard a wonderful, long forgotten Hindi song from the B&W days... decided to get back home and listen to the song in peace and maybe watch its video on Youtube.
Now.. I don't remember the song... gosh.. its just so killing!!!!!!!!!! :( :( :(

Update on 20th July: The song is "Lag ja gale.... ke phir ye"... YIPEEEEE!!!

Bhavani Ashtakam - An Ode to the Universal Mother!

2009-07-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, a friend of mine shared with me an amazing Sanskrit hymn - "Bhavani Ashtakam". I realized that it had been a long time since I wrote of some Sanskrit hymns. After listing out some of my favorite hymns in Sanskrit, I had kinda let that go into the oblivion. Devotional songs have always been an enchanting proposition for me, and no matter what time or day, I cherish losing myself to the rhythms of devotional numbers that are transcendental in their effect, bringing the ethereal experience of spirituality to the commoner levels. Not all songs have this effect, I am afraid. It takes a wonderful combination of right music, and appropriate literature to blend together seamlessly, one not over riding the other, and create that wholesome experience, necessary to spur the divine feeling inside the listener. This particular hymn Bhavani Ashtakam, has been sung by Bangalore Sisters. Their another amazing album was the Ganesha Stotramala. It is indeed a collectible material, if you are looking for enchanting hymns on Ganesha. The particular composition of Bhavani Ashtakam, that I am interested in right now, is a composition of Sri Adi Shankara. He has eloborated on the effervescence of the worldly matters - the relationships, the materialisms, etc, and harkens on the Universal Mother as the sole protector and sustainer from this whirlpool of Samsaara.

Na tato, na matha, na bandur na datha,
Na puthro, na puthri , na bhrutyo , na bharta,
Na jaaya na Vidya, na Vruthir mamaiva,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam twam ekaa Bhavani.

I have no father, no mother, no relative, no protector. (I have) no son, no daughter, no servants, no husband, no progenies, no education and no employment that I can call as my own! You are my only protector, you the only one O! Bhavaani! (The one who takes us all over this Bhava-worldly miseries)

Bhavabdhava paare , Maha dhukha Bheeru,
Papaatha prakami , pralobhi pramatha,
Ku samsaara paasha pravartyassadaaham,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam twam ekaa Bhavani.

I have been caught in this torrential flow of the samsaara, and in great agony! (Because) I am lustful, greedy, intoxicated (mad), and I keep turning myself towards the noose of this destructive samsaara (worldly affairs). I have none but you as my protector, you the only one, O! Bhavaani!

Na janaami daanam, Na cha dhyaana yogam,
Na janaami tantram, na cha stotra mantram,
Na janaami poojaam, na cha nyaasa yogam,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam twam ekaa Bhavani

I know nothing about sacrifices, neither about meditation, I know of no rituals, no hymns or praises, I do not know about worship, neither about losing merging my existence in worship or service of the divine. You are my only salvation, you the only one O! Bhavaani!

Na janaami Punyam, Na janaami theertham,
Na janaami mukthim, layam vaa kadachit,
Na janaami bhaktim, vrathamvaapi maatha,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam, twam ekaa Bhavani.

I do not know of fruits begotten by good deeds, I do not know of sacred places, I do not know of salvation, or even a bit of destruction. I do not know of devotion or of vows. You are my only salvation, you the only one O! Bhavani!

Kukarmi, kusangi, kubuddhi, kudhasa,
Kulaachara heena, kadhachaara leena,
Kudrushti, kuvakya prabandhassadaaham,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam, twam ekaa Bhavani.

I am a sinner, have indulged in bad company, have borne ill thoughts, enslaved myself to vice, I have abandoned the path of virtue, and not interested in pious ways, I have cast evil eyes and have always indulged in mouthing inappropriate talks - (Yet, today I come to you) you are my only means & end, you the only one O! Bhavaani!

Pradesam, Ramesam, Mahesam, Suresam,
Dhinesam, Nishitheswaram vaa kadachit,
Na janami chaanyath sadaham sharanye,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam twam ekaa Bhavani

I do not know anything of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Sun or the moon. I do not know of anyone else whom I can take refuge of. You are my only salvation, you the only one O! Bhavaani!

Vivaade, Vishaade, pramaade, pravaase,
Jale chaanale parvathe shatru madhye,
Aranye, sharanye sadaa maam prapahi,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam, twam ekaa Bhavani.

In strife, in agony, in danger or in travel, whether am in water or fire, whether am in the mountains amidst the enemies, in forest, I shall always seek refuge in thee! Do protect me! For you are the only salvation, you the only one O! Bhavani!

Anaatho, daridro, jaraa roga yukto,
Maha Ksheena deenassadaa jaadya vakthra,
Vipattou pravishta, pranashtassadhaham,
Gatistwam, Gatistwam, twam ekaa Bhavani.

I am an orphan, destitute, bearing the diseases of my old age, malnourished, sad, and always bearing a grief-stricken (diseased) face. I find myself surrounded by danger and facing a terrible end. You are my only salvation, you the only one O! Bhavaani!

When I first heard this stotra, the most hard hitting aspect of it, was the gruesome picture drawn of humankind. It was certainly unnerving for most part of it. And yet, it does come as a hardhitting argument - something like those gory pictures we see, in order to drive home the point of saving the nature, environment or cute animals! And there is a divine beauty to the human life too, something that we always forget about and meander around in loss and pain. We forget that we are all happy creatures of this Neverland, and were meant to be happy! Time and again, we need to be reminded of this, and what better place than the lap of the universal mother, to learn of our life and its essence!

Life... In a Metro - 2

2009-02-28T23:21:00.000-08:00

Another song that I have really treasured in the movie is "Rishtey toh nahin.." sung by James and written by Syed Quadri and music by Pritam Chakraborthy. It has been a long time since a hard hitting song like this has been penned. Frankly the song holds mirror to many of the modern day relationships. Relationships that have become nothing but a convenience - a way for people to attend to their physical, emotional or social needs. But then is that the purpose of relationships? Sure they were initially the need of the 'social' man... but relationships have to transcend the banal and superficial needs of the body or the mind.. and eventually dwell into the deeper taverns of the soul! People who enter into relationships off late, come out of it in tatters, their heart and soul is shambles! The increasing stress of the present generation has bruised many relationships. The song is beautifully worded with the choicest of expressions that paint the shallow depths of many such relationships that are an unwanted baggage piled on the teetering shoulders of many modern lives irrespective of their age, creed, or location.

Coming to the song, James has sung amazingly well. Again the rock

rishtey toh nahi rishton ki parchaayiyaan mile
yeh kaisi bheed bas yahaan tanhaayiyaan mile - 2
(...the Guitar that follows this is just superb!)

One doesn't find relationships, but only the shadows of it! This is a crowd where one only finds loneliness!

ek chhat ke tale ajnabi ho jaate hai rishtey
bistar pe chaadaron se chhup so jaate hai rishtey - 2
dhunde se bhi inme nahi darmaayiyaan mile
yeh kaisi bheed hai bas yahaan tanhaayiyaan mile

Under one roof, relationships become strangers. Like the mattresses on the bed, the relationships become still. Inspite of searching one fails to find the warmth or the closeness in them. What sort of a crowd is this, where one finds only loneliness?!!!

jisko bhi dekhiye woh adhura sa hai yahaan
jaise kahin hoga woh aadha rakha huwa - 2
ho jab jahaan jude wahi judaayiyaan mile
yeh kaisi bheed hai bas yahaan tanhaayiyaan mile

Whoever you see here, seems incomplete - as if a part of him has been left off somewhere! Right where one seeks to join, there he runs into separation! What sort of a crowd is this, wherein one finds only loneliness!

ristey toh nahi rishton ki parchaayiyaan mile
yeh kaisi bheed hai bas yahaan tanhaayiyaan mile - 2

Life... In a Metro - 1

2009-01-14T02:50:00.001-08:00

This new year I revived myself to get back into the writing habits that I had given up on most of my external domains. I had always maintained that compared to the idle musings that I write, this music spot has remained neglected. It doesn't come to bear that I haven't been hearing music at all. Well moving from place to place and not having access to the web, surely has cut down on my splurges into music, but I have been hearing so many songs and albums that I could write about them for years to come. But I know, I haven't been doing that! I don't know to what extent I shall be able to rectify my shortcomings in this regard. But yeah, I would love to be able to post more often here. As I sat brooding over what to write about to kick start the year, the first and foremost thing that came to my mind was the album of the movie - Life.... In a Metro. I had watched the movie a long time ago, and some songs instantly had captured my attention. But it wasn't until a few months ago, when I got myself the collection (which is really tough to find surprisingly!!) that I came in full realization of the beauty of this album. Its composition, its music, the singers have done such a magnificent job that I was stunned at my audacity to have ignored it for so long!!

The album boasts of a cohort of lyricists, and singers. Syed Quadri, Sandeep Srivastava and Amitabh verma are the formers while KK, James, Soham, Suhail, Adnan Sami and Pritam belong to the latter category. The music is by Pritam, who has literally brought in a fresh wave into the industry through his talent.

The movie is directed by Anurag Basu. The movie by itself was brilliant ofcourse. So nicely intertwining the lives of seemingly different people living in the same Metro roof! Seamlessly blending into the life of one person and the other, there was never a moment of disconnection. It surely is a challenge to handle such scripts and Basu has done an amply wonderful job.

The purpose ofcourse would be to talk of music, and songs. And here, I have chosen my favorite 4 numbers. I wouldn't rate them based on the way I post them. For me they are all equally brilliant and amazing. They are all so to say, different in their situations, but the brilliance of the words, and the magnificence of music is overflowing through each one distinctively!
It has many of the songs repeated in the album having been remixed. To start with...

In Dino - lyrics by Syed Quadri and sung by Soham.

In Dino dil mera

mujh se hai keh raha

Tu.... khwaab saja..

Tu... jee le zara

hai tujhe bhi ijaazat, kar le tu bhi muhabbat. (2)

In Dino....

Be rang si hai badi zindagi

kuch rang to bharoon

main apni tanhaayi ke waaste

ab kuch toh karoon (2)

Jab mile koi phursat..(2)

khud se karle muhobbat...

hai tujhe bhi ijaazat, kar le tu bhi muhobbat

Usko chupakar mein sabse kabhie

le chaloon kahin door

aankhon ke pyaale se peeta rahoon

uske chehre ka noor (2)

is zamaane se chupkar (2)

poori karloon mein hasrat

hai tujhe bhi ijaazat kar le tu bhi muhobbat

In dino....

The Rock music seems to have finally found its foray into the Bollywood realm. There used to be a time when ears shattering melee was called music - thanks to the clan of Anu Maliks who seemed as if they had all fallen on their heads on birth. Though some of them can surely be discounted. Anyways, this particular song has a soft rock music well strummed on the Guitar, soft drums and keyboard. Soham's voice provides the right blend of melancholy and romance that go hand in hand that is so important for the lyrics to hold your attention and render them effective.

The guarded happiness of a heart that has finally come to experience Love, that it had so far craved, and finally wants to accept is well expressed in the Quadri's words. The second para that speaks of the loving moments with the dear one stolen from the eyes of the world is absolutely astounding for its simplicty. The lines that express the desire to spend the eternity just by gazing into the loving eyes of the sweetheart, and drinking through them the brilliance of her face is sheer visual poetry. A love that indeed has to be hidden from the world, lest someone cast an evil eye!! Beautiful... just beautiful!!

Lokada kannige raadheyu kooda - Idealism of Love

2008-06-01T04:17:00.000-07:00

Time and again I have faulted, and time and again, reverted to set right the flaws of abstaining from writing. Much as one is wont to express, there are I guess moments that deprive them of the ability. Best writers may suffer from moments of depravity of talents, loss of words! I am but a normal penman!! J So must I ask that the absences be treated kindly!

My readers, and by which I mean YOU have been as benevolent as ever! Prodding me, requesting me and threatening me to get back to writing! And here I am! Finally getting around to finding my voice! These bouts of silences, I have been told does much good to a writer, in that, they probably help him assimilate the thoughts, let them simmer in the cauldron of the mind, and cook – eventually giving out a good aroma that precludes a delicious meal to be served!
And so it is today, that I bring to you all music lovers a gem of a song written by Kannada poet – H S Venkatesh Murthy. This song has been immortalized by the voice of Sunitha Anathaswamy and set to tune by the maestro himself – Sri Mysore Ananthaswamy. By much popular request since many months, I am finally writing to you all about – “LOkada kaNNige raadheyu kooDa” – a poem that extols the immense love that Radha had for Krishna and the spiritual aspect of it. The lyrics for the same follows:

lOkada kaNNige raadheyu kooDa ellaraMte oMdu heNNu pa
nanagO aake kRuShNana tOruva preetiyu neeDida kaNNu anu. pa

To the eyes of the world, Radha is a woman just like the others! But for me, she is the eyes of love that will show the vision of Krishna. (The poet refers to the love of Radha which when followed likewise, reveals to us the supreme spiritual manifestation of the Almighty! And thus love can act as the spiritual means towards attainment of the divine)

tiMgaLa raatri toreya sameepa (2) uridare yaavudO deepa (2)
yaarO mOhana yaava raadhego(2) paDutiruvanu paritaapa (2)
lOkada

During the full moon night, near the banks of the flowing stream, if you find a lamp burning, be assured that some Krishna is burning in the pangs of love and aching for some Radha! (The universality of love is such that it transforms every guy into Krishna and every girl into Radha, every stream, rivulet becomes a Yamuna!!)

Naanu nannadu nannavarennuva (2) halavu toDakugaLa meeri (2)
Dhaavisi sEralu bRuMdaavanava (2) raadhe tOruvaLu daari (2)
lOkada

Amidst the myriad obstacles of selfishness, ego and pride, Radha is the one path that leads us past these obstacles quickly into the domain of Krishna – the Brindavan! (True spiritual realization arises when the sense of I, Me & Mine is lost! The ego manifests itself in the form of our binding to our possessions, our relations and everything that is directly or indirectly related to us! These obstacles not only prevent us from God realization, but also take us farther away from Him. A selfless love – as that of Radha is the leading light that always guides us towards the supreme realization that God and Love are but one and the same!)

Maha pravaaha (3) taDeyuvarilla paatravirada tore preeti (2)
Toredaru tanna toreyadu priyana (2) raadheya preetiya reeti.. idu… (3)
lOkada

Love is like a flooding river – one that is not bound by any limitations! Even though it may sacrifice the self, the lover is never given up! Such is the love of Radha! (Radha’s love was not obsessive! It was never a hindrance to the life of Krishna. More so, she did ofcourse sacrifice her interests for his will! But never for once did she give up on her love or trust in Krishna. True Love is such too! Easier said than done! Our ego always prevents us from completely trusting any person, let alone sacrificing one’s self for them! How then can we truly love God?!! It is only through the path shown by Radha’s love that we can realize this too! No matter what God gives us, or treats us like – true faith, true devotion and love never questions it. It trusts, because it is cognizant of Him.)

To Serve With Love - Meera Bai

2007-05-08T08:27:00.000-07:00

The Bhakti Movement that swept the entire nation has forever remained a memorable phase in Indian History - socially, spiritually, and politically. The phenomenal changes in the society that was initiated by these movements have left their marks embellished into the psyches of the people, through one method - Music.
While dasa pantha and sharanas were the key players in Karnataka, Alwars and Nayanars dominated Tamil Nadu, whereas in the North, it wasn't so much the dominance of a sect, as it was individuals who took upon the whole responsibility of shouldering the spiritual revolution. The role of women in these movements was more or less over shadowed, or sidelined. However, inspite of several challenges, some women, made such marks for themselves as the supreme devotees of their lords, that the world had to stand up and acknowledge their stature. Meera Bai, belonged to this clan of devotees, who carved a niche for themselves by not only showcasing instances of epitomizing devotion, but also of social reforms.
The contribution of Meera Bai to the world of music is immense in that, her bhajans have spanned the years and continue to enthrall the aesthetic listeners and devotees alike. They are rich in emotions of love and devotion, that transports everyone to a domain far beyond the conception of the mundane mind.
The following is a wonderful song sent to me by Usha (immense thanks to her for also making this limp blog come back to life! It is such readers, who really give me the enthusiasm and drive to get back to writing. So thanks once again Usha).
P.S:- Once again for the benefit of those who cannot read Hindi, I am posting the lyrics in English, followed by the meaning. I am not very well aware of the language used in these Bhajans, so if there is any misappropriation in the deduced meaning, kindly do excuse me, and also do correct it.

maane chaakar raakho jee.. girdhaari laal chaakar raakho jee.

Oh! Lord the one who lifted the Mountains (Giridhaari) keep me as your servant.

chaakar rahasoon baag lagaasoon nit uth darsan paasoon
vrindaavan ki kunj-galin mein Govind leelaa gaasoon

I shall be your servant and tend to your gardens. I shall have the blessed opportunity of getting up every morning and seeing you. I shall dance and sing your various adventures in the blessed streets of vrindavan.

chaakaree mein darasan paaun sumiran paaun barachi
bhaav bhagati jaageeri paaun teenon baataa sarasi

I shall have your divine view every time while serving you, and think of you lovingly all day long. All through the day, through the 3 time spans of morning, afternoon and nightfall, the feelings of bhakti shall remain awakened in my being.

mor mukut peetaambar sohe gale vyjantimaala
vrindaavan mein dhenu charaave mohan muraliwaala

He is adorned with the crown lined with the feathers from the peacock, the golden hued dress around his waist, and his neck decorated with the garland of vyjayanthi flowers. Thus dressed, the most beautiful one with a flute in his hand, graces the cattle in the vrindavan.

Unche Unche mahal banaaun bich bich raakhoon baari
saanwariya ke darsan paaun pahar kusumbi saari

I shall construct huge palaces of vast expanses, and dressed in a red hued saree, I shall go to see my beloved (Lord Krishna).

jogi aaya jog karanku tap karane sanyaasi
hari bhajan ku saadhu aaye brindavan ke vaasi

An ascetic has come to perform his rites, and a yogi to meditate, saintly people have arrived to sing the praises of Lord Hari, and so have the residents of vrindavan.

meera ke prabhu gehar gambheera hrude raho jee dheera
aadhee raat prabhu darasan deenho jamunaji ke teera

O! Lord of Meera! So majestic and royal, reside in my heart forever thou who are of great intellect. (Do heed to my prayers) and bless me with your visit on the banks of the river Yamuna.

The entire song beautifully captures the emotions of Meera bai, who sees herself as only a servant for her Lord! The love she bore for Lord Krishna is evident in every word, and especially in the way she describes her wish to see her Lord adorned in a colored saree. Rarely do we find such supreme love for the divine spirit, which elevates the devotee to transcend all social borders, as it happened in the case of Meera Bai, or our own Akka Mahadevi from Karnataka.
Thanks again to Usha for sending me the lyrics... and hopefully I shall be able to get to write more often. That's it for today.. signing off.... shall be back with more... Ciao :)

Fanaa - Adieu by Jatin-Lalit

2006-05-28T08:13:00.001-07:00

Fanaa - in urdu means "destroyed". Is it a mere co-incidence that this movie did infact bring to fore-closure the successful partnership between Jatin-Lalit, one of the most promising and successful duo of Bollywood. But indeed, they have parted with a huge aplomb! The songs of Fanaa, are anything but forgettable and insipid! A Top Scorer all the way! The lyrics by Prasoon Joshi breathe a fresh air!

Chand Sifarish Jo Karta :- Sung by Shaan and Kailash Kher is my topper! Shaan's playful and happy voice works wonders for this song! It fills the air with an abandon that is expressed even in its lyrics.
Mere Haath Mein :- Sung by Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Aamir Khan, and Kajol. Music, lyrics, the seasoning of some couplets in the voice of Kajol, and Aamir, circumvented wonderfully by the voices of Sonu Nigam, and Sunidhi Chauhan! Does one need more reasons to love this song?
"Rone de aaj humko do aankhen sujaane de baahon mein lele aur khud ko bheeg jaane de hai jo seene mein kaid dariya woh choot jaayega hai jo itna dard ke tera daaman bheeg jaayega"!!
Des Rangila :- Sung by Mahalaxmi Iyer. Yash Raj films have somehow made it a signature to include a song to glorify the motherland! The relevance of the same is something that I don't really want to get into. I gave it up soon after Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gam! To say of the song by itself, well, to put it simply, its good ofcourse! Some very thoughtful lines makes it worth a listen.
Yeh saazish hai boondon ki :- Sung by Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan. Sunidhi Chauhan's voice being so soft and romantic is something that I am getting used to off late! If anything, her talent is made of ample use in this movie! The lyrics are really different than the ones usually featured in romantic numbers! Something that one may, as a matter of fact say, "is different"!!
Chanda chamke cham cham :- Sung by Babul Supriyo, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Aamir Khan, Kajol, and Master Akshay Bhagwat. An absolutely sweet song replete with tongue twisters! Very playful, one can for sure make out the ample fun all the singers may have had while singing this song!
In summation, its worth the moolah one pays to obtain the CD! A must in the collection not just because it is the final presentation by the combo, but also as it is a magically brewed potion of music with just the right combition of lyricist, singers, and music! A rather rare phenomenon these days!

A Song that Says A Lot!

2006-05-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

I must begin this post by giving a heartfelt thanks to my dear ol' friend Manu. If it weren't for him, maybe I would have completely driven this song into oblivion.

Madhur Bhandarkar's movie - Page 3, was a very candid and lucid depiction of the life of the personalities featured usually in the so called "page 3". It held a gleaming mirror to their lives raft with hypocrism, personal miseries, crimes, jealousy, moments of glory and deploration - much akin to any common man's life! Except that they are revered and people find it an awe to know of their daily rigmaroles! It blatantly exposed the inner secrets of the movie stardoms, and dealt with several sensitive issues, everyone knows exist, but no one dares to touch viz., Child Abuse, Homosexuality, and exploitation. Well, those things apart, coming to the issue at hand, one particular song rendered by Lata Mangeshkar, and Suresh Wadkar (each separately) was what caught my attention (again thanks to Manu). What was surprising is that, though I watched the movie, somehow this song doesn't seem to have registered in my mind. I cannot but be surprised over that! The song is "kitne ajeeb rishte hain yahaan pe". The song startled me with its simple and yet hard-hitting lyrics! In the many songs of the recent movies, I have rarely come across a song that is as profound as this one! I'd say the entire summary of the movie is well established in the few words of this song.

The lyrics are included:

kitne ajeeb rishte hain yahaan pe

do pal milte hain saath saath chalte hain

jab mod aaye toh bach ke nikalte hain

yahaan sab apne hi dhun mein deewaane hain

kare wohi jo apna dil theek maane hain

kaun kisko pooche kaun kisko bole

sabke labon par apne taraane hain

le jaaye naseeb kisko kahaan pe

kitne ajeeb rishte hain yahaan pe

khwabon ki yeh duniya hai khwabon mein hi rehna hai

raahen le jaayen jahaan sang sang chalna hai

waqt ne hamesha yahaan naye khel khelen

kuch bhi ho jaaye yahaan bas khush rehna hai

manzil lage kareeb sabko yahaan pe

kitne ajeeb rishte hain yahaan pe

The music has been rendered by Shamir Tandon. I personally liked the version of Suresh Wadkar compared to that of Lata Mangeshkar. Sadly enough her aging voice is more prominent in this particular song. The other really note worthy songs of this movie include "Mere wajood mein tu kaash" - by Adnan Sami and Sadhana Sargam (rendered separately), "Kuan Ma Doob Jaaungi" is another hot-spicy dance number by Sapna Awasthi, and Blaaze fit for a hip party! "yahaan zindagi ek alag zindagi hai" by Shaan, Saagarika, and Shabab Sabri turns out rather bland and fails to impress. The song reminded me a lot of "yeh mumbai shehar haatazon ka shehar hai" from Disco Dancer!!!!!! "Huzoor-E-Ala" by Asha Bhonsle and Abhijeet, though well sung, remains as just yeddanoder song! The sole winner of this album seems to be "kitne ajeeb rishte hain yahaan pe", but then no surprises there!!

Lost in Asha!

2006-05-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

Long time since I wrote anything in here. Well, let's just say that the trend may continue for a few more days! But not withstanding that, it took Asha Bhonsle's soulful voice to bring me back to the keyboard to key in about 2 songs in particular, that have been looping in my player for a while since! Both the songs are from the movie - Ijaazat. A movie that created waves in the film industry for all the right reasons! A 5 Star performance by Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah! Heart stirring music by RD Burman, the magic of Asha inter woven with the deft handling of direction and lyrics by Gulzar Saab.

Panchamda's music paints a wonderland, replete with lush greenery, the skies resplendant with bright colors of the day and the twilight alike! The two songs am talking in particular are "Chhoti is kahani se" & "Khaali haath shaam aayi hai". The lyrics are as follows:

1. Chhoti Si Kahaani Se

chhoti si kahaani se baarishon ke paani se

saare vaaden bhar gayi

naa jaane kyon dil bhar gaya

naa jaane kyon aankh bhar gayi

shaakhon pe patte the patton be boondein thi

boondon mein paani tha paani mein aansu the

dil mein gile bhi the pehle mile bhi the

milke ke paraaye the do hum saaye the

ruk ti hain kam ti hain kabhie barasti hain

baadal pe paon rakkhe baarish machalte hain

2. Khaali haath Shaam aayi hai

khaali haath shaam aayee hai khaalee haath jaayegi

aaj bhee naa aayaa koi, khaalee laut jaayegi

aaj bhi na aaye aansoo, aaj bhi naa bheege naina

aaj bhi ye koree raina, koree laut jaayegi

raat kee siyaahee koi, aaye to mitaye naa

aaj naa mitaayee to ye, kal bhi laut aayegee

I guess am gonna go back to it for quite sometime now! Peace! Ciao!

An Evening with Mandolin Srinivas

2006-05-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

30th April was a Sunday, unlike the others! What started as yeddanoder normal day, took a U Turn by the afternoon, when a friend of mine (bless his heart), came with the surprising news that Mandolin U Srinivas was performing in Wichita that evening! Now I will save you all the pain of having to hear/read about the multitudinous levels of ecstasy, I felt upon hearing it. Suffice it to say, it was up for grabs, and I'd have gone out on a limb for it! Then came the arduous task of having to wait the painful 6 hrs! The program was due to start at 7 PM at the Twentieth Century Hall in Wichita.

I knew that the evening would be anything but ordinary! And so it was! It had an 'extra' appended to it in the fore front! Me and my friend were there right on time.

U Srinivas was accompanied by his brother U Rajesh, and percussionists - Sri Muruga Bhoopathy on Mridangam and Sri Ramani on Ghatam. The concert began with a varNa, soon to be followed by his famous rendition of Sri Muttuswamy Dikshitar's kRuti "vAtApi gaNapatim bhajE" in hamsadhwani raaga, set to Adi taaLa. It was followed by a few kRuti's of Sri Tyagaraja - "Sobillu saptaswara" (in jaganmohini raaga, rUpaka taaLa), "marugElara O rAghava", for which the alaapana in between featured a mesmerizing jugalbandi between Srinivas and Rajesh. This was followed by a 20 mins break.

The concert resumed with an enthralling rendition of "Saamajavaragamana" (raaga hindOLa, Adi taaLa), that featured an almost 20 mins rendition of jugal bandi between all the instrumentalists! Sri Ramani and Sri Muruga Bhoopathy were clearly the stars of this part! One could not help but notice the mellifluous partnership between all the players. The experience of listening to it, can never be summarized in mundane words of limited expressions and meanings! The other kRuti's played included a Sai bhajan, Annamayya's keertane - "Brahmamokkate (tandanaana bhala)", "Siva hara chandrashekhara", and finally a tillana.

There are no words to describe the talent vested in Srinivas. Clearly, his brother Rajesh is not to be counted less in any way! Infact, it was Rajesh's instrument that sounded better than Srinivas' all through the concert! But then, the playing was equally matched between the two. The percussionists only amplified the aura of an already shining performance! The sound quality did suffer a bit in the later part of the concert, but was soon rectified.

Apart from the omniscient irritability of Indian audiences' apathy towards fine art, the poor propaganda given for the event was an cause for personal ruse! Occassional noises of cell phones ringing held a mirror for the etiquette those persons held! Well let's not get into that!

After a wonderful 2 hours of divine music, the small rendezvous with them in person, left me humbled! Finding an artist of his stature, to be so humble, and down to earth, only showed the shallowness in us and again went to prove the greatness of an art like music! It was a moment of personal satisfaction, coupled with divine experience!

Soulful Songs for Soul - Bhaavageete - II

2006-03-24T11:27:00.000-08:00

Previously, I had listed a set of songs, which are poetic compositions and have formed a new genre of music - "Light Music" or more rightly termed "Bhaavageete" in Kannada. These songs describe with fervor the passion, the pain, and beauty of the various emotional upheavels a person goes through under different circumstances. I would like to add a few more songs as promised earlier, to the list erstwhile!

Enee Mahaanandave :- There may hardly be a Kannadiga not aware of Shri DVG (D V Gundappa) or his magnanimous work - "Mankutimmana Kagga" that has been aptly regarded as the summary of all epics and vedas. His another brilliant work is "Antahpura geetegaLu" that has verses composed praising the beauty of the sculptures in Belur and Halebid - the "shilaabaalikeyaru". This particular song is picked from that collection, and has been sung by Smt. Ratnamala Prakash. The poet thrills at the various dance postures exhibited by them, and wonders as to what led to the merriment with such aplomb, clearly oblivious of others! These beautiful damsels engage in their art to please the Lord Chennakeshava, who is hinting at them from the corner of his eyes!
O nanna chetana :- Kuvempu's vishwa maanava sandesha has been wonderfully embedded in this beautiful composition that wishes for the soul to rise and spread! To go beyond the limitations of the mundane existence and reach its full potential and cover the entire space! I feel a certain inspiration emanating from the song, that asks of the mankind, not just the soul, to reach out to its full potential! A very inspiring composition indeed!
ellAdaru iru eMtaadaru iru :- Always remain a true Kannadiga! The supreme message, the call that Sri Kuvempu gave out to the multitudinous population of Kannadigas the world over, that lit in their hearts a flame of love and devotion towards their mother tongue! For a true kannadiga every part of his environment, his surrounding reminds him of his motherland, and symbolizes his mothertongue. Yet another awe-inspiring composition by the master! His many other songs that are my all time favorites include "doora balu doora", "chandramanchake baa chakori", "tEna vinaa", "nUru dEvaranella", "brundaavanake haalanu maaralu", "teredide mane O bA atithi", and many others.
yaava mOhana muraLi kareyitu :- Composed by Sri Gopala Krishna Adiga, to summarize or explain the essence of this song is something that I have never felt capable of. The deep rooted philosophical significance of man's desires, their influence on his life, is all strikingly expressed in just one line of the entire poem - iruvudellava biTTu iradudareDege tuDivude jeevana (To ignore what we have, and yearn for what we don't - that is life).
Ondu munjaavinali :- Shri Cennaveera kanavi is yet another poet who revived the dharwad style of kannada, in kannada literature after Sri da.ra.bendre. This song describes the beauty of a rainy morning! The earth looks like a newly wed bride, as the sun rises in the east, smiling softly behind the white clouds! It is as I always say, a verbal painting. My other favorites from his compositions include "Elenna manadanne".
Ello hudukide illada devara :- G S Shivarudrappa, a contemporary poet has been lauded as "samanvaya kavi" - for he blended different styles of modern kannada literature - navodaya, navya, and bandaaya. His poems are lyrical, and talk of nature, human emotions, the exploitation of the underprevileged, etc. In this particular composition, Dr. GSS, writes of how man vainly searches for the supreme spirit in temples and other places of worship, without realizing that he dwells inside us, as love, compassion and understanding. He regrets the importance man gives to his ego, than to love and caring. The other compositions that are amongst my favorites are - "haadu haleyadaadarenu bhaava nava naveena", "ede tumbi haadidenu andu naanu", "udugana veshtitha", etc.
Well, this in brief is about some of my favorite poetic compositions. I must've most certainly left out a lot of songs, but will keep writing often about them, time and again. So thatz it for now!

Reinventing Wheels :'Julie'

2006-03-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

Statutory Warning:- If you do not like me sounding archaic in my preferences, STOP READING this post rite now!

Be in any Indian Film Music, I have never felt comfortable redoing the tunes of one, into another! Bollywood is notoriously famous for lifting its tunes from every nook and corner of the world, and the trend does trickle down and Kannada Film Industry (Sandalwood), is no exception for that. So whatz my issue on it? Well just that, it is not necessary!! Ever since past few years, there is growing instance in KFM (Kannada film Music) to lift the tunes off of other language movies. I feel remaking a movie does not necessitate the inclusion of the same tunes as in the original! For one, it leads one to compare the two, and obviously as is in most cases, get disappointed with the newer version. 2006 has seen the release of the movie Julie - a remake of the classic hindi movie "Julie" - that won for actress Lakshmi her first Filmfare award! This movie stars the current hottie Ramya cast opposite Dino Morea (for crying out loud!!!!). The songs not surprisingly are entirely rip offs of the hindi version.

1. Nanna ninna preetiyalli :

Singer:- Kunal Ganjawala, Lyrics:- K Kalyan, Music Director:- Rajesh Ramnath

"dil kya kare jab kisise" - Kishore kumar's oozing sensuousness in this song is something that is stark missing in Kunal's voice. The thing about writing reviews for such is that I fear that I may sound biased! But seriously, Kunal's voice is that of a young boy who hasn't matured at all or who is waiting for his voice to break! The sensuality that is supposed to be in a guy wooing a girl is the last thing one can think of listening to this song! The lyrics are good, what with them being K Kalyan's penmanship but still bear resemblance to the original! As for Rajesh Ramnath's music, well an orchestra would have produced the music! It's a copy after all!

2. My Heart is beating :

Singer :- Chaithra, Lyrics :- Hrudayanath, Music Director :- Rajesh Ramnath

Chaithra is refreshing! She is a certain welcome as compared to Preeti Sagar! The lyrics are the same as in the original version, penned by Hrudayanath Chattopadhyay. Her voice is extremely fresh, and provides a new dimension to the song as compared to a bland version in the original.

3. Ee haadu modala haadu:

Singer :- Priyadarshini, Lyrics :- K Kalyan, Music Director :- Rajesh Ramnath

"yeh raatein nayee puraani" by Lata Mangeshkar is immensely more likeable than this song. Lyrics is passable.

4. Dava Dava edeyali :

Singer :- Udit Narayan, Chaitra, Lyrics :- V Nagendra Prasad, Music Director :- Rajesh Ramnath

A rip off of "bhool gaya sab kucch" with the male voice rendered by Udit Narayan is nothing but a crude murder! The sentences seem needlessly stretched in order to introduce a sensuousness that is never present! And why has Udit started to sound nasal like Kumar Sanu! There are instances in the song where is sounds deeply constipated and in terrible pain at the thought of love making! Well less said better about this song!

5. Navaneetha Chora :

Singer :- Priyadarshini, Lyrics :- K C Kiran, Music Director :- Rajesh Ramnath

Another song that is sung very distinctly from the original movie, and one that stands on its own self in a good stead. Singer Priyadarshini sounds fresh, and has a long way to go. Lyrics is well worded.

Well, over all, I'd say the songs could have been a lot more better, and maybe original and not try to follow the scores already set. Hopefully some day its gonna stop or atleast improve their skills in copying!

You can listen to the songs here.

Ravindra Jain : The Return Of A Legend

2006-03-07T23:45:00.000-08:00

I have several scores that I would want to settle with Bollywood. And this is not just about having species like Meghana Naidu, Payal Rohatgi, Udita Goswami, et al around!! Time and again, I have pointed out the several talented stalwarts whom the industry utilized and later on sent them to the oblivion. In the genre of Music Directors/lyricists, the one of the names that rings true in this context is that of Ravindra Jain.

Ravindra Jain was born on the 28th of February (a Piscean like me!!!) 1944. His foray into the hindi film industry wasn't smooth. Inspite of the initial set backs, the first movie that finally was released with his music direction was Kaanch Aur Heera (1972). Immediately after that, the Rajshri Productions lapped up this talented Music director for their production - Saudagar (1973) which starred Amitabh Bacchan and Nutan. This movie gave the necessary fame needed for Jain to set his foot firm in the soils of Bollywood.

His growth and flourish was nevertheless established over the decades by several movies. The songs of Chor Machaaye Shor (1974) (le jaayenge le jaayenge dilwaale dulhaniya le jaayenge, ghungaroo ki tarah) created a ripple in the heart of music lovers and Ravindra Jain became a familiar name. What followed were a series of memorables that have ever since ruled the hearts of music lovers - Geet Gata Chal, Chitchor, Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se, Fakira, Kotwal Saab, Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man bhaaye, Pati Patni Aur Woh, Insaaf Ka Taraazu, Nadiya ke paar, etc. He is credited with introducing several talented singers such as K J Yesudas, Hemalatha, Jaspal Singh, Aarthi Mukherjee, etc.

Raj Kapoor was looking for a seasoned talent for his new venture and immediately raked in Jain, and the legacy of "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" still continues to enthrall the listeners, and history repeated itself through "Henna". Then followed the tragic decline of the talent vested in him. The physical blindness that he suffered from never proved a liability as did the blindness that the industry suffered with! Rajshri Productions abandoned him to include Ram Laxman, and the offers that he started getting were not even remotely mentionable, what with most of the movies being B grade flicks or ones that were not released nationwide.

Just when he seemed long forgotten, Rajshri Productions have rejoined hands with him for their latest production - Vivaah. Will this provide the much needed comeback for this music director, is for time to reveal. When challenged, Ravindra Jain has always delivered phenomenal music, and let's hope that this shall create history as did the rest.

Now for my favorite songs listing :-

Le jaayenge Le jaayenge dilwaale dulhaniya - Chor Machaaye Shor
Ghunghroo Ki Tarah Bajtaa hi rahaa hoon main - Chor Machaaye Shor
Geet Gata Chal O Saathi - Geet Gata Chal
All the songs of Chitchor
Ankhiyon ke Jharokhon Se - Ankhiyon ke jharokhon se
Sun ke teri pukaar - Fakira
Dil Mein tujhe bithaakar - Fakira
Le toh aaye ho hamein - Dulhan wohi jo piya man bhaaye
Sunayana - Sunayana
All the songs of Ram Teri Ganga Maili
All the songs of Henna

Guru for fusion: Prem Joshua

2006-02-24T12:02:00.000-08:00

Fusion music - is not about just mixing two different styles of music together, it is a very delicate interleaving of the two with neither of them losing its identity individually, but yet on the whole appear in a different pattern of waves that seep through you and reverberate deep within the heart and mind! It is about blending cultures without offending any of the primary components, and as such is far more challenging in the musical world. There has been experimentation on using different instruments for different styles of music. Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt, who won the Grammys speared the use of Hawaiin Guitar for Classical traditional styles! But there is a group of people class apart from the usuals, who have a passion for experimenting in different styles/traditions of music across the world and bringing them together. And when it comes to blending Eastern, and more so Indian Music with the Western, the one name that stands out all by itself is that of Prem Joshua.

Prem Joshua was born in Germany and took to music at a very young age, and started experimenting in many contemporary styles of West - Rock, Jazz, and fusion. His unsatiable quest and spiritual inquisition soon brought him to India - the place where he (in his own words) felt "instantly at home". By then he had also studied the Islamic music, as well as been to Greece, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan. He had once heard a CD of Ravi Shankar, and that instantly transformed him. To him, that music gave him one of the most ethereal, and divine experience he had ever felt. Well before long, he did win the accolades from the master himself as well as his daughter Anoushka. Prem's teacher was Maestro Ustad Usman Khan. He even plays flute, Sax, guitar, tabla, drums, bass and several other instruments. His many albums vividly put to tune several Sanskrit and Sufi hymns. The stand alone factor is nevertheless the music that portrays the main style presented in the album - be it sufi, or tantric, or the soothing meditative style. His albums include "The Dance of Shakti", "Water down the Ganges", "Shiva Moon", "Dakini Lounge", "No Goal but the path", "Tribal gathering" and few others. What strikes me the most in his music is the distinct sounds that he produces, some of them rather weird, by using a medley of familiar instruments!! His combination of the acoustical effects and the infusion of words in between give a transcendental feeling to the listener.

Prem Joshua continues to tour the World over, giving his mesmerizing performances to the growing number of fusion enthusiasts accompanied by a highly complementary band of musicians and performers.

'Love'ly songs!

2006-02-14T14:38:00.000-08:00

Okies! So the bug bit me too!! And the week since, I've been listening to only romantic and mushy songs giving me an overdoze of feel good factor and heart aches! And as is the vogue, I am gonna spread it out! There are songs that talk of the sweet love, the betrayal of love, the pain of love, and others! Most of these songs talk of how wonderful life is with the better half, and how they mean so much! Then there are songs that talk of promises - the ones kept and the ones broken! The songs that seem to really touch me a lot of times are nevertheless that of the failure of love. It is probably the intense emotions that are portrayed through such songs that cause them to be so touching. This time around, lets look at some of my favorite English Romantic songs. Personally, it is hard for me to categorize my interests when it comes to Western Music. It depends on my mood! Any given day, I do love soft music! But there are moments when I go crazy over 50 cents!!!!

Now the majority of the songs I listen to, when it comes to romance is Bryan Adams (no surprises there..), Enya, Ray Charles, MLTR, and a couple of others.

Only Time by Enya :- This is the soundtrack for a wonderful movie "Sweet November" with the charismatic Charlize Theron! Sung by Enya, this song instantly won me over for its deep music that seems to reverberate through the mind!
When you love someone by Bryan Adams :- The sound track from "Hope Floats", I heard this song for the first time when I was in my first year of Engineering. I never got to listen to it later, but the song remained in my heart forever. Most of the people mistake this song to his another famous song "Have you ever really loved woman". But then, I like this song more than the latter! The words are simply beautiful! The lines go something like..

When you love someone - you’ll do anything

You’ll do all the crazy things that you can’t explain

You’ll shoot the moon - put out the sun

When you love someone

You’ll deny the truth - believe a lie

There’ll be times that you’ll believe you can really fly

But your lonely nights - have just begun

When you love someone

When you love someone - you’ll feel it deep inside

And nothin else can ever change your mind

When you want someone - when you need someone

When you love someone...

When you love someone - you’ll sacrifice

You’d give it everything you got and you won’t think twice

You’d risk it all - no matter what may come

When you love someone

You’ll shoot the moon - put out the sun

When you love someone

You say it best when you say nothing at all by Alisson Krauss :- There are several versions of this song sung by different singers, and since I have heard it from Alisson, I am gonna list her here. As for the song, it speaks for itself.
You are so beautiful by Ray Charles :- It finally took the awesome movie "Ray" to introduce me to this legend. Bingo! Went searching for his songs, and voila! Fell instantly for this!
Moonlight Kiss by Bap Kennedy :- John Cusack's movie "Serendipity" featured this song. The movie was certainly watchable, and left this song for me as a sweet memory!
Let's Fall in Love by Frank Sinatra :- Here is the thing about singing legends! They sing from their heart to ours! I rarely listened to Frankie, till a friend of mine made me, and then ... well I started listening to him! *giggling* My wish though is to wake up on my birthday listening to Sinatra's "Happy Birthday to you"... as far as the mentioned song is concerned, I'd play it any day for mah gal ;)
Breaking My Heart by MLTR :- Since I was young, and could understand English.. there always had a reservation for listening to English Songs. There are 2 groups that I'd really credit with getting me over it - ABBA and MLTR. Their songs were easy for me to comprehend, and certainly made sense! Not to mention the great music! I also like their "Sleeping child" a lot! Then there is "Paint my love", "Someday Somewhere", etc.
Everytime I close my eyes by Mariah Carey :- The reason I like this song is not just because of its lyrics, but because it features Kenny G! I mean, with that wholesome combination who would not like the song!! Just right for a romantic candle light dinner!
Dreams by Cranberries :- This song featured in my all time favorite, most often watched, most fell in love with movie - You've Got Mail. I just love the song playing when Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are walking by on the street during the fall! Ah! It was so picturesque, I instantly felt love!!!

Well.. there are even more and more songs that I'd wanna list here, the sound track of Dirty Dancing - "I've had the time of my life", Lionel Richie's "Angel", "Don't break my heart" by boyzone, "World of our own" by Westlife, and many others. But then, its gonna be tough for me to later get out of that mode! Well.. sinking back to the love tunes..

Bhaavageete: Soulful songs for hearfelt emotions - 1

2006-02-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

The richness of Kannada language has multifarious facets! One of it being the poetic compositions. In order for one to fully appreciate and understand the essence of that statement, they will have to dig deep into the myriad poems written by eminent poets ages since. One can vividly see the emotions penned down reflecting the generic thinking of their decades. Then there are some songs that transcend these time barriers, and present themselves as evergreen songs that seep through the barriers of the heart, crumbling them down and creating a flood of emotions, overwhelming the listener. The beauty of these compositions lie in the expression of the day to day emotions of love, betrayal, happiness, sorrow, etc in words that find a place in the mind of the listener instantly making him relive the moments of the past. These wondrous compositions gain a new dimension altogether when they are sung by eminent singers, with their voice garnishing it with the right amount of feelings, and a background music to collaborate with the efforts!

Several eminent poets of Kannada viz Kuvempu, da.ra.bendre, pu.ti.na, DVG, K S Narasimha swamy, Gopala krishna Adiga, B R Lakshman Rao, Doddarange gowda, K S Nissar Ahmed, H S Venkatesh murthy and others have richly contributed their works for the field of light music - or more aptly Bhaavageete. Some of my favorite songs in this include the following :-

sthavira giriya chalanadaase :- A beautiful poem "honala raaNi" written by shri pu.ti.na that is full of life just as the river that it portrays! The words are playful, rhythmic and continue to stay in one's mind. The vivid portrayal that describes the running brook as the mountain's wish for motion, the babbling of the silent forest, [ sthavira giriya chalandaase, mUkavanada gItadaase ] appeals immediately to the listener's wild imaginations.
laghuvaagele mana geluvaagele mana :- This is a song that I have often heard, another composition by pu.ti.na, that has off late given me new thoughts to ponder upon. The poet implores the mind to lighten off, and be happy, for in the lightness shall it rise out to meet the Lord. He asks it to give up the ego, and in giving up, it shall rise! Further the poet explains to the soul that it shall remain tainted, were it to attach itself to him, (nagaMTalu nInAguve kashmala) but if it were to relinquish the identity with the body, it shall remain pure (nanna toreye nee nirmala nishkaLa)! Dr Rajkumar has lent his voice very efficiently for this song. His another song in the form of a ballad is "Ako shaama avaLe raadhe" - a depiction of the joyous playfulness of the gopis in the company of Radha and Krishna!!
Amma ninna edeyaaLadalli gaaLakke sikka meenu :- A composition by B R Lakshman Rao, this song is all about the craving in the heart of the child to grow beyond the shackles of affection, and explore new frontiers! Though one can feel the underlying force trying to pull off from the tyings of the relations, it nevertheless realizes the everlasting bonding that is not possible to be cut! For finally the poet assures of the return - [ indhana teeralu baMdE baruvenu matte ninna toDege mUrta prEmadeDege ].
Jaali baarinalli kUtu pOli geLeyaru :- B R Lakshman Rao is a poet of the present genre! His compositions reflect the freshness of the younger generation and as such are very popular amongst them. Of special mention is this song, that describes the plight of a guy who goes to a gentlemen's club for the first time! The simple language, and humorous description of the feelings "gopi"- the character that visits the club, as the dancers entices him makes one laugh heartily! For the many who feel that poetic compositions are all about deep emotions, such compositions are an eye-opener. Deftly set to tune and sung by C Ashwath, Raju Ananthswamy, and others, this song is my all time favorites among BRL's works.
Naa chikkavanaagiddaga :- At a very young age, I had happened to listen a wonderful English classic song - Lemon Tree. It had stuck in my head ever since, and when I chanced upon the kannada version of this song, evidently, my heart was set on it too! Infact this song introduced me to the compositions of BRL, which I have been thoroughly enjoying ever since. The other songs of BRL that I love are "hELi hOgu kaaraNa", "neenu mugilu naanu nela", "nanna hRudayava ninage nIDide", "nODida avanu heege nODida", "baNNisale heNNe Enu baNNisale heNNe".
Hoovu horaLuvavu sUryana kaDege :- Composed by H S Venkatesha murthy, this song was a regular feature in the "geeta chitra" aired by Bangalore Doordarshan. The song is catchy due to the optimism brewed in every word of it! It is rich in its visual description, and beautifully worded. Slightly philosophical that celebrates the wonders of nature, it feeds the listener sumptuously with lines like "giDadiMduduruva elegaLigU muda, chiguruvAgalU oMde hada ..... nelada oDalinoLagEnu naDevudO, elli kuLitahano kalaavida!!" The other compositions of HSV that are among my favorites include "toredu hOgadiro jOgi" (a kannada translation of Meera bai's bhajan), "hucchu KODi manasu", etc.
nanna iniyana neleya balleyEne :- A Composition by N S Lakshminarayan Bhatta, this is a beautiful and simple song that show cases the yearning of the loved one for her lover! She describes the abilities of her lover who can listen to the ant crawling, the flower blooming, and the melting of the early morn fog, but yet turns a deaf ear towards her heart! His other compositions include "hinde hEge chimmutittu", "ninna neeti adaava neeti", "elli jaaritO manavu elle meeritO", "I baanu I chukki I hUvu I hakki" and others.
Huvu araLuva munna :- K S Narasimha swamy needs absolutely no introduction for the avid fans of kannada poetry! His poems overflow with the affection and beauty of innocent love and marital bliss! His poems are akin to the fresh april showers that drench the wreatched land, giving rise to the fresh aroma of the wet sand that lingers on for days to come - freshening up the entire scenery! One can go on listing and writing treatises on his compositions! Simple compositions that celebrate the simpleness of life, love, and optimism! One song that I have to mention herein is his "attitta nODadiru attu horaLaaDadiru" - a song that I used to listen everyday before going to sleep. :)
ella maretiruvaaga illa sallada nevava :- Every kannadiga would certainly join when singing the song "Jogada siri beLakinalli" - a composition by Shri K S Nissar Ahmed that celebrates the cultural, religious, and geographical richeness of our land! His other compositions are rich in their emotional expressions! This song for example implores the past memories to not return to the present! His other compositions include "mattade besara adE sanje adE Ekaanta", "nee nuDiyadiralEnu", "naaDa dEviye kande ninna", "beNNe kadda namma kRushna", etc.
KuruDu kaanchaaNa kuNiyutalittu :- dattAtreya raamchandra bEMdre, da.ra. bEMdre, aMbikaatanaya datta - call him anything, use any adjectives, write poems, stories, essays, conduct festivities in his name! And yet, one shall fall short of encompassing the essence of his works, and his life! There are some people on whom we do not even qualify to comment let alone sing their praises! He ranks in that elite group of people whom one can just admire and worship in silence. He is so much a part of our lives, and yet so high in altar than common man, that sometimes even to write of his personality fills my eyes with tears of devotion and admiration. My favorites in his compositions? I would not even dare to list them! For I am afraid, I will not be able to stop.

Some aspects of writing on certain topics include the vastness and variety of the subject selected! After much procrastination, I did decide to write on the bhaavageetes of Kannada. And now that I have started, with much trepidation I have realized that I am trying to muster the vast sea of compositions into my cup of hands! In doing so, I have left out so many of the equally eminent poets and compositions that it reeks the heart of guilt! But then, this isn't the end! I will surely write more on this pretty soon! Meanwhile, feel free to write in your own picks into this list! I am sure anukta will have a whole horde of them to be listed in here :P

Off key Tunes....

2006-02-08T18:43:00.000-08:00

Feb 1, my idle musings celebrated its first birthday. And then, 8 days later, Feb 9th my musical musings were conceived! And yeah this blog is gonna be a year old now!! Unlike soliloquies, I have not been able to update this blog more frequently! While I already have 73 posts in the former, the latter has hardly 23 to its credit!

Well, what can I say?!! I seem to be good at idle talk, than musical ;). The purpose of this blog has also been to showcase the richness of music - Eastern and Western. For, while I feel that silence is sometimes the best form of conveying the myriad emotions of the human mind, the one to come next is music! Music is the one form of art, that trancends the limits of geography, language, and culture!

On this day of solemn celebration (rather than the outrageous partying happening on the other side.. what with garfield, balloons, et al), I want to treat all my avid readers to a musical treat in the voice of Unnikrishnan. This is a wonderful song composed by Shri Tyagaraja, and sung brilliantly by Unni. The song is Shambho Mahadeva. It is an audio treat that the ardent music lovers must not miss. You can download the song here.

I am looking into including audio files into this blog, that will more effectively contribute to the features of the blog. There are also thoughts of moving the contents and redirect the webpage to my home page. Exactly when all of these will come to effect, is something that I am willing to let the father time decide. In the meanwhile, nevertheless, I shall be singing out praises of wonderful artists, composers, film musics, and albums. So whenever you are bugged by the rigmaroles of the day to day life, and care for some relaxed chit-chat on the musical frontiers of the world, do stop by! Company is much appreciated herein! :)

Sudha Raghunathan : A sparkling brook of voice!!

2006-02-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

Morning Raaga was a bold attempt in the Indian film genre to showcase the fusion of Eastern and Western styles of Music. The story was thin, but the saving grace of the movie was ofcourse the acting prowess of Shabana Azmi, and the songs (not surprisingly)! The one voice that stood out in all of these songs was that of Sudha Raghunathan. Like the crisp sun rays of early morning filtered from amidst the waking up leaves on the trees, that touch our senses and liven them up - so does her voice flow mellifluously into the ears and awaken the spirit deep within! Don't believe me? Listen to her rendering of "maatey malayadhwaja paalya sanjaate" from the movie!

Sudha Raghunathan, trained under her mother during her younger days, and eventually excelled in her performance, giving her the lifetime opportunity of learning karnatik music under the great Smt. MLV (M L Vasanthakumari) who recognizing Sudha's prowess, rightly accorded the honor of being her successor! Since 1990 Sudha Raghunathan walk to fame, has been unobstructed! What with a mesmerizing voice and an endearing personality to couple with, she is hailed as the scion of MLV for Karnatik music in the present days. A mother of two, Sudha Raghunathan has enlivened the musical universe, shining as a bright star! The winner of Padmashri, she has also been drenched with showers of praises, titles and awards at various levels. My personal favorites among her renditions include, "Maha ganapathim", "Maanasa Sancharare", "Taaye yashoda", "Bhagyada lakshmi baaramma", "Marugelara O Raaghava", and all the songs from her album "The Dance of Shiva". She has over 75 albums to her credit.

Her excellence in her field has drawn her to travel world wide rendering exemplary concerts. She also heads the humanitarian "Samudaaya Foundation".

Jhanda Uncha Rahe Hamaara!

2006-01-27T12:32:00.000-08:00

26th of Jan, was the Republic Day in India. Me and my room mates, sat for a while, and recollected the beautiful parade at Delhi - Red Fort, not to mention the ones that we did in our schools! The chocolates that we used to get were always the highlight of the day! And then ofcourse, the innumerable patriotic songs that flooded through all media! It was a day when we forgot all our shortcomings as a nation, and rejoiced in its freedom and democracy! Now without turning this to yet another mushy monologue on Patriotism, let us quickly recap some of the touching patriotic songs featured in movies and otherwise!

Jahan Daal Daal par sone ki from the movie Sikandar-e-Azam :- A few decades since Independence, most of the movie aimed at igniting the patriotism dying down in the hearts of the Indians (in the wake of Partition and the initial problems faced during Independence). Some of the best patriotic songs were composed during this time! And most of the movies had such patriotic songs whether required or not!! This song from the movie Sikandar-e-Azam, is one of my most favorite songs of all time. Not just for the fact that we had one a prize by singing this song in a group singing competition, but also that it had left a deep impression on my young heart! It wonderfully sang the glory of India during the yester years, at the time of advent of Alexander. Beautifully picturized, with Prithviraj kapoor majestically adorned on the elephant as Raja Pourava, the song had the most idealistic picture of India!
Chodo kal ki baatein kal ki baat puraani from the movie Hum Hindustani :- Righto.. lets leave the past to the past, and set forth towards modernization and development! Yeah! thatz what the whole song was about! Soulful and inspiring voice of Mukesh adorns the lyrics written by Prem dhawan. Every line of the lyrics breathes of freshness, a fresh start and new goals!
Mere desh ki dharti sona ugle from the movie Upkaar :- Manoj Kumar, probably the one actor who made sure that his movies had patriotic songs, is featured in this song! He is a farmer, who later turns into a soldier, and finally returns to his farm in the end! The movie had many hit numbers, and none equal to the one mentioned!
Dil diya hai jaan bhi denge from the movie Karma :- A big banner production, a plethora of stalwarts, lilting songs were the hallmark of the movie - Karma. This particular song and most of the ones mentioned herein were a regular on the Rangoli program (featured every Sunday morning) during national festivals. The song was sung by Aunradha Paudwal and Mohd. Aziz, written by Anand Bakshi.
E mere watan ke logon sung by Lata Mangeshkar :- I would not dispute the choice of the singer here! Not just Jawaharlal Nehru, every common man would break down listening to this song. The lyrics that tug at the strings of your heart have been rendered equally mesmerizingly by Lata Mangeshkar. This song would feature in my testimonials for her singing prowess - not that she needs one! ;)
E mere pyaare watan from the movie Kabulliwalah :- Those of the people who have read Kabulliwalah by Rabindranath Tagore, would certainly agree with me, that this song has wonderfully captured the mood and tone of the prime character of the movie! The yearning that he has for his motherland is extremely moving. Manna dey excels in this song that is beyond any words to describe and extol. What more can one expect when it is Gulzar who writes the lyrics!
Ek tu hi bharosa Ek tu hi sahaara from Pukar :- Okay! Lata is simply divine! I give it to her! If she can't make the heart go out for a song, not many can revive that song! Lataji's voice, ARR's music, the voices of the children have been so deftly used in this song, almost as if its the future of the country calling out for the grace of the Lord above! Thumbs up for this song.
Mere desh mein pawan chale purvaayi from the movie Jigari Dost :- Yeddanoder Mohd. Rafi number, full of life and vigor describing the beauty of India with all fervor that his voice could muster for a song like this! (Not to mention that it had to suit the "Jumpin' Jack's" excitement!!). The picturization in lush green fields, and the picturesque backdrop of the high mountains, this song is also a visual treat!
Aa ab laut chalen from the movie jis desh mein ganga behti hai :- A bunch of reformed outlaws returning to the mainstream life with Mukesh crooning for Raj Kapoor! The distant voice... "aajaa re... aajaa re.. aajaa aajaa" seemingly portraying the way the land is calling out for them! Of the many patriotic numbers that were featured in Raj Kapoor's movies time and again, I would rate this on the top! Followed right next by the song from the same very movie "Hoton pe sacchai rehti hai". So why did I choose the former to be better than the latter? Hmm.. I'd say for the message that the song had provided subtly for the ones who had left their mother land for good! (laakh lubhaaye mahal paraaye apna ghar phir apna ghar hai). If one were to see deeply most of the songs in the movies were portraying the trends during each era! Holding a mirror to the ongoing events on the national front!
Ekla chalo from the movie Bose - The forgotten hero :- The opening lines are taken from a poem written by Rabindranath Tagore, one of Mahatma Gandhi's favorites! The original poem is ofcourse extremely inspiring in not just a patriotic sense, but even otherwise for an everyday life! ARR's music and Sonu Nigam's voice have given the necessary boost required for Javed's lyrics. As for the song, it speaks at length about the determination in the heart of the main protagonist! Much as Bose had to stand alone, after the Congress he so much believed in had deserted him!
Desh ki mitti also from the movie Bose - The forgotten hero :- Also in the voice of Sonu Nigam, is a song that reminisences the various aspects of motherland. I guess this song is used when Subhash Chandra Bose had to leave the nation to muster the army! The song is well sung, and portrays the various climates, and geographical beauty of India. Javed saab's lyrics has as usual worked wonders, and this song shall certainly be a hit amidst the non-resident Indians.

I still very vividly remember the way we all celebrated the National Festivals more importantly - Independence and Republic Days. The programs always started with a beautiful song "atha swAgataM shubha swAgataM aanaMda maMgaLa maMgaLaM ita niyam bhArata bhAratam". I still hum this song, but alas! have long forgotten the lyrics of it! I have looked for this song in several places, but to no avail! There are so many meaningful songs that have passed out into the oblivion! It's a tragedy that we have missed out on so many things amidst the growing rat race!

Melodies from the Bhatt clan!!

2006-01-25T23:31:00.000-08:00

Mahesh Bhatt is a personality of Indian Film Industry unlike none other. I had a lot of admiration for this capabilities sans his controversies. Barring a few mistakes off late (that he likes to call movies), I still admire a lot of his movies, simply for the deft direction, acting, and ofcourse the immensely melodious and meaningful songs. If the movie is from the Bhatt clan, one is certainly assured of a lilting number to keep the mind occupied. Even though off late, the movie by itself seems to be less and less capable of doing it. And as is the purpose of my monloguing here (which I would still like to call blogging), I would like to list some of my favorite numbers from the movies that had something to do with the Bhatts!! :P

I am not quite sure of the first movie directed by Mahesh Bhatt, which could be either Sakat, or Manzilein Aur bhi hain. But my list of songs would rather start with Lahu ke do rang.

Lahu ke do rang :- One of my all time favorites of KJY - zid na karo ab toh ruko yeh raat nahin aayegi, and there is another often forgotten song by Kishore Kumar - Muskuraata hua gul khilaata hua mera yaar both of which used to be constantly featured during the afternoon - Aap ki farmaaish on vividh bhaarathi, radio station.

Arth :- Hailed as the biographical movie by Mahesh Bhatt, this movie featured top class acting by Shabana Azmi, Smitha Patil and Kulbhushan Karbanda; not to mention some of the evergreen songs ever composed in Bollywood - Tum itna jo muskuraa rahe ho (brilliantly shot on Shabana Azmi, this song is a stand alone example on the acting prowess of this star), Jhuki Jhuki si nazar, to mention a couple. Both the songs have been sung by Jagjit Singh.

Naam :- The one most famous heart-rending song from this movie is but known to everyone - Chitti aayi hai vatan se Chitti aayi hai. Sung by Pankaj udhaas, it continues to bring tears into the eyes of lots of non-resident Indians to this day!

Kaash :- O Yaara... tu pyaaron se hai pyaara sung by Anupama Deshpande and Kishore Kumar, this movie also featured another beautiful ghazal by Asha Bhonsle and Mohd. Aziz - Chhoti si hai baat koi nahin jaane.

Aashiqui :- The movie which shot to fame the utterly forgettable Rahul Roy, and Anu Agarwal; it also became the much awaited boost for Kumar Sanu and Anuradha Paudwal. Some of the beautiful numbers of this movie include Bas ik sanam chaahiye, Ab tere bin jee lenge hum, Mein duniya bhulaa doonga teri chaahat mein, Nazar ke saamne jigar ke paas... Absolute melody was the hallmark of this movie.

Jurm :- Remember the song - Jab koi baat bigad jaaye ? Need I say more of it?

Sadak :- A much acclaimed movie that gave a new face to villainy - Sadashiv Amrapurkar (its a tragedy that the filmdom didn't know how to use his talents), some of the melodious hits of this movie are Tumhe apna banane ki kasam, Hum tere bin kahin reh nahin paate.

Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahin :- A movie one instantly falls in love with, it holds a very special place in my life (Read on to know why..). Anupam Kher excelled himself in the comic role as Pooja Bhatt's father. Aamir's tongue in cheek performances, and Pooja bhatt as herself (the spoilt daughter of a rich father) makes this movie memorable along with its hit numbers - Galyat sangli son yachi (the song for which me and my crush had danced together ;) ), dil hai ki maanta nahin, tu chaahat hai kisi aur ka, mainu ishq daan lagiya rog.

Daddy :- The movie proved that the most simple story can take a multi-dimensional stature when it is coupled with mesmerizing performances by actors like Anupam Kher, wonderful lyrics from the likes of Suraj Sanim and equally awesome singers like Talat Aziz. Aaina mujhse meri pehli si surat maange, Waffa jo tumse ki hoti, were my all time favorites from this movie.

Saatwan Aasmaan :- A movie that was totally forgettable if not for a couple of really beautiful songs - Tum kyaa mile jaane jaan pyaar zindagi se ho gaya, Where is the time to hate (it sounds so much like a kid's poem), Socha tumhein khat likhoon, & Tum tum ho ke nahin. The one good thing this movie indeed do, is to convince Vivek Mushran of being creatively challenged! Well it did write off the epilogue for his acting career.

Phir Teri Kahaani Yaad Aayi :- The two memorable facts of this movie were that the poster was a rip off of "Basic Instinct", and the other being the songs - Tere dar par sanam chale aaye, Baadalon mein chup raha hai chaand kyon.

Naaraaz :- Yeddanoder fogeddable (am down with cold) movie with equally memorable songs - Chaaha to bahut na chaahen tujhe, Tere bin mein kuch.

Papa Kehte Hain :- Sure as hell, Mahesh Bhatt must have quit directing movies by now! This movie tried to launch that utterly chocolaty Jugal Hansraj into the mainstream, but was a complete washout! If it were released as a private album, I guess, it pretty much would've made equal sense! The songs were the only saving grace in this movie! Every song - Ghar se nikal te hi, Yeh joh thode se hain paise, pehli pyaar ka pehla gam, Pyar mein hota hai, Mujhse naaraaz ho toh were hummed over and over again in my bathroom, much to the dismay of my neighbors and family! Oh Well!!

Zakhm :- Finally a justifiably Mahesh Bhatt movie, it was again based on his real life, and provided us with a respite of melodies such as Gali mein aaj chaand, Hum yahan tum yahan, and Raat saari bekaraari mein. M M Kreem had set the tunes liltingly, which was an added bliss.

Well, the later films by the Bhatt clan including Pooja Bhatt, did have a few numbers that haunted and sometimes topped the music charts from movies - Kasoor, Murder, Paap, Raaz, Saaya, Zeher, etc.

Most of the songs from these movies need no special mentioning but nevertheless in the passing some of my favorites are :-

Garaj Baras, Mann ki lagan, Aalaap - from PAAP.

Bheege Hont tere, Kaho na kaho - from MURDER.

Aapke pyaar mein hum - from RAAZ.

Jaadu hai nasha hai, Aawaarapan Banjarapan, - from JISM.

Agar tum mil jao, Woh lamhe Woh baatein - from ZEHER.

Well, thatz that - my take on some of the memorable songs from his movies/production. Any more to add? Keep lookin'!

Divine praises in a Divine Language

2006-01-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

There is a famous Ganesha temple opposite to my house in Bangalore. It is located on top of a huge hill on the 100 Ft Ring Road. Every year during the anniversary celebrations they invite several eminent singers from all over the State, and hold devotional recitals. During one such recitals I had heard a wonderful song on Lord Ayyappa - Harivaraasanam. Today nearly 7 years later, I chanced on that wonderful stotra once again, and even as I listen to its soothing rendering from the very voice of KJY, I am restraining the tears of joy that are almost ready to burst out of my eyes! I thought of compiling a list of someof the most melodious, soothing, enriching and simply wonderful stotras from Sanskrit.

Rudram and Chamakam :- Found in the 4th book of taittiriya samhita called Krishna yajurveda, these two stotras are among the most magnificent not just due to their rendition and verbal grandeur but also for the deep philosophical and religious meaning embedded in them. They sing the praise of Rudra - the destructive form of Lord Shiva, hailing him in different forms. Extremely intricate to say, these stotras are nevertheless very soothing and refreshing when one listenes to them in the early morning and late evenings.
Vishnu Sahasranaama :- The most celebrated stotra amongst the sahasranaamas, this is taken from the great Indian epic - Mahabharatha. It was recited to Yudhisthira by the great warrior and scholar Mahatma Bheeshma himself. It contains 1008 names of Lord Vishnu and is very easy to learn and recite. Appropriate recital is known to improve one's pronunciation as also improve the mental abilities. The reverberations generated by appropriate pronunciation is also known to cure several ailments!
Lalitha Sahasranaama :- The beauty of the Hindu dharma and its basic language Sanskrit, is that enormous knowledge of science, acoustics and psychology has been vested in even the simplest of the verses. The Lalitha sahasranaama is a celebration of the Mother Godess. The deep philosophical meaning hidden in its introduction verses - that speaks of the various tantric secrets, the praaNa philosophy, and kundalini yoga only gets more and more intricate as one begins to recite the 1008 names of the Mother. Spiritually enlightening, one has to gain an indepth knowledge of it to truly appreciate the beauty of these verses.

All of the above mentioned verses have very complicated structuring and understanding that is hard to achieve for commoners like us. They ought to be learnt under the guidance of an able Guru and requires tremendous amounts of Sadhana and discipline on the part of the devotee. The following few hymns though simpler are none the less equally powerful in their devotional magnificence. They are easy to learn, easy to recite, melodious, verbally powerful, spiritually enlightening and psychologically enriching!

Harivaraasanam :- A stotra of 8 verses (ashtakams) that sing the praises of Lord Ayyappa.
Sikshaashtakam :- A composition by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, explaining the 8 fold emotions that a devotee goes through before surrendering to the supreme Lord. This has been brilliantly rendered by Smt. M S Subbulakshmi. She carries the listener to the supreme levels of spiritual ecstasy into a brilliant climax that brings tears to ones eyes. One can feel the heart rending pleads of an ardent devotee in her voice. It is a MUST LISTEN.
Shiva Tandava Stotram :- Composed by Ravana himself, in praise of Lord Shiva, this is one of the most magnificent stotras composed on Lord Shiva. It is beautiful in its grammatical composition, rich in its verbal treasure, and quite a mouthful if I can say so. The Onomatopoeia of this stotra makes it a gleaming example on the powerful vocabulary vested in the most ancient language of this earth!
Soundarya Lahari :- Shankaracharya composed this describing the beauty of Godess Parvathi. A wonderful collection of verses that not only celebrates the Universal Mother, but also instills the entire nature around us in her form and thus is also visually rich! The verses are abound with their references to natural beauty - animate and inanimate!
Madhuraashtakam :- Another stotra having 8 verses that extoll the beauty of Lord Krishna. It is very rhythmic, melodious and visually rich in its description of Govinda.
Vande Vandyam Sadaanandam :- A composition that has been used in the movie "Madhvacharya" by G V Iyer, it has been sung by Dr. M Balamurali krishna. I have no information as to the composer of this wonderful stotra. It brings together the grandeur of Lord Vishnu heralding him as the supreme person, and his role as the Moksha pradaayaka, the one who eventually relives the jiva of the worldly bonds.
Shyaamala Dandakam :- Another brilliant composition by Shri Shankarachaarya - this was made extremely famous by including in the movie "Kaviratna Kalidasa". Dr Rajkumar astonishes in his impeccable rendition of this unique form of composition (a dandaka). It describes the beauty and grandeur of the destructive form of Parvathi - Goddess Kali.
Sivashtakam :- Extremely rhythmic with terse words, and extremely resounding to the ear, this stotra of 8 verses is extremely famous. One can easily enjoy the beauty of its composition by listening as much as by reciting it! consider this :- paTaadhrOnivaasam mahATTAttahaasam mahA pApa naasham sadA suprakASam.

Several others of such stotras include "Bhaja Govindam", "Lingashtakam", "Kaalabhairavaashtakam", "Siva panchakshara stotram", "Rama rakshaa stotram", "Shaarada dandakam", "Naama Raamayana", and several others. To talk of each of these would take decades. Nevertheless at regular intervals, I would like to share a few of my knowings with you all and together relish the beauty of them.

Sri Tyagaraja: Endaro mahanubhaavulu!!

2006-01-18T21:54:00.000-08:00

January 19th is celebrated as Sri Tyagaraja Aradhana. I remember the first Tyagaraja Aradhana that I had been to was at an age of 12, in the house of my Classical music Guru, Smt. Shakuntala Iyengar. It had been a few months since I had started to go to her, inorder to learn music. I had then known very little about Sri Tyagaraja. All I knew was that he was a great composer, and a saint, a devotee of Sri Rama. On that day, I sat in her house in rapture listening to the mellifluous flow of music from a whole gathering of classical music singers. At that time, it was the grandeur and magnificence of the whole thing that had me smitten! I made it a point to go to Tyagaraja Aradhana every year till my college days began. Then the vortex of academics digressed me from cultural events, and I am yet to relive those moments till date! Today, I offer this post as my salutations to the master of Classical Music, one of the divine trinity, a composer par excellence, Sri Tyagaraja.

Sri Tyagaraja was born in Tiruvaayur, on May 4th, 1767. He inculcated the devotion on Sri Rama right from his childhood. His worldly ties were materialized in the form of his wives Parvati (who died early) and later Kamalamba. Sadly he was left heirless! Nevertheless today, thousands of singers all over India and abroad, are carrying forth the legacy that was nourished and glorified by his contributions and compositions. He propagated the bhakti marga and used his compositions to celebrate the glory of Sri Rama's deeds. He also wrote compositions on Sri Lakshmi, Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, and others. He used music as a method of achieving the supreme grace (moksha). Some of his celebrated compositions include the various Pancharatnas (5 gems) -

Kovur Pancharatna Kriti
Thiruvetriyur Pancharatna Kriti
Laalgudi Pancharatna Kriti
Shreeranga Pancharatna Kriti
Ghana Pancharatna Kriti

Of these the most famous are the Ghana Panchakas, composed in the 5 Ghana raagas viz Nata, Goula, Arabhi, Varali, and Sri. I have already written about these in here. The other famous compositions by Sri Tyagaraja that I have heard include "dorakuna ituvanti seva", "Sambho Mahadeva"(this song has been sung breath takingly by Unnikrishnan. It is a MUST NOT MISS), "Seeta kalyaana vaibhogame", "jayamangalam nitya shubhamangalam", "mokshamu galada (Smt. MS' rendering of this song tears the heart, and brings tears to one's eyes), "nagumomu ganalEni" (has been included in "Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege", a Kannada film), "saamajavaragamana" (has been included in the movie "Shankarabharanam"), "seetamma maayamma", etc.

Composers like Sri Tyagaraja, elevated the art of music to spiritual levels that showed an alternate path for even the common man, to achieve the bliss of sages! On this day, let us celebrate music, not just as an art, but as a way of life, as a spiritual bliss, and veritably as the essence of the universe! For the cosmic sound that reverberates through the space, is but a note of the divine music, sounded by the Supreme player himself.

Mélodies actuelles de génération!

2006-01-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

When it comes to listing songs, I always have huge problems in terms of categorizing it. Well there are the ones that are sung well, ones that have good lyrics, and then good music. All of these have to do with just the aesthetics of listening. Then there are the visually stimulating songs, with their wonderful picturization, locales and grandeur of settings. What makes a song complete is, as cliched as it may seem, a uniform blend of all these. It has to be appealing to both the auditory and visual perceptions!

It has always been a matter of dispute as to the kind of songs that are churned out during each decades. I still remember a classic controversy stirred by Majrooh Sultanpuri, when he called the work of another lyricist, rubbish and rebuked him for writing meaningless songs! Now this coming from a person who had once written, "C A T cat.. cat maane billi.. R A T rat.. rat maane chooha, are dil he tere panje mein toh kya hua" is surprising! The point I am trying to make is, the older generation has always frowned upon the innovativeness of the younger generation and this cycle has repeated ever since!

In Kannada Film Industry (KFM), the evolution of music has set in with full blast! The much needed change which was initially brought forth by Hamsalekha, has now branched out into several creative music directors and lyricists, willing to experiment and explore new avenues, than traverse in the oft beaten path! Not all their ventures are laudable, but there certainly are some note worthy numbers, from the recent movies, that I would love to list and recommend for my readers.

Elele Tangaaliye sung by Rajesh, Sowmya from the movie Shanti Shanti Shanti - the movie was a terrible flop, but has this wonderful number in it. Also notably, this was the debut movie for Madhavan! He looked so foolish in this movie! Well, no one could have expected him to be the heartthrob of so many now! Oh Well!
Usire Usire Usiraagu sung by Karthik and Bombay Jayashree from the movie Deadly Soma! Of interest is its rather techno-cratic music, which still has tried to remain easy on the ears!
Yaamini Daamini sung by SPB from the movie Musuku. The song is a sheer pleasure to listen to, due to its stimulating lyrics!
Ajanta Ellora sung by Vijay Yesudas from the movie Nenapirali. Another wonderful composition by Hamsalekha. It is a song that is so lively with romance and playfulness, that one can't help but sway to the melody flowing in every line! Also notice the way in which the lyrics the worded, with tongue twisters, and some lines so visual in their description of the girl - makes my heart fall in love with her! For some though the use of Titanic ship to symbolize his state may seem uncalled for! Well no comments on that one! Another song I'd recommend from this movie would be the title song Nenapirali.
Preeti Eke bhUmi mElide, prItsE anta praaNa tinnO prEmi neenu yaarO, preetige janma nIDida brahma all of these songs from the movie Excuse Me, backed up by a soulful violin rendering, will certainly capture one's attention! A few songs are well shot, except for the fact that the female lead (once again!!! Somebody ask them to go get a life!!) really overdoes her expressions, which makes it a pain to watch the song, so best thing would be to hear it!
Usiralealeale... yali from the movie O Gulaabiye! written by V Manohar, is yet another interesting song, basically due to this rhythmic use of words and ofcourse the efforts of the singers Mano, and Nandita. Personally I would feel that probably Rajesh or Unnikrishnan for that matter would have done a better job of it. There is another song Manase Mannisu sung by Unnikrishnan and Chaitra that is also worth listening to. Albeit, let me warn you on the oomph and saucyness of the song! Better give it a hearing during the nights ;)
Modamodalu bhuvigiLida maLe haniyu from the movie Yeshwanth rendered by Rajesh and Nanditha is a very lively and a camouflaged poetic number, that has been constantly figuring in my playlists these days!
Kannigu kanneerigu from the movie Autograph Please sung by Rajesh is another soulful number that has everything ranging from the music, to the lyrics and singing blending synchronously and making this a constant on the playlist! Some of the lines in the lyrics are really touchy.. like the one that says "kOgile cheeridarU kivigoMdu iMpide" would have us heaving a deep sigh. I am sure Samanvitha would accept this!
Manasaare Manasaare maataaDe from the movie Green Signal sung by Hariharan.

Well, so here is the choicest of songs from the present genre movies, that I felt were very melodious and did justice in terms of a lot of factors that are important for a song! I am sure that there are lot more that can be listed and would be coming up from time to time. So happy listening folks!

Favorite Kannada poetic numbers in movies!

2005-12-20T14:11:00.000-08:00

One of the most favorite topics, when it comes to film music, is the discussions on the poetic songs opted for the movies. It indeed takes a lot of diligent effort on the part of the director to find an extremely good poem, written by a poet, and also tailor make a scene just for that purpose. Puttanna Kanagal, I feel was one such director, with supreme ability to conjure situations and scenes, that were a visual imagery of the poems used. The early morning song "Mudala maneya muttina neerina" in the movie "Belli Moda", "haaDu haLeyadAdarEnu bhAva nava navIna" for the movie "Maanasa Sarovara", "uttara dhruvadin dakshina dhruvaku" from the movie "Sharapanjara" are but a few testimonies for his impeccable talents and skills. A lot of the directors time and again, have given prominence to not only include the poems as songs, but also the novels written by famed writers as the plot for the movies. Anyways, right now, here is a list of my favorite songs based on the poems written by renowned poets of Karnataka.

Teredide mane O bA atithi - composed by Kuvempu adopted in the movie "Hosa belaku" sung by S Janaki and Vani Jayaram. This is my most favorite composition, not just because of its lyrical/verbal beauty, but also because of the depth in its philosophical significance. It is a pleasure to listen to the song sung by 2 stalwarts of the Kannada Film Music.
Moodala Maneya Muttina Neerina - composed by da.ra. bendre, adopted in the movie "Belli Moda" sung by S Janaki. This song is my mom's most favorite song. It beautifully captures the beauty of the early morning, and helps the listener visualize the perfect morning crispness in each of its words! I'd say, if you miss out on the early morning sunrise, listen to this song, and you will see the sun rise once again!
Doni Saagali Munde Hogali - composed by Kuvempu, adopted in the movie "Miss Leelavathi", sung by S Janaki. Like other of Kuvempu's compositions, it is rich in words, and philosophy - ninne ninnege iMdu iMdige iraLi naaLeyu naaLege, brings about the wanton abandon of a person who wants to just go on a long boat ride, in the dancing water waves.
Uttara dhruvadin dakshina dhruvaku - composed by da.ra.bendre, adopted in the movie "Sharapanjara" sung by S Janaki, and P B Srinivos. Another beautiful and titillating number filled with tongue twisting words that add an elegance to the song - akshi nimIlana maaDada nakshatrada gaNa gaganadi haaradide.... one can clearly see the sheer genius of bendre at play here! (thanks to Sushma for the correct lyrics)
Nesara Nodu Nesara Nodu - composed by P Lankesh, and adopted in the movie "Kaakana Kote". I guess this song was sung by Smt. Sulochana. The movie by itself was wonderful, picturesque and visually rich in its camera work, the song augments this and has been brilliantly shot.
Aa Bettadalli Beladingalalli sulidaada - composed by Siddalingaiah, and adopted in the movie "Baa nalle Madhuchandrake", this song has been brilliantly sung by SPB. The music score being my Hamsalekha has added an extra lustre, that seems to only be shadowed by the immensely forgettable hero and heroine. But that apart, the song is extremely romantic and makes for an ideal honeymoon song! ;)
Deepavu ninnade gaaliyu ninnade - composed by K S Narasimha swamy, and adopted in the movie "Mysooru Mallige", sung by S Janaki. This movie was based on the collection of poems by Sri KSN's book of the same title. It is difficult to mention just one song among the ones adopted, as each of the songs are different and extremely wonderful in their own level. It is sheer pleasure to listen to the variety of songs filled with love, romance, devotion and innocence.
Nammoora Mandaara Hoove - composed by Doddarange gowda, adopted in the movie "Alemane" - sung by SPB. Sincerely speaking, I'd put this song, way above in the top 5. But it took me a long time to finally decide that though he composed this song for the movie, I would still like to call this a poem. This is one of the most romantic songs ever composed, with such a panache of romance that it seems supremely wasted on the heroine! She waltzes around as if shez a drunkard! It is a crime to picturize such wonderful songs, on such unworthy lead females.
Kempaadavo ella kempaadavo - another composition of P Lankesh, adopted in the movie "ellindalo bandavaru" sung again by SPB.

One can easily see the moments when the poems have been adopted. They either sing of the brilliance of nature, or that of the various human relations - be it love, hatred, betrayal or devotion. I am sure that there is a vast repertoire of equally brilliant compositions waiting to be discovered amidst the myriad works of so many accomplished writers, and poets. But do we have the diligent directors, who are ready to put in their time for this? Now, that is a billion dollar question!

Jaspal Singh: Geet Gaata Chal

2005-12-19T16:48:00.000-08:00

A few posts ago, I had mentioned about several singers, who though did not make it to the big limelight, have contributed some of the ever green songs, that often the mind hums! To this league of sidelined singers, Jaspal Singh's addition seems a tragedy! The highlight of Jaspal Singh's voice is the innocence, and wanton abandon combined in an effective manner - there is happiness ebbing from the songs sung by him for instance in "Geet Gaata Chal", "saanchi kahe tohe aawan se", "kaun disaa mein leke", "bade badaai naa kare", etc. He is equally effective in singing devotional numbers, and is well known for singing the "dohas" of Kabir and also the verses of Tulsidas' "Ram charita Maanas".

In a career that faded away just as quickly as his shot to fame, Jaspal Singh, has given some really memorable numbers. Most of the songs were given to the kid actor of the block, Sachin. The movies though, not among the main stream, had a laid back magic to them; kinda like those small novels one reads on a travel, though not memorable, they make a good read! There are days when no song has kept me as entertained as his "geet gaata chal O raahi gun gunaata chal". The song is happiness itself worded down as lyrics; and Jaspal Singh does a justice to it, that I cannot imagine anyone else doing.

Today as I happen to listen to sing to the same song again, the gloom has lifted off, and the heart is light again, in the sound of music.

Aruna Sairam: A Miracle beyond words!!!

2005-12-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

This is the 10th time I am replaying the Kalinga Nartana Thillana composed by Sri OOthukudi Venkatasubbiyer and sung by Aruna Sairam. To say that she is splendid would be downplaying her performance, to say she is divine, may sound hackneyed! To say that she is a match unto herself, would also not put into words my feelings.. so what can one do?! But remain silent and enjoy the bliss of pure singing! The irony is that, it is hard to remain silent too!! The heart is upbeat, floating in clouds! The feet are tapping. The whatever little bit of classical dance I had learnt is playing havoc on my senses.. they are invariably tapping to the tunes set by her, and the head sways! The lips curve involuntarily in a smile even as she goes on.. "taga jaga taga jaga diRg jaga nandam... .... .... nanda sukumaara navaneeta dadhi chora...... jaya vijayeebhava nanda kumaara.. braja jana paramaananda kishora.. " Dear Dudaas and Dudees... for heaven's sakes.. do not miss out on this rendition! You will never realize what you have missed out on in your life all the while!

You can listen to the song here. It is the last song in the list. But obviously, you can listen to the others too! But It would be a crime to miss out on this particular rendition. Ok, let's settle down.

So who is Aruna Sairam! Daughter of the famous Karnatik vocalist Rajalakshmi Sethuraman. She learnt Classical music under many note worthy gurus primarily, Sangita Kalanidhi Smt. T. Brinda, Veena Dhanammal, and her own mother. What really distinguishes her from many other artists is her clear diction and command over the raagas and swaras. The Alapana, the saahitya and bhaava are impeccable! The way her voice modulates as she passes through the various nuances is just mesmerizing!

Especially in this particular rendition, observe her unfaltering voice..even as she goes on a high pitch.. "taam dheem taranna taam..", the way her voice dips even as she passes from a mode of sangeeta to saahitya.. or prose.. "nir taka nir taka taam".. and then again.. very smoothly picks up and gains the stability, immediately picking pace on "alaka sindhoora alaka shringaara.. vadana gambheera".. and then again slows down, "jaya vijayeebhava nanda kumaara"... and all this inspite of the immensely complex words, and with perfect diction!! Whew!! The voice dips and ups as if she is swimming deftly like a fish, diving into the water, and popping up again, in a rhythmic style of (vocal) motion, especially when she comes to the point of "mandassssssssssmitakara.. " the momentary pause she gives is so tactical.. in the entire rendition that would have flown continuously till then.

Some of the other beautiful songs sung by her include "pillangoviya chelva krishnana", "Anandaamruthaakarshini" by Muttuswamy Dikshitar, "venkataramanane baaro" by Purandara daasa (in this she tragically pronounces "kOmalaaMga" as "kOmaLaaMga"!!wonder why its so tough for artists to maintain their diction in other languages! Waaaaaah! I am disappointed), "Kanakashaila vihaarini" by Shyaama Shaasti (she is an exponent of the composition of Sri Dikshit, and Shri Shyama Shastri), "Himagiri tanaye hemalathe" by Muttaiah Bhagavathar, and "Enagu aane ranga" by Purandara daasa. On the flip side, if she is able to maintain her diction even in other language songs, she shall be unparallelled. One of the newspapers, I guess it was the Hindu/Indian Express, had put her status on par with Smt. M S Subbulakshmi. With all due respects, I beg to differ! Aruna Sairam is a magnificient singer, but no one can ever equal M S Subbulakshmi.

Days may seem insufficient when one is constantly lost in the waves of music, flowing so affluently from such talented artists. What say you?

More on love...!!!

2005-12-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

While all you guyz are still reeling in the effects of the beautiful song "Alaipayuthey", here is another shot in the arm of love! It has been commonly misconceived that the daasa saahitya was full of only devotion and vairagya (asceticism, renunciation, etc). Contrary to the same, we do find innumerable compositions that celebrate the love of the gopika women with Lord Krishna. It is a pity that the daasa saahitya of kannada language has not received its due exposure and appreciation as the similar works in other languages, which indeed derived a lot of inspiration from the Haridasa movement in Karnataka. One other aspect is also the fact that the amount of credit given to the works of Purandara daasa is not given to other equally brilliant composers - Kanakadaasaru, Jagannatha daasaru, mahipati daasaru, vijayavitthala daasaru, etc.
Well matters aside, the point I am trying to make is that inspite of all these people having renounced the worldly pleasures, they were still touched by the feeling of love! Even if it was towards a divine entity! It is this feeling of intense love towards God, that enabled them to compose songs that were full of the yearning of their heart, and cries of their soul! A signal of distress for their Lord to arrive quickly and provide them the pleasure of his divine company!
One of my all time favorite songs in this genre would be "ninnanagali hogalaarevo" by Vijaya Vitthala daasaru. It has been beautifully sung by Vidyabhushana. The song is mesmerizing in its effect and fills the heart with myriad of emotions ranging from love, devotion and finally supreme submission!

ninnanagali hogalaarevo neerajaakSha

ninna sEri suKisabaMdevO pallavi

mannisade mamateyiMda bhinna nuDigaLADi namage

haNNu tOri kALakUTavannu koDuvarEno krishna? anupallavi

[We (the gopikas) cannot leave you O! Lotus eyed one! We came here to enjoy the bliss of your company! Whilst thou, without affectionately fulfilling our desires, are imploring us to leave! After luring one with fruits, is it just to feed them the Kaalakuta poison?! (Krishna who would have lured the gopika women with the divine sound of his flute, tempting them with the pleasure of his company is now, by asking them to leave, feeding them the terrible poison of viraha or separation!)]

ariyuvudake shakyavallada apramEya

Adi puruSha amara sannuta

shreeta namma kaiya biDade aadarisabEku

pararAdarEnu ninna charaNa dAsaraada mEle biDuvuduMTe? 1

[Thou art the one immesurable and unfathomable by the human mind (Aprameya), the primal being, and the one devotedly worshipped by the Gods. O! benevolent one, do not abandon us. We may be strangers to you, but having taken shelter under your lotus feet, can you now desert us?]

baMdhu vargavannu biDuvudu

strIyarige viMdyaveMdu shaastra pELvudu

eMdigeMdigemage neene baMdhuveMdu baMdihevo

siMdhu shayana emmanyaake iMdu pOgireMbe neenu? 2

[It is instructed in the shaastras (sacred scriptures) that women must not leave their relatives and family. We have now come to you, thinking of you as our relative for now and ever! O the one who sleeps on the mighty ocean, why do you ask us to leave you now? (The gopikas very cleaverly maneovre the argument using the scriptures too that have asked them not to leave one's family and relatives! They regard Krishna as their family and relative, and hence refuse to leave him!]

shama damAdi guNagaLiMdali sajjanaru

kramadi ninna mUrti manadali

mamateyiMda pUjisutta gamanisuvaro ninna purake

namage mAtra patisutAdya ramita suKava koDuvarEno? 3

[The blessed people worship you with various attributes having established your form deep within their heart! Having worshipped you with such devotion they attain your abode! Whilst you give us such an ephemeral pleasure! (The gopikas point out the bias that they feel the Lord is doing to them. Compared to the other blessed individuals who worship him in the depths of their heart, who are immediately taken to his supreme abode and enjoy his constant company, the gopikas (who ardently long for him) are being given only a momentary audience by Lord Krishna!)]

mOkSha icceyiMda ninnanu bhajipa janara
pakSha vahisidaMte nammanu rakShisade
biDuvare kaTaakShadiMda eekShisade
lakShmi dEvi ninage bahaLa necceyiMda bOdhisidaLe? 4

[The way you rush to the side of the people who sing your praises for the attainment of salvation, why don't you protect us too by looking at us with your most benevolent sight? Is this something that Godess Lakshmi has taught you with much fervor? (The gopikas go further in imploring Krishna, suspecting that he is being a puppet in the hands of his wife, and doing her behest! The call upon him to come to their aid the way he does for his devotees, the ones who wish of salvation from his hands! They feel that it is his wife Lakshmi who has with great warmth taught him not to entertain other women!)]

anagha ninna nODi mOhisi aMtarAtma

tanuvu manavu ninage arpisi

janana maraNadiMda janaru daNivareno kAMta

namma manasinaMte olidu salaho vanaja nAbha vijaya vittahala 5

[O faultless one, we have fallen in love with you at the mere sight of yours, and have devoted our mind, body and soul to you! The mundane people suffer from the pains of birth and death! Why don't you fulfill our wishes the way we want and protect us O thou who bore a lotus in your naabhi!]

Isn't this such a beautiful composition that has encircles the various emotions of the gopikas deprived of their love and longing for it! The plead, they accuse, they suspect, and finally in full submission call upon their Lord, to fulfill their desires! The epitome of devotion is supremely visible in the compositions! Wonder how many more such gems are yet to be explored and realized to the modern man!

Lost in the celestial music...

2005-12-12T18:53:00.000-08:00

I am not a connoisseur of music! I probably am not a layman in terms of it too, and hence, can feel a good song, when I hear one! Transcending the boundaries of language is probably the greatest achievement of music! Albeit, in the current scenario, the negative elements seem to have gained momentum in defeating this purpose too, for die hard romanticists like me, there still seems to be some hope. Some of my favorite composers in Karnatik music, are varied - ranging from our very own kannada composers to tamil and telugu. One such composer of divine songs is Oothukadu Venkatasubbiyer. His compositions were predominantly in Tamil, as well as in Sanskrit. They were written on Lord Krishna, celebrating his childhood pranks, and divine deeds. One such song that has always held me enraptured by its sheer brilliance of expression and grandeuse of composition is "Alaipayuthey". This song was also featured in the movie by Maniratnam of the same name, under the efficient music direction of ARR. The chorus effect on the song is what renders it a celestial magic, quite different than when one hears it in a solo voice. Some of the renditions that I really enjoy are from Maharajapuram Santhanam, Bombay Jayashree, and Anuradha Sriram. After a lot of patient hearing, and some research on the web, I was able to zero in on what I feel is a rather accurate presentation of the song, and one can really see the sheer devotion and love oozing out of its lyrics, the eagerness of the lover to be encompassed by the divine music of Lord Krishna's flute, as if it were a burst of the morning dew waiting to be sucked up by the flowers and convert to nectar, or as the moonlit drops of the swati rain, waiting to be transformed into radiant pearls! It is the sheer magic of music, at work in this song, and hence is my most favorite of his compositions.

alaipaayudhe kaNNaa en manam alaipaayudhae
aanandha mohana veNu gaanamadhil
alaipaayudhe kaNNaa en manam alaipaayudhae
[O Lord Krishna, my mind is wandering, lost in the divine transcendental music of your flute]

nilaipeyaRaadhu silaipolave ninRu (2)
neramaavadhaRiyaamalae miga vinodhamaana muraLeedharaa
en manam alaipaayudhae kaNNaa aaaa

[Without moving, I stood rooted and transfixed like a statue. I did not realize nor care for the passing of time, for lost I was in the enigmatic music emmanating from your flute. My mind is aflutter.. O Krishna.. ]

theLindha nilavu pattappagal pol eriyudhe (2)
dhikkai nokki en puruvam neRiyudhe
kanindha un veNugaanam kaatRil varugudhe (2)
kaNgal sorugi oru vidhamaay varugudhe (2)

[In this radiant moonlight that has made a day of the night, I strain my eyes and look in your direction. Even as the transcendetal tunes of your flute come floating unto me in the cool breeze, my eyes close in ecstasy and a new feeling envelopes my heart.]

kadhiththa manaththil oruththi padhaththai enakku aLiththu magizhththavaa (2)
oru thaniththa manaththil aNaiththu enakku uNarchchi koduththu mugizhththavaa (2)

[Mould my tender heart as you wish, filling it completely with love for you and joyous feeling of your company. Carry me off to a remote, lonely grove and release on me, the flood of the ecstatic emotions of love making and celestial union with you.]

kaNai kadal alaiyinil kadhiravan oLiyena iNaiyiru kazhalena kaLiththavaa
kadhaRi manamurugi naan azhaikkavoa idhara maadharudan nee kaLikkavo (2)
idhu thagumo idhu muRaiyo idhu dharmam thaanoa (2)
kuzhaloodhidum pozhudhu aadigum kuzhaigaL poalavae manadhu vaedhanai migavodu

[Aren't you the one dancing on the waves on which the rays of the sun too are dancing! Here I am pleading with you, with a bleeding heart, endlessly, while you there you are making merry with other women! Is this right on your part? Is this a proper conduct for you? Is this what you call dharma? Yet, at the sight of the dance of your ear rings to the tunes of your flute, my pained heart rises in joy and happiness]

alaipaayudhae kaNNaa en manam alaipaayudhae
un aanandha moagana vaeNu gaanamadhil
alaipaayudhae kaNNaa aaaa

[My mind is afloat, O Krishna, in the joyous, enchanting music of your flute, my mind is afloat]

It is hard for me to imagine a being that wouldn't be touched by the ardent pleadings and arduous pains suffered by the bereft lover, burning in the anguish of viraha! Do not hear the song, but listen to it, closing your eyes, and opening the sight of your heart! And trust me, when I say that the overwhelming emotions, shall water down your eyes! Such is the magic of music! Let's get enchanted!

Man kyon beheka re beheka!!!!

2005-12-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

Lata and Asha are undoubtedly the 2 divas of Hindi Film Music. Both of them equally accomplished and versatile! So when these two sing songs together, one can easily expect magic!! The first instance of this happened in 1951 for the movie Daman (I don't know what song it was). There were from then on, a series of songs, that they sang together that has left an indelible print on the mind of the listeners such as "Aplam.. chaplam.. chapalaayi re.. duniya ko chod tere gali.. aayi re aayi re .. aayi re", from the movie Kohinoor; "main chali main chali" from Padosan, "Ai kash kisi deewane ko" from Aaye din bahaar ke, etc.

Due to Asha's romantic life and Lata's comments on OP Nayyar and Asha, a chasm developed between them, and hopefully the time has healed it. It is said that those who like one another very much, are the ones whom we would hate the most if circumstances would change. This seems true in the case of Lata and Asha. I don't know if it did good to either of them, but we certainly lost some of the best possible female duets that they could have rendered!

One absolutely beautiful and melodious song is from the ever memorable movie "Utsav". Asha and Lata revel as if they were competing with eachother over who outperforms the other, and what we get, is a master piece of a song!! The song has been penned by VasantDev, won him the best lyricst film fare award in the year 1985. The music was composed by Lakshmikant Pyarelal. The song sets the mood for the archaic times, with not just its lyrics but also the music.

The lyrics flows thus:-

man kyon behekaa ree behekaa, aadhee raat ko
belaa mehekaa ree mehekaa, aadhee raat ko
kisane bansee bajaayee, aadhee raat ko
jisane palakee churaayee, aadhee raat ko

jhaanjar chamke sun chamke, aadhee raat ko
usko toko na roko, roko na toko, toko na roko, aadhee raat ko
laaj laage re laage, aadhee raat ko
denaa sindoor, ke su aadhee raat ko

baat kahate bani kyaa, aadhee raat ko
aankh kholegee baat aadhee raat ko
hum ne pee chandni, aadhee raat ko
chand aankhon mein aayaa, aadhee raat ko

raat gunti rahegi, aadhee baat ko
aadhee baaton ke peer, aadhee raat ko
baat puree ho kaise, aadhee raat ko
raat hoti shuru hai, aadhee raat ko

Maharajapuram Santhanam: The King of Classical Music

2005-12-09T11:47:00.000-08:00

My first foray into Karnatic Vocal happened when I was 12 yrs old. I started learning from my neighbor Mrs. Shakuntala Iyengar. It was then that I got exposed to the music of Sri Maharajapuram Santhanam. She had a huge collection of his albums that she would let us listen to, when we were free. I was not in a position to appreciate the aesthetics and nuances of his voice then. But yet, the sheer pleasantness in his voice held me in rapture, and to this day, I have continued to be mesmerized by the sheer brilliance of this maestro.

He hailed from a family of noted vocalists. His father Sri Maharajapuram Vishwanathan Iyer was himself a renowned name in the field of Karnatic Music. He was one of the very few people well versed in rendering the divine Pancharatna krithis of Shri Tyagaraja. This art, he passed on to his son, who rendered it with equal aplomb if not less! It is a pleasure to listen to his rendering of the 5 keerthanas. He was equally divine in his rendition of the Daasa krithis, be it of purandara or kanaka. His choice of songs was always one that wud fill the listener with an ethereal feeling of being among the gandharvas! One of the few known vocalists, who always sung the daasa krithis in their concerts, Sri Santhanam was much known for his renditions of complex raagas, Kalyani, Shankarabharana, Sri Raaga, Arabhi, Sivaranjani, etc.

Maharajapuram Santhanam has also composed several krithis in Sivaranjani, Hamsanandhi, Charukeshi, etc.

An accomplished and divine artist, a kala brahma, he eventually met a tragic death in a car accident and died in the year 1992.

Some of my favorite songs that are sung by Sri Maharajapuram Santhanam are:-

The Pancharatna Krithis composed by Shri Tyagaraja
Kelo Satcharitra composed by Shri Purandara dasa
Kelano Hari Taalano also by Shri Purandara Daasa
Alaipaayuthey composed by Oothukadu Venkata Subbaier
Krishna Nee Begane Baaro by Shri Vyaasa Rayaru
Mahaganapathim composed by Shri Muttuswamy Dikshithar
Himaadri sute paahimaam composed by Shyama Shastri
Vaatapi Ganapathim Bhaje composed by Shri Muttuswamy Dikshitar
Manasa Sancharare composed by Shri Sadashiva Brahmendra

and many many more!!

Best Romantic Numbers in Kannada!

2005-10-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

From quite a while since, I have been trying to make a list of kannada songs that I treasure. Being as hopelessly romantic as I am, I thought the best way for me to start would be to list the wonderful romantic numbers that I listen to on any given day and time! I'd rather randomly list them in the first place than chronologically, which would take a lot of time (which is a big deterrent for a blogger like me). Anyways here goes the numbers,

Ravi vermana kunchada kale (An ever green romantic number by the legendary PBS, sadly pictured on Padmapriya and Rajesh! movie is Mana meccida Sose)
Joteyali .. Jote Joteyali iruvenu (The magic of this song needs no words, its popularity speaks for itself, one can see the magic of SPB-SJ duo - movie is Geetha )
Naguva Nayana Madhura Mouna (The picturization, music, the SPB-SJ duo... its heavenly.. from the movie Pallavi Anupallavi)
Malle hoova Maale Mudisi (A very touchy romantic number, music by IR, wonderful lyrics, from the movie Prema Raaga Haadu Gelati)
Nooru Janmaku Nooraaru Janmaku (Another poetic number sung by Rajesh Krishnan from the movie America America)
Preeti Eke Bhumi melide (From the movie Excuse-Me - a musical tribute all the way through)
Preetse anta Praana tinno (Again from Excuse-Me, Bombay Jayashree pulling the strings of your heart)
Jeeva Hoovaagide Bhaava Jenaagide (An awesome duet by Dr Raj-SJ, music by IR, beautiful lyrics, you can almost forgive Dr. Raj crooning.. "I laaaav youuuuu... I laaaav youuuuu", movie is Nee Nanna Gellalaare)
Hamsave Hamsave Haadu Baa (From the movie Gatti Mela, Sonu Nigam baffled me, Chitra is just too good)
Priya Priya Ninna Nota Priya (The music and lyrics by Hamsalekha leaves an indelible print on the mind.. kept me in the clouds for days... oops.. movie is Ksheera Saagara)
Eno Moha Eko Daaha (An evergreen seductive duet by Dr. Raj-VJ from Keralida Simha)
Neela Megha Gaali Beesi (Another of the evergreen SPB-SJ Duets from Anand, listen to this music in a silent room... its magical)
Nammura Mandaara Hoove (Probably among the most famousest of all SPB Solos, the heroine is almost forgettable, movie - Aparichita)
Usire Usire Usiraagu (A techno romantic song from the movie Deadly Soma sung by Karthik and Bombay Jayashree)
Gap Chup Gap Chup Pranayada Raaga (I remember listening to this song over and over again.. from the Movie Nalla, sung by the Unni Krishnan and Harini duo)
Tam nam Tam nam Nanni Manasu (Started with PBS, and will pause at PBS-SJ duet from Eradu Kanasu, simply superb)

The list is endless actually, and ever changing, in that, more and more songs are added on! Well guess these should suffice for the time being. I already have 'em playing on in the background.. which again is another reason for me to stop writing.. gotto listen you see ;)

My tunes these days - partie deux

2005-09-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of Songs that keep rummaging in my mind often.. in all languages.. I do prefer them based on my moods.. with a huge song collection, it often becomes a big problem as to how to include 'em all. Anyways, herez a random list of 'em from Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

In Hindi:-

Woh lamhe Woh yaadein sung by Atif (Zeher)
Tere dar par sanam sung by Kumar Sanu (Phir teri kahaani yaad aayi)
Dur se koyi aaye by the group Strings
Khaali haath shaam aayi hai by Asha Bhonsle (Ijaazat)
Sajana O Sajna by Hemlatha (Dulhan wohi jo piya man bhaaye)
Mahive by Sukhwinder singh and Richa Sharma (Kaante)
Husn pahaadon kaa O saahiban by Lata Mangeshkar and Suresh Wadkar (Ram Teri Ganga Maili)
Waada na Tod by Lata Mangeshkar (Dil Tujhko Diya - thanx to Deepak for the movie name)
Disco Station by Asha Bhonsle (Hathkadi)
Aap jaisa koi by Nazia Hassan (Qurbaani - I remember this song ever since I was a kid)
Nanna munna raahi hoon (Son of India. Boy this was my favorite song since childhood. I remember singing this every Independence Day!!!)
Mujhpe Toofan Uthaaye Logon ne (Tehzeeb - OK movie... but awesome songs)
Na Shikwa Hota Na Gila Hota (Tehzeeb)
Maana Ho Tum behad haseen by KJY (Toote khilone ..awesome music by Bappi Lahiri)
Maine poocha jaam se by Mohd. Rafi (Abdullah)
Aaj unse pehli mulaakaat hogi by Kishore Kumar (Paraya dhan)
Piyu bole Piya bole (Parineeta)

Ok ... now its time for some Tamil Nos.

Mannil Indha by the superb SPB (Keladi kanmani)
Oh Raagini by SPB and Chithra
Minnale En by SPB (May maadham - awesome music by ARR)
Thendrale Thendrale by Unnikrishnan (Kaadhal desam)
Nalam Nalamariya by SPB and Anuradha (Kaadhal Kottai)
Kaalamellam kaadhalvaalg by Unnikrishnan (Kaadhal Kottai)
Kannodu kaanbadellam by Nityashree (Jeans)
Ninnu kori varnam by SPB and Chithra set to the Gopikamanohara raaga (Agni Nakshatram. music by the divine Illayaraja)
Almost all of the freakin' songs from Boys!!

Ok... and coming up next, we have the Telugu Songs:

All the Songs of Saagara Sangamam, Shankaraabharanam, Annamayya, Abhinandanam, Swati Mutyam.
Anaganaga by Koti (from Nuvve kaavaali)
O Paapa laali by SPB (Geetanjali)
Manasantha nuvve (Mansantha Nuvve)
Kilakila mani by SPB (Coolie No 1)

And I keep listening to some Malayalam Songs from my CD. Some being

Chembuve poove
Ariyaade Ariyaade
yaaro idametti
vaalkannirudiya makaranilaavil
vennila chandanakkinnam
samayamidapoorva saayaannam
maanamtelinnelinmaal (I guess thatz how its spelt.. a very nice song though :D)

My tunes these days - partie un

2005-09-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

English:-

Money Money Money (ABBA) [Do I love 'em.. or Do I Love 'em!!!]
Ra Ra Rasputin (ABBA)
Mamma Mia (ABBA)
Dancing Queen (ABBA)
In da club (50 Cents) [hehehe... manjesh.. n me.. gotto translate lotsa stuffs!!]
Candy Shop (50 Cents)
Just a lil bit (50 Cents)
When you love someone (Bryan Adams) [Boy! Do I wanna sing this song to my GF!!)
I can't stop lovin' you (Bryan Adams)
Only Time (Enya) [Loved the movie, Love the song]
You say it best when you say nothin' at all (Alison Krauss)
Loser (Beck) [wooohooo!!! Our anthem during the college days... hehehe.. good ol' rubbish]
White Flag (Dido)
What If God was one of us (Joan Osbourne)
Last Kiss (Pearl Jam)
Sleeping Child (Michael Learns to Rock) [Probably one of my earliest favs..just like ABBA)
Everytime I Close my eyes (Babyface featuring Mariah Carey and KennyG)
I Guess the Lord Must be in New York City (Sinead O'Connor)
Dreams (Cranberries) [Boy! I love all of the freakin' songs in You've Got Mail, including the one above :D]
Angel (Lionel Richie) [Oh Boy! Am I romanctic.. or am I romantic]

Well there are lots more.. songs that I have in more than one playlists! Songs that I don't mind listenin' to over and over and over..and yet another over again!!!

Hemalatha: A sensation unknown

2005-09-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Often, I wonder, what is the mark of a good singer? Bollywood has had a certain ill-flair in having neglected a lot of really worthwhile singers, who have given a great number of evergreen songs. To this band of long forgotten singers, belongs Hemlatha. Ever heard of the song "Akhiyon ke jharokon se" the title song of the same named movie? One can so easily sense the innocence and love in the voice - akin to the love of a young teenaged girl.

Hemlatha is one of those rare and gifted singers, with a thorough classical knowledge. Just by looking the the songs that she has sung, one can easily assess her talents - "Ankhiyon ke jharokhon se", "le toh aaye ho hamein", "tu is tarah se meri zindagi mein shaamil hai", "jab deep jale aana", and many more. To sing along with KJY one has to have a solid hold on the classic style and in "deep jale aana" - hemlatha shines as does KJY.

It is a tragedy that the film Industry never recognized her true worth. Usha Khanna, Ravindra Jain, and a few other music directors were the only ones who tried to figure her regularly. There are very few people too, who actually have listened to and appreciated her talent. It was sad that she couldn't be as established as the contemporaries of latha mangeshkar, and asha bhonsle.. not that they two sister duos..really could be competed against! Well thatz that.. and now its time to get back to listenin' to more of Hemlatha.

Some famous gems of Hemalatha:-

Ankhiyon ke jharokhon se (Movie: Ankhiyon ke jharokhon se)
Tu is tarah se meri zindagi mein (Movie: Aap toh aise na the)
Sun ke teri pukaar (Movie: Fakira)
Tu jo mere sur mein (Movie: Chitchor)
Wafa jo na ki (Movie: Mukaddar ka sikandar)
le to aaye ho hamein (Movie: Dulhan Wohi jo piya man bhaaye)
Kushiyan hi Kushiyan ho (Movie: Dulhan............bhaaye)
Kya likhoon kaise likhoon (Movie: Maan Abhimaan)
Jab deep jale aana (Movie: Chitchor)

Ilayaraaja - the uncrowned King of Indian Film Music!

2005-07-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Ever since my childhood, I had a keen ear for music. I wasn't much of a musically talented kid! I used to sing, I still do (much to the dismay of my room mates) in the bathroom (so what's new!!). I did go to classical music classes, for about an year. Anyways, the point being that since my childhood days, I would be significantly attracted to music, especially soft lilting, melodious tunes that would stream forth from the radio, every morning at 8:15 during the "nandana" program on vividh bharathi. There were particular songs that always had my rapt attention, especially from movies "nanna neenu gellalaare", "Pallavi anupallavi", "Geetha", "janma janmada anubandha" and the likes.. all these songs had one thing in common - The music score by Ilayaraaja.

IR's music has such distinct features as compared to a lot of his contemporaries, which is what has established him in such strong foothold for nearly 4 decades. I guess he studies the mood of the song and understands its context before he composes the BG score for them. How else can one explain the stricking befittance that each score offers to the listener and viewer alike! The classical touch, the use of symphony and the repertoire of raagas and swaras that flow so mellifluously characterizes the music of IR. If one listens to the songs of "Bhoomi geetha" a wonderful movie in kannada, one can relate to the aforementioned statement.

My other favorites of his include several telugu movies - Abhinandana, Coolie No 1, Saagara sangamam, Swathi Mutyam, etc.

As gigantic his niche is, in the film music world, so also gargantuan is his stature in the private albums. Worthy of mention is the instrumental series, "India 24 hours", "Nothing But wind", etc. I can barely think of any music director so versatile and articulate in his work! An ingenious prodigy, a master of melodious, euphonious music! IR Rocks!!

Gulzar: lafzon ka khazaana!

2005-07-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

Every day during the afternoon from 1:15 to 2:00 I guess, there used to be a radio program - "Aap ki farmaaish". They used to play user requests on this program. Of all the hindi songs that used to play, some of the songs used to stand out! By their music, their tone, a certain mysteriousness that was imbibed in them! It was much later when I grew up, that I realized, all these songs were by Gulzar. He was the one who wove the magic of words so well, that it tethered itself deep in the minds of the listeners and haunted them endlessly.
His first lyrics is supposed to be for the movie bandini - "mora gora ang lei ley..mohe shaam rang dai de.. chup jaaongi raat hi mein". Indeed...gulzar has travelled a long distance, as a lyricist, a writer, a director! Some of my favorites in gulzar's lyrics are:-

1. Tujhse naaraaz nahin zindagi:- Just the other day I was talkin' about this song with Sushma. (That is what inspired me to write about Gulzar saab). What a wonderful song! That explains the travails of a person - the joys and sorrows he is undergoing in recollection of his past, who's fruits are right now in front of him.
Aankh agar bhar aaye toh
boonde chalak jaayengi
kal kyaa pata inke liye
aankhein taras jaayengi

jaane kahan gum hua kahaan khOya
Ek aansu chupa ke rakkhaa thaa!

2. Tere bina zindagi se koyi:- From the movie Aandhi ! Gosh! What a movie! What songs!! I mean..each one of the songs have a tale of its own! I could just write blogs together on each song and the emotions in them. In this particular song, Lata and Kishore Kumar have given such a startling performance! The opening lines itself are so magnificient!
Tere bina zindagi se koyi shikwa toh nahin
tere bina zindagi bhi lekin zindagi toh nahin... zindagi nahin.. *deep sighs*

3. Yaara sili sili birha ki:- Lata Mangeshkar couldn't have been more haunting! Gosh.. the distant sounding song.. as if beckonin' to someone unknown, a deep agony, so well rendered! And the words, just pierce like arrows deep into the fathoms of the heart. This won him the film fare award for best lyrics.. .any wonder?
pairon mein na saaya koi sar pe na saayi rE!
mere saath jaaye na meri parchaayi rE!
baahar ujaaDaa hai.. andar veeraana ...!!

4. Aanewala pal jaanewala hai:- A Classic movie! A Classic song! Need say more! Nobody could remain oblivious to this song from the wonderful movie Golmaal. As much as the movie has me in splits each time I watch it, so also does this song makes me lose myself!
Ek baar waqt se lamha gira kahin
wahan daastaan mili lamha kahin nahin
thoda sa hasaan ke thoda sa rulaake
pal ye bhi jaane wala hai Oho!!!

5. Qatra Qatra milti hai:- Another classic movie! Each song of the movie is a gem! Qatra Qatra milti hai, Mera kuchh saamaan, Khaali haath shaam aayi hai khaali haath jaayegi!!! Am speechless!!! Asha Bhonsle has done magic in these songs! A sheer brillance of words and vocals!

6. Sili hawa chu gayi:- From libaas! Everytime I listened to this song, I keep wondering at the multitude meanings it has vested in its depths.

Jitne bhi tai karte gaye, badhte gaye yeh faasle
Milon se din chhod aaye, saalon se raat leke chale

7. Dil hum hum kare:- Rudaali!! Wonderful! Glorious! Haunting! Magical! Absolutely Great!!!

Jis tan ko chua tu ne us tan koh chupaaun
Jis man ko lage raina woh kisko dikhaaon!!
O! mori chandramaa teri chandani ang jalaaye
teri unchi ataari maine pankh liye katwaaye

8. Pani Pani re:- Maachis! A movie in his direction, that won him the filmfare award for best story! Each song is lilting and dipped in his vast repertoire of words! Apart from the song that I have quote now, the other song of my liking is "chod aaye hum woh galiyan" - raft with the thoughts of a long left love!!
jahaan teri edi se dhoop uda karti thi
suna hai us chaukhat pe ab shaam raha karti hai

Well some of my other all time favos by gulzar.. are :
woh shaam kucch ajeeb thi - Khamoshi by KK
becaara dil kya kare - Khushboo by Asha Bhonsle
Musaafir hoon yaaron - Parichay by KK
Maine tere liye hi - Anand sung by Mukesh
Hum ko man ki shakti - Guddi by Vani Jayaram
Chadi re Chadi and Dil dhoondta hai phir wohi - Mausam by Mohd. Rafi, lata, Bhupinder
Thoda hai thode ki zaroorat hai - Khatta meetha sung by Lata and KK
Naam gum jaayega - Kinaara by Lata and Bhupinder (A song probably written for Lata)
sun sun sun didi - Superb singing and wonderful song! movie:- Khoobsurat and sung by Asha
Surmayi ankhiyon mein - There was a time when I wudn't sleep without listening to this song! from the wonderful Sadma! by K J Yesudas!

The list is really long... but its time to stop...

The Sound of Music!!!

2005-07-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Music! Isn't it just the most marvelous thing the Lord has gifted us! The wonderful symphony of birds singing each morning, the soft whisper of the winds as they brush through the leaves.. makin' them sing in a tune of their own! The distant call of flock of birds! The babble of the brooks! Everything seems to be orchestrated with perfect harmony and synchornization by a divine Master!
Has it ever occurred to you that somehow the nature seems to respond to your moods and whims?! I know its just my imagination.. but still! When I am upbeat and joyful (which I am most of the times..), I can feel the birds upbeat and joyful too! Not just the birds, the clouds, the squirrels, the flowers, the plants, the trees, everything!!!! It's as if the nature is celebrating with me!!!!
So also, on the flip side of it, whenever I am sad, there seems a strange melancholy descending from the environs around me!!! I like to talk to the plants and trees! I feel they are all trying to tell me something. They are my best counsels! 'Coz they just listen to me! Isn't that what the best is supposed to do first of all!!! I dunno how crazy man kind wud've been if it wasn't for music! It is probably one of the best sane thing in an otherwise insane world! So as my favorite band ABBA wud say... "Thank you for the music.. the songs and singing!!!" :)

Vacana Saahitya mattu Shaastreeya sangeeta

2005-06-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

monne aShTe, kannaDavE satya program nalli basavaNNa navara vacana kELde. amOghavaagi haaDidru! kELi tuMbaanE KuShi aaytu. vacana saahityavanna racane maaDiddu OdOke, artha maaDikoLLOkE, matte haaDOke sulabhavaagli annO uddESadiMda. heegirOvaaga vacanavanna heccAgi shaastreeya sangeetakke aLavaDisikoMDilla. heccAgi hiMdustaani saMgeeta idanna janapriya maaDiddu. adarallu mallikaarjuna mansur, gangu bai hanagal iMtha mahaneeyara saadhane iMdaagi vacana saahitya shaastreeya sangeetadallu kaaNisikoMDide.
karnaaTaka shaastreeya sangeetadalli daasa saahitya, bhakti racane, kRutigaLella janapriyavaadaShTu maTTige vacana saahitya aagilla. oMdu nirdiShTavaada raaga athavaa swara prakaaravilladEnE idara racane aagirOdu idakke kaaraNavEnO! nanagaMtU gottilla. aadrU bahaLa jana shaastreeya sangeeta gaayakaru vacanagaLanna haaDi innU heccu adakke exposure koTre vaasi ansutte.
eShToMdu vacanagaLu nanage baayi paaTha aagive! haaDOkaMtU sakkat KuShiyaagutte! dEvara manEli kUtu ivanna haaDOdanna kELodakke ammanige sakkat KuShi aMte :D
vacana saahitya sangeetada kShEtradallU oLLE praadhaanyateyanna paDeyO haage aadre oLLEdu.

MS Subbulakshmi - The Divinity of Classical Music

2005-03-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

Smt. M S Subbulakshmi, is a name that is sychoronous with Classical Carnatic music. I am at a loss of words to describe her, suffice it to say that she was my "maanasa guru" - a teacher I followed by my heart. I have learnt numerous stotras and songs by listening her sing. I have followed her style albeit, not her dedication and proficiency. The thing that most set apart MS from other stalwarts was probably the way her rendering of the songs was seethed with emotions. Several of her songs -
"Jo Acyutaananda"
"Sikshashtakam"
"Bhaavayami Raghuramam"
"Bhaavayami Gopalabalam"
have brought tears to my eyes, by touching my heart with their devotion. Her very form was so divine, that it would make any person around her be touched by a deep sense of well being and a strange feeling of being in the presence of something pure, great, and ethereal. The very fact that I am feeling so happy writing about her, stands as testimony how a true artist can touch the life of even a remotely obscure person such as me. I wonder how many people she has touched so. Can't really believe she passed away! No, she didn't.
jayanti te sukrutino rasa siddhaaH kavIshwaraaH
nAsti tEShaaM yaShaH kaaye jaraa maraNajaM bhayaM

The magic of Pancharatnas

2005-02-16T22:37:00.000-08:00

Shri Tyagaraja is one of the trinities of Indian Classical Music and rightly so. His compositions are so rich in devotion and melody, that it enthralls the listener and creates a field of devotion and music around him. One certainly has to listen to the "pancharatnas" to know the power that music can bestow and truly feel the magic of it.The Pancharatnas the 5 most famous compositions of Shri Thyagaraja, and veritably among the most complicated ones. They are brimful, and ooze out the devotion from all sides that fills the heart of anyone with a true ear to music and creates such bliss in the being, that it is lifted up to the heavens. One has to listen to "dorakuna ituvanti seva" to feel the longing that the devotee is having for his Lord.Coming back to the Pancharatna kritis:The first one being: Jagadananda kaaraka, in Adi Taala and nattai raagaThe second one is : Dudukugala nanne dora, also in Adi Taala; Gowlai raagaThe third being: Sadhinchane O Manasa, Adi Taala; Aarabhi raagaThe fourth one is : Kana kana ruchira, Adi Taala; Varaali raagaThe fifth one is : Endaro mahaanubhavulu, Adi Taala; Sri raagaThese 5 compositions mark the pinnacle of one's classical music knowledge. Some of the wonderful rendering of these songs are done by Shri Maharajapuram Santhanam and Shri Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer, Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi, Dr. M. Balamurali krishna and among the more recent singers, Unnikrishnan and Harini

Music - The Sound of the soul

2005-02-09T10:54:00.000-08:00

naahaM vasaami vaikuMThe na yOgi hRudayEravou
madbhaktAH yatra gAyaMti tatra tiShThAmi nArada

Music is a rhythmic, ordered sound produced by a synchronized movement - scientifically speaking. But in the realms of art, music is an enchantment. The power of sound enters into the mystic levels, when it alleviates itself into music. The cacophonous, incoherent sounds that otherwise may seem so disordered and incomprehensible, suddenly gain new meaning and importance. Music becomes a language, of the heart, of the soul.
Right from my childhood, I seem to have a passion for music. It is beyond my comprehension and in the present situation out of context, to dwell on the whys and wherefores of this. I love classical music. The short but significant 1 year that I spent learning Classical music, did succeed in opening up my mind and heart (ears followed..) to the aarOhaNas and avarOhaNas, the swaras, taaLas, raagas, and bhaavas. My whole being rose up and met the beauty of music.
What followed then, was years of association with various forms of music. What is going to follow now, here in this blog, is a journey through them.