Wednesday, July 22, 2009

My 10 Favorite Monsoon Songs


I am one of those ordinary millions who can feel the beauty but can not express beauty beautifully. All I can express is my heartfelt gratitude to those who burned their nights and churned their hearts to discover beauty for us. This little list is a tribute to all such artists, even to those who have not got a mention here. I plead guilty of ignorance.

1. Ghata Ghanghor Bhor (Tansen, 1943)

Music - Khemchand Prakash
Lyrics - Rajender Kishen
Singer - Khursheed Bano

Which contemporary musician can even attempt to work on a musical, in which the protagonist is the mythology of classical music - Tansen! There is no one that I can think of.

Tansen was brought to life on silver screen, in all glory and opulence, amid the sound of temple bells tolling and Sitar resonating till the halls of heaven. In 1943 we had a man called Khemchand Prakash, who promised, and delivered us a credible Tansen.

Tansen showcases super-prowess of the legendary K L Saigal, in and as Tansen. And his reel consort - Khursheed Bano - matches him well. The prelude casts a spell on you as soon as you press 'play', and her earthy rendition keeps you mesmerized throughout. Unknown to the ordinary, this gem is an explorer's delight.


2. Hariyala Saawan Dhol Bajata Aaya (Do Beegha Zameen, 1953)

Music - Salil Chowdhury
Lyrics - Shailendra
Singers - Lata Mangeshkar, Manna De, and Chorus

Which feeling can be more liberating than feeling of relief? And who can feel more relieved by the promise of rains than the poor Indian farmer? Do Beegha Zameen is rooted deep into the soil, and so is its music. The way I look at it, this song is a musical translation of a rainy afternoon. When you play this song, monsoon plays vividly in your imagination. Every note is fragrant with rustic innocence, and though shehnai is sparingly used, it is lovable wherever it is used.


3. Kaare Kaare Baadra (Bhabhi, 1957)

Music - Chitragupt
Lyrics - Rajinder Kishan
Singer - Lata Mangeshkar

Whenever I relax my reverence for Lata Mangeshkar, she comes up with something like this! Vibrant, vivacious, and contagiously so. Pure joie de vivre! The mood of this melody is coquettish and cute at the same time. And for me, there is something more - nostalgia.


4. Kaali Ghata Chhaye (Sujata, 1959)

Music - S D Burman
Lyrics - Majrooh Sultanpuri
Singer - Asha Bhosle

Asha Bhosle, in her early days, sounded (tried to sound) very much like Geeta Dutt - mellifluous, as if she kept honey in her mouth while singing. Or is it love? For her voice is seductively lazy with a monsoon desire. While Senior Burman's compositions have always been distinguished by their compelling visual elements, this one goes further - and veritably fills your lungs with the petrichor of an Indian village.


5. O Sajna Barkha Bahaar Aayi (Parakh, 1060)

Music - Salil Chowdhury
Lyrics - Shailendra
Singers - Lata Mangeshkar

My opinion doesn't matter much. This song makes an appearance in Lata Mangeshkar's favorite-20 list. Need I say more?


6. Zindagi Bhar Nahi Bhoolegi (Barsaat Ki Raat, 1960)

Music - Roshan
Lyrics - Sahir Ludhianvi
Singers - Md Rafi

A beautiful confluence of a common fantasy and a sublime poetry. Unforgettable stuff! You can almost live through this night while you are into the song. Waking up can be heart-breaking. You wish this night to have really happened. But no night, real, surreal, or unreal, can be as fascinating as this one.


7. Tum Bin Sajan Barse Nayan (Gaban, 1966)

Music - Shankar Jaikishan
Lyrics - Shailendra
Singers - Lata Mangeshkar and Md Rafi

After K L Saigal, if anyone has shaped Hindi Film Music, it was this duo. Their success was phenomenal, and therefore inspired subsequent music directors.

In the later years of their career, they sometimes overdid what made them hit - orchestration. But this song is typically SJ stuff - hearty, melodious and simple. The simplicity is ensured by their choice of lyricists - they would hardly ever team up with a Gulzar or a Sahir.

Coming back to this song, this is the only sad song in my list of favorite monsoon songs. By the way, why do we hear sad songs? Why should a good sad song is better than a bad happy song?


8. Rimjhim Ke Geet Saawan Gaaye (Anjaana, 1969)

Music - Laxmikant Pyarelal
Lyrics - Anand Bakshi
Singers - Lata Mangeshkar and Md Rafi

Listening to this song is like sitting near a fire-place inside a quiet wooden house, on a cold dark winter night pouring and storming outside. Besides everything else, there is something vaguely claustrophobic about rains, which makes you feel enveloped in its embrace, and makes you feel drawn to the flame. This song is about this vague awareness, its charm, its dread, and a paradise lost. This song is a story of a beautiful dilemma - you hope it happens as much as you pray it doesn't.


9. Rimjhim Gire Saawan (Manzil, 1979)

Music - R D Burman
Lyrics - Yogesh
Singer - Kishore Kumar

Another gem from the Burmans, this time from the junior Burman. And how he shines in rain! Lata's version is a stillborn; although she is technically OK, she doesn't make up for her lack of passion, and I can't imagine a facile-hearted rain song in my favorite list. Thankfully, Kishore does justice to the tunes. You can raise your expectations as much as you can, this one will meet them all.


10. Rimjhim Rimjhim (1942 A Love Story, 1994)

Music - R D Burman
Lyrics- Javed Akhtar
Singers - Kavita Krishnamurthy, Kumar Sanu

The 80s were the worst years of Pancham's career, and coincidentally for Hindi Film Music as well. 1942 came at a time when melody was exiled out of fashion. With "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha" and "Kuchh Na Kaho", 1942 marked the return of melody to Hindi Film Industry.

With Javed Akhtar, Pancham composed one of the most romantic rain songs ever. Divine. Do they play this in heaven? They must.



the other side of page - I am lousy enough with descriptions. And this section made this post even more difficult for me. They almost made to the list.

11. Jhoole Ke Pawan Mein Aayi Bahar (Baiju Bawra, 1952)

Music - Naushad
Lyrics - Shakeel Badayuni
Singer - Lata Mangeshkar and Md Rafi

12. Thandi Hawa Kaali Ghata (Mr and Mrs 55, 1955)

Music - O P Nayyar
Lyrics - Neeraj
Singer - Geeta Dutt

13. Megha Chhaye Aadhi Raat (Sharmili, 1971)

Music - S D Burman
Lyrics - Neeraj
Singer - Lata Mangeshkar

14. Nahin Saamne Tu (Taal, 2000)

Music - A R Rehman
Lyrics - Anand Bakshi
Singer - Hariharan

and let's be honest...

15. Tip Tip Barsa Paani (Mohra, 1994)

Music - Viju Shah
Lyrics - Anand Bakshi
Singer - Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan


Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Being Gay


Reverend Father, I want to make a confession - I find men attractive. I have always found them attractive.

Have you seen Sir Viv Richards? No, no, not his face. I mean have you seen Sir Viv Richards walking? Well, leave alone his batting, I find his swagger more attractive than any catwalk any day. Classic stuff!

Oh come on! Don't be prissy about it. You should know that it's not illegal anymore. While you were busy getting outraged, the caravan of mankind was progressing to the better side of Brokeback Mountain. Open your eyes father, and look at the vast valley of freedom stretched as far as your eyes can see.

Personally speaking, I don't care about this legal thing much. What difference does that make anyway? Do they keep an eyes on us in bathroom? I guess they don't. You can sing as you like when nobody is there - classical or punk. That's nobody's business. Why so much fuss then?

Some people are talking in drawing rooms about how Indian democracy has matured and how it has listened to the voice of minority. Since they are well-read people, there must be some sound reason behind all this fuss - one involves adoption rules. Perhaps homosexuals are now eligible for adoption. There is a big plus point there - kids will not be emotionally tormented by questions like who do you love more - mummy or papa?

Now the lovely little wars of favorite will be fought between papa1 and papa2. That sounds funny, but at the same time my heart goes out for the poor kid. Among other things, I don't see too much of shopping happening in this household. I would pray to God to give him faith.

I wonder if gay marriage can be reconciled with arranged marriage. Given the falling gender ratio, the rocketing school fees, and above all - the aversion of parents towards court marriages, it looks possible. I wish to see that happen in my lifetime. I am optimistic, for Linda Goodman says that we are living in an Aquarian age - the age of unisex. I am waiting to see description of a male bride in "Grooms Wanted" section - that will be real blend of tradition and modernity. Democracy will sing "Jai Ho" that day, not in bathroom but out in the open.