Swing into the New Year with guest article by Ashwin Bhandarkar
(A promise made is a debt unpaid. When Ashwin Bhandarkar wrote his first guest article on 6 May 2017, titled Beena madhur madhur kachhu bol, I had indicated he would be writing more articles for SoY. Here he makes good his promise, and I thank him profusely for that. There is yet another good news for music lovers – this is different from the theme he had reserved with me originally, which means we can expect more from him.
Ashwin is one of the select Group of Music Experts on the blog. As for his day job, he is a BITS Pilani and IIM Calcutta alumnus, and works with an IT services major in Pune. His last post established his reputation as a Pun-dit Pun(e)kar. In this one, too, he wears his scholarship lightly. He presents an amazing range of ‘Jhoola’ songs from Hindi and regional films, and Hindustani and Carnatic classical music. There is no better way to ring in the New Year than swinging to the massive playlist (42 songs) he has compiled in the end. Thank you Ashwin again, and wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. – AK)
It feels so good to be back as a guest writer on SoY! My prolonged absence, after a debut that I am not shy to say I am proud of, can be attributed to a combination of procrastination, writer’s block and the fear of not being able to come up with something that would hold the attention of my readers. A few days back, I decided that enough was enough and that everything would work out well, provided I only put finger to keyboard and got started. So I swung back into action in right earnest over the weekend by beginning this article on songs on swings.
One of the criticisms of my debut post was that readers had to wade through a lot of stuff before they could get to the music. Stung by (and that was not an intentional pun on the topic of my previous post – my coming up with it was by hap-pun-stance) this, I decided that for future posts, I would get on with the business of presenting the songs curated by me, without much ado. So, here goes…
We begin with this ‘Leela-on-a-jhoola’ song from Jhoola, in which Leela Chitnis’s character rides a swing while singing “How do I swing on the swing while my soul is swaying?” (in Hindi, of course). However tough this challenge might appear to be, she pulls it off with aplomb, first twirling around in the swing, then swinging in a standing position, and finally, swinging gaily while sitting. Notice how the male character, played by Shahnawaz, moves (swings?) his camera from side to side, trying to capture the object of his attention on film.
1. Main jhoola kaise jhuloon by Leela Chitnis (MD – Saraswati Devi, Lyricist – Pradeep), from Jhoola (1941)
Here are a few interesting observations about the lyrics and the music of the song:
Both jhoola, as well as hindola, are used in the lyrics, which is no wonder considering that it was Pradeep, a master of the language, who penned the lyrics. As for the music, there is a lot of Raga Jhinjhoti in the song. This seems to have been one of the favourite ragas of Saraswati Devi. In Jhoola itself, she had Ashok Kumar sing Ek chatur naar in Raga Jhinjoti. The same composition was later parodied by Kishore Kumar in Padosan (1968) in what became an evergreen hit. Much earlier, in 1936, Saraswati Devi had composed Koi humdum na raha in Raga Jhinjhoti for Ashok Kumar in Jeevan Naiyya, his debut film. Kishore Kumar reprised the song 25 years later, albeit with changed antaras and more sophisticated music arrangements, in Jhumroo (1961). The connection between the Ganguly brothers, Saraswati Devi and Raga Jhinjoti was indeed quite an enduring one.
The next song is something of a no-brainer choice for this post – the lively Raga Pilu-based Jhoole mein pawan ki aayi bahaar. Onscreen, it features a swing that miraculously transforms Baiju and Gauri from children into adults in just a matter of half an oscillation. If only growing up were as simple in real life…
2. Jhoole mein pawan ki aayi bahaar by Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd.Rafi (MD – Naushad, Lyricist – Shakeel Badayuni), from Baiju Bawra (1952)
Those were songs that had swings figuring in both the lyrics as well as onscreen. Let us now turn our attention to those songs in which there is mention of jhoola and/or hindol in the lyrics but swings do not figure in the video content.
I would like to begin this list with yet another no-brainer choice – the Bhimsen Joshi-Manna Dey duet in Raga Basant Bahar from the film of the same name. The sthayi ends with the line, jhoolana mein baithe aaj pee ke sang jhoole. The story behind the recording of this song is now part of Bollywood folklore and both singers have reminisced about the making of the song in a documentary made by Gulzar, the link to which I have given below. What I would also like to draw the attention of my readers to, is the quality of the lyrics. A traditional khayal bandish in Raga Basant was the foundation of the song. Replacing the words of a bandish, while preserving the metre of the composition and its alignment to the taal, is no mean feat, and while Shailendra has achieved all of this in the song, he has gone a step further and has so wonderfully evoked the scenes of spring in his lyrics.
3. Ketaki gulaab juhi champak ban phoole by Bhimsen Joshi & Manna Dey (MD – Shankar-Jaikishen, Lyricist – Shailendra), from Basant Bahar (1956)
Here’s the link to Gulzar’s documentary. The portion in which Bhimsenji and Mannada speak about their memories of the making of the song starts at 45:44.
(Picture taken at the recording of Ketaki gulaab juhi. From L to R – Shankar, Shailendra, Ramkrishna Patwardhan, Bhimsen Joshi, Narayan Deshpande, Manna Dey, Jaikishen, Unidentified)
Moving on, we come to one of the greatest lullabies composed for a Hindi film. Even though it is a cradle, and not a swing, that is being referred to in the song, the song still qualifies to be included in this list, thanks to the line Jhoola jhulaaun nindiya ko tori. The melody is based on Raga Pilu.
4. Chandan ka palna by Hemant Kumar (MD – Naushad, Lyricist – Shakeel Badayuni), from Shabab (1954)
In the following song, the heroine expresses her longing for the hero, her refrain alluding to the swings put up in the month of saawan that are empty.
5. Saawan ke jhoole pade by Lata Mangeshkar (MD – R.D.Burman, Lyricist – Anand Bakshi), from Jurmana (1979)
We now take up a triplet of songs in which jhoola and hindol have been used in a metaphorical sense.
The first example is from Sargam, the Raj Kapoor-Rehana starrer released in 1950. In this song, the seven notes of the saptak are first likened to clouds, and then to swings. The song is based on the Raga Devgandhar.
6. Jab dil ko sataawe gham by Lata Mangeshkar & Saraswati Rane (MD – C.Ramachandra, Lyricist – P.L.Santoshi), from Sargam (1950)
In the next song, the swing is used as a metaphor for a heart smitten by love. Dil ke hindole pe mohe jhoolana jhulaye sings the heroine in a song that is based on a blend of Raga Kafi and Raga Bhimpalas.
7. Aaj mere man mein sakhi by Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus (MD – Naushad, Lyricist – Shakeel Badayuni), from Aan (1952)
In our third example, the heroine daydreams about swinging on a rainbow with her beloved – jhoola dhanak ka, dheere dheere hum jhoolen.
8. Phaili hui hain sapnon ki baahein by Lata Mangeshkar (MD – S.D.Burman, Lyricist – Sahir Ludhianvi), from House No:44 (1955)
Now that the discussion on songs on swings is in full swing, we will turn our attention to song sequences that are impossible to recall without recalling the swings in them even though there is no mention of swings in the lyrics.
We will begin this parade of songs with yet another no-brainer example – the celebrated Aayega aanewala from Mahal. If the swing in the song from Baiju Bawra could catapult its occupants from childhood into adulthood in a matter of seconds, the one in Mahal bestows the power of vanishing into thin air upon its occupant.
9. Aayega aanewala by Lata Mangeshkar (MD – Khemchand Prakash, Lyricist – Naqshab), from Mahal (1949)
The second song in this sub-category is this one from Ratan, in which village belles are shown playing on swings hitched to tree boughs in the fields during the season of saawan.
10. Rumjhum barse baadarwa by Zohrabai Ambalewali & Chorus (MD – Naushad, Lyricist – D.N.Madhok), from Ratan (1944)
The third example is proof that the prop roots of a banyan tree can make excellent substitutes for a swing.
11. Aaha rimjhim ke ye pyaare pyaare by Lata Mangeshkar & Talat Mehmood (MD – Salil Chowdhury, Lyricist – Shailendra), from Usne Kaha Tha (1960)
In the last song in this sub-category, the swing is an important accessory in the heroine’s attempts at seducing the hero. The zooming of the camera onto the statue atop the cupola at the end of the song leads me to believe that the heroine’s efforts were successful.
12. Haay haay ye majboori by Lata Mangeshkar (MD – Laxmikant Pyarelal, Lyricist – Anand Bakshi), from Roti, Kapda aur Makaan (1974)
Let us now turn to songs – film and non-film – in other languages. I would like to begin with two of my favorite songs from Tamizh films. The first is set in Raagam Sahana of Carnatic Music (which is different from, yet quite close to, Raga Shahana in Hindustani Music but we will not get into these details here). It is one of my favourite songs not only because it is very melodious but also because it uses clever puns and word play around then, which is the Tamizh word for honey and which is also the conjugate for the past tense of many verbs when used in the first person. The song would have been an excellent fit for my previous post on bees and honey but I got to know of the song from friends only after that post had been published. While I made amends by citing it in the comments section of that post, I am pleased to be able to include it in this article since the song scene depicts a swing.
13. Paartthen siritthen by P.Suseela and P.B.Sreenivas (MD-K.V.Mahadevan, Lyricist – Kannadasan), from Veera Abhimanyu (1965)
Oonjal is the Tamizh word for ‘swing’, and my second Tamizh song is from the film Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu, which literally means ‘Youth is Swinging’ and alludes to the indiscretions of youth. The movie starred both Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth and this song, based on Raga Pahadi, went on to become a super-duper hit. The meaning of the sthayi is
‘You exude desire like the moon; your (state of) youth is on a roll!’
The film was remade in Hindi as ‘Dil-e-Nadaan’ in 1982, and interestingly, it featured a song expressing similar sentiments and with a reference to a swing in it as well! The similarity does not end there – the tune of this song is also based on Raga Pahadi. Here are YouTube links to both songs.
14. Ore naal unnai naan by Vani Jairam and S.P.Balasubramaniam (MD-Ilaiyaraja, Lyricist – Vaali), from Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu (1978)
15. Chaandni raat mein ek baar tujhe dekha hai by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar (MD-Khayyam, Lyricist – Naqsh Lyallpuri), from Dil-e-Nadaan (1982)
The sexual connotation in the expression ilamai oonjal aadukirathu brings to mind the idiomatic usage of ‘swinging’ in English, as in ‘swinging parties’ and ‘swinging both ways’. I am sure that similarities between similes and metaphors in unrelated languages would make for an interesting study.
Next in the selection is a Marathi film song in which the nayika implores the dark blue clouds (or Krishna) not to swing the jhoola as a storm approaches and it is about to rain (love).
16. Ghana neela, ladiwala zhulavunako hindola by Manik Varma (MD-Sudhir Phadke, Lyricist – G.D.Madgulkar), from Umaj Padel Tar (1960)
At this point, let us sample some music relevant to the theme of this topic from the semi-classical and classical genres of Hindustani Music. We will begin with the former.
The Ganga-Jamuna Doab has a rich tradition of what may be called seasonal songs. These are sung by women and fall under many categories such as kajri, chaiti, hori, baramasa, saawan and jhoola, depending on their themes and the seasons that they are sung in. The tunes of these songs are usually based on ragas such as Khamaj, Kafi, Pilu, Des, etc. i.e. the ragas in which thumris, dadras and tappas are usually sung. Similarly, the talas that these songs are sung in are the ‘lighter’ talas such as keharwa and dadra. Jhoolas are sung during the season of saawan when it is customary for swings to be put up and for young people to swing on them (as depicted in /referred to in Songs # 5 and 10). A recurring theme in jhoolas is that of Krishna swinging on a jhoola along with Radha or the gopis.
I would now like to present three very well-known jhoolas, one each by Girija Devi and Shobha Gurtu, both doyennes of the thumri and related genres, and one by Ghulam Mustafa Khan, the reputed ustad of the Rampur Sahaswan khayal gharana. The one by the former is about Rama and Sita, while the one sung by the latter is about Krishna.
17. Siya sang jhoole bagiya mein ram lalna by Girija Devi
18. Jhoola dheere se jhulao by Shobha Gurtu
19. Jhoola kinne daara re amaraiyya by Ghulam Mustafa Khan (MD-Khayyam), from Umrao Jaan (1981)
Now it’s time to segue into the classical music selection. We start off by savouring a few khayal bandishes, the texts of which have references to swings. The first one is a chhota khayal in Raga Gaud Malhar set to the 16-matra Teentaal. The bandish – Pyaari laadasi jhooli. The artiste was a scholar at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, holds a Ph.D. in Music, teaches at Viswa Bharati University in Santiniketan, and learnt her art from Kashinath Bodas, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Ulhas Kashalkar and Girija Devi. She also happens to be the granddaughter of R.Venkataraman, former President of India.
20. Raga Gaud Malhar by Ranjani Ramachandran
The second composition is once again a chhota khayal, but this time in Raag Shankara and set to the 12-matra Ektaal. The first line of the bandish is Jhoolana jhula de, aayi ritu saawan ki, once again serving to remind us about the link between the swing and saawan. The artiste, the great Roshanara Begum, sings the same bandish in progressively faster laya starting from vilambit and ending with ati drut. One is struck by her extraordinary tayyaari.
21. Raga Shankara by Roshanara Begum
Purists might take exception to my classifying the next song in the classical music section but to me, it is nothing if not a rendition of a chhota khayal except that the artiste has not sung taans. The mukhda is Jhoolana jhulaao ri and the recording is KL Saigal’s first private one. The song is preceded by an introduction by Pankaj Mullick.
22. Raag Devgandhar by KL Saigal
Now that we are done with the starters, let us proceed to the main course in the classical music fare. The entrée in the main course is Raga Hindol of Hindustani Music. The words that come to mind when one listens to this raga are gambheer, ‘grand’ ‘gravitas’ and ‘majestic’. A raga of great antiquity, it is one of the 6 purush ragas, each with 6 (5 according to some) ragini wives and several offspring ragas, in the quaint raag-ragini classification system, which formed the foundation of the Raagmala paintings of the Basohli and Kangra schools. This system was supplanted by the thaat system promulgated by Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, the pioneering musicologist, in the first half of the 20th century.
Traditionally associated with the season of Basant (in fact, Raga Basant is one of Raga Hindol’s sons according to the raag-ragini system), and not saawan as one might assume, Raga Hindol is performed in the latter part of the morning (though I have come across references to it being performed in the evening – maybe these performances were in the season of Basant since it is accepted practice to sing a raga at any time in the season that it is associated with).
Let us depart from SoY convention by diving headlong into renditions of Hindol (and its related ragas) in the classical genres before covering the sugam sangeet examples.
The gravitas of a dhrupad alaap is the perfect means for delineating Hindol in all its grandeur. The alap, jod and jhala are followed by a dhamaar (a dhrupad sung to the 14-matra Dhamaar taal) in this live performance by Uday Bhawalkar, one of the leading lights of the dhrupad tradition from my generation, the generation that was born in the swinging sixties. 🙂
23. Raga Hindol by Uday Bhawalkar
Next, a recording of a live performance by the grande dame of the Kirana gharana, Gangubai Hangal. As usual, accompanying her on vocals is her daughter, Krishna Hangal. The composition is a well-known bandish by the profilic Sadarang and there is a reference to spring in the sthayi.
24. Raga Hindol by Gangubai Hangal
Next, I present a chhota khayal in the sprighly Ektaal by Rashid Khan, another maestro from my generation, and a leading light of Rampur Sahaswan gharana, who got his training, among others, from his mama and a stalwart of the gharana, Ghulam Mustafa Khan (Song #19). Rashid Khan is one of the most famous stars to come out of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy.
25. Raga Hindol by Rashid Khan
The Carnatic scale-equivalent of Raga Hindol is Raagam Sunaadavinodini. I choose my words carefully here because while the scale is the same for both, the chalan is not. The biggest difference is that the nishaad is ignored in the ascent in Hindol while this is not the case in its Carnatic counterpart. Here is a recording of an outdoor concert by the maestro M.Balamuralikrishna in which he has rendered a kriti by Mysore Vasudevacharya in Sunaadavinodini.
26. Raagam Sunaadavinodini by M Balamuralikrishna
It will be of interest to readers that by just substituting the notes of Raga Hindol with their flatter versions, one gets the scale of Raagam Hindolam of Carnatic Music (which is the equivalent of Raag Malkauns of Hindustani Music)! This points to the close relationship between the two ragas – quite obviously one was derived from the other in the distant past. Here is a recording of a live performance of Raagam Hindolam by the peerless MS Subbulakshmi in which she has rendered a kriti by Sadashiva Brahmendra, the saint-philosopher-composer.
27. Raagam Hindolam by MS Subbulakshmi
Changing only the madhyam of the scale of Raga Hindol yields Raga Hindoli, which is better known as Raga Bhinna Shadja or Raga Kaushikdhwani. I never cease to wonder at the phenomenon of how a change in just one note of a raga leads to such a drastic change in mood, as I am sure my readers will discern in the piece below. The artiste hails from a family that has been steeped in Hindustani Classical Music for four generations prior to hers. She has learnt from a galaxy of stalwarts, starting with her grandfather, the legendary Gajananbuwa Joshi, who was a singer, a violinist and a guru who trained musicians of the calibre of Ulhas Kashalkar, Padma Talwalkar and Veena Sahasrabuddhe, among others.
28. Raga Hindoli by Apoorva Gokhale
Readers can visit Subodh Agarwal’s article on Raga Malkauns for more examples of songs in Hindolam/Malkauns. It also has a table that very nicely explains the similarities and differences in the scales of the ragas that I have cited above.
In Hindustani Music, ragas can be created by conjoining two or more ragas into a compound raga or a jod raga. There are several such hybrid ragas that have been formed with Hindol as one of its constituents. Let us quickly sample three of them.
The first one is Raga Hindolita, an offspring of the union of Ragas Hindol and Lalit. Here is a recording of Bhimsen Joshi’s rendition of this raga. This cheez is a famous one in Raga Miyan ki Todi, which the maestro has recast in this beautiful jod raga.
29. Raga Hindolita by Bhimsen Joshi
The second is Raga Hindol Bahar, obtained by melding that chanchal prakriti ka raag associated with the season of Basant – Raga Bahar – with Raga Hindol. The gravitas of Hindol finds its match in the ebullience of Bahar in this compound melody. In my observation, it is perhaps the most widely performed of the Hindol-derived jod ragas as far as performances of vocal music are concerned. I will request my readers to read the second paragraph of this article first, in order to get an idea of the challenges involved in presenting a jod raga, and then listen to the wondrous Hindol Bahar rendition below to get an idea of the sheer genius required not just to do justice to a jod raga, but to make it flower in all its beauty.
30. Raga Hindol Bahar by Ulhas Kashalkar
While curating the songs for this article, I came across Raga Basant Hindol of the Sikh tradition. It was quite interesting to observe that the Basant that has been used in this compound is the Raga Adi Basant/Shuddha Basant, which is the equivalent of Raga Basant and Raagam Vasanta found in Odissi Music and Carnatic Music respectively.
31. Raga Basant Hindol by Bhai Ikbal Singh
Now that we are done with the main course, let us proceed to the desserts by sampling the light music fare available in Raga Hindol and some of the other ragas covered above.
First off, an abhang, the tune of which is largely based on Hindol and in which Sant Tukaram extols the greatness of Sant Dnyaneshwar.
32. Dnyaniyaancha Raja by Bhimsen Joshi (MD – Ram Phatak, Lyrics – Sant Tukaram)
The second song is a Marathi bhavgeet about Radha falling in love with Krishna.
33. Radha krishnaavari bhaalali by Asha Bhonsle (MD – Vasant Prabhu, Lyrics – P Sawalaram)
Next, a Meerabai bhajan, tuned in the manner of a bandish, in Raga Hindoli.
34. Ud ja re kaaga by Lata Mangeshkar (MD – Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Lyrics – Meerabai)
My fourth selection is a Marathi film song in which the character of Ravana boasts about the splendour of Lanka. The tune is in Raga Hindol Bahar. In my opinion, getting Bhimsen Joshi to lend his power-packed voice for the character of Ravana was an apt choice but Chandrakant Mandare, the actor playing the character, fails to convey the vigour with which the song has been sung. I am sure my comment will prompt fans of the actor among SoYers to come out swinging in his defense.
35. Ramya hi swargaahuna lanka by Bhimsen Joshi (MD – Vasant Desai, Lyrics – G.D.Madgulkar), from Swayamvar Zhaale Seeteche (1964)
The next song is an interesting one and this is why –
The notes of Hindol are a subset of the scale of Yaman and therefore Hindol is classified as belonging to the Kalyan thaat, of which Yaman is the main raga. This proximity between the two ragas has been exploited by Hridaynath Mangeshkar in the next song in the sense that the sthayi starts with Hindol and then moves into a Yaman-variant. Hindol returns towards the end of the second antara before the tune segues into the Yaman variant again. The song itself is the musical version of a love poem by the famous Marathi poet, Bha Ra Tambe. The music is very haunting and only adds to the tenderness of the feelings expressed by the poet. The santoor plays an important part in the song and I am sure that it was played by Shivkumar Sharma. Many years after the Marathi song was recorded, a Bengali song was recorded by the Lata-Hridaynath duo with the same tune but with lyrics that were not the translated version of the Marathi original. Both versions can be heard in the link below. The meaning of the Marathi version has also been given in the video.
36. Tinhi saanja sakhe millalya and Dhure akash shamianaay by Lata Mangeshkar (MD – Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Lyrics – BR Tambe)
Let us finally get off the Hindol and set out to take a glimpse at how swings feature in religious traditions and the celebration of life events in India.
Across many regions of India, it is a very common custom in temples to conduct worship by singing songs in praise of the deity while the image of the deity is gently rocked on a swing/in a cradle. This is especially the case in the Vaishnava tradition, given the association of the swing with Krishna and Radha. Here is an instance of a hindola kirtan from the Haveli Sangeet parampara (which has close links to the dhrupad dhamaar tradition).
37. Balakrishna vihaari jhoolata, a Hindola Kirtan in Raga Bhimpalas by Jaidevlalji Goswami
Here is an example of a similar example from the oeuvre of Saint Annamacharya, an ardent devotee of Venkateshwara of Tirupati.
38. Dolaayaam chala by MS Subbulakshmi (Raagam – Khamas, Lyrics – Annamacharya)
In Tamizh weddings, a mandatory ritual involves ladies singing oonjal songs to the bride and bridegroom while the bridal couple is seated on an oonjal (swing). The swinging of the oonjal symbolizes the vicissitudes of life which the newlyweds will face together. The first song in the following album of wedding songs by the renowned Carnatic singer, Sudha Raghunathan, is an oonjal song.
39. Wedding songs by Sudha Raghunathan
(M.S.Subbulakshmi & Sadasivam on an oonjal, on the occasion of Sadasivam’s 60th birthday)
I came across this video of the oonjal ceremony at a real wedding and thought of sharing it. Here, the oonjal song cited above has been customized to include the names of real relatives, and so on.
40. Oonjal song at Athulya’s wedding by Raji Akka & Viji Akka
The swing is also an integral part of the Maharashtrian baby shower ceremony known as dohale jevan. The expectant mother sits on a swing throughout the ceremony. Here’s a dohale jevan song from a film.
41. Yenaar yenaar by Anagha Domse and Jaanvee Prabhu-Arora (MD-Ajit Parab, Lyricist – Shrirang Godbole), from Nau Mahine Nau Divas (2009)
Bringing the selection of songs to a close is a Sufi song which needs no introduction. It is a prayer to the Sufi saint, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, revered by Muslims and Hindus alike, and considered by the Sindhi community to be an incarnation of Jhoole Lal, their patron god, who is believed to have been born on a swing. I have chosen a video of a live concert by the celebrated Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
42. Damadam mast qalandar by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and party
Before I end my post, I thought I would reproduce a well-known poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. Hopefully it will take my readers back to memories of their childhood.
The Swing
How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside-
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown-
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
– Robert Louis Stevenson
And that brings me to the end of this post. I am sure there is a lot that I might not have covered. For example, there is the genre of Swing Music – I do not feel comfortable writing about it since my knowledge of the topic is very limited. I leave it to knowledgeable SoYers to fill in the gaps in my article by way of the comments section. I am now ready for the bouquets and the brickbats – bring them on!
(Here is a YouTube playlist of all the songs featured in this post.)
Acknowledgments:
1. Raagmala painting of Raga Hindol from the Raagmala Paintings Collection courtesy Digital Collections of the Cornell University Library
https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:3698393)
2. Photograph taken at the recording of Ketaki gulaab juhi courtesy www.sunbyanyname.com
3. My friends, Yogini Gandhi and Nandu Kulkarni, for identifying Bhimsen Joshi’s shagirds – Ramkrishna Patwardhan and Narayan Deshpande – in the picture referred to above. Nandu used to be the the former’s student many years back
4. My friend, Shyam Sundar Kasturi, for the implied meanings of Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu and the mukhda of Ore naal unnai naan, and for pointing out that Chaandni raat mein is the Hindi version of the Tamizh song
5. My friends, Ajit Bhagwat and Ajay Nandgaonkar, for the implied meaning of Ghana neela, ladiwala zhulavunako hindola
6. My friend, Yogini Gandhi, for suggesting the inclusion of the jhoola from Umrao Jaan
7. Photograph of MS-Sadasivam courtesy Vignesh Viswanathan’s Pinterest account
8. Sumana Ramanan and The Caravan for the article cited in the context of jod ragas (Song #20)
9. My wife, Gouri Bhandarkar, for suggesting the inclusion of the reference to the dohale jevan ceremony
{ 220 comments… read them below or add one }
Excellent article.
Durendra,
Welcome to Songs of Yore and thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Ashwin ji and AKji,
First of all, let me wish you both and the SoY members, a very happy new year.
What an excellent article to start the year!
I haven’t heard all the songs yet, but a nice collection.
One correction,
Song # 36 the composer is Vasant Prabhu and not Vasant desai.
Vasant prabhu is a well known name in Marathi films and nonfilm (bhavgeet)
He has composed for a few Hindi films as well.
Expecting many such interesting articles from Ashwin ji in this year.
And all the best AKji for the coming year.
Anup
Oops
And I forgot to add a jhoola song in the comment above.
From Dahej by shamshad
Ae kale badal bol
I’m totally in love with the song since I heard it.
Let me add the link too…
https://youtu.be/NrvzFO1PH1Y
The swings move in such a great order, my heart misses a beat, each time the swings come near and go away without collision. The scene looks so good, with all the swings in a shot moving in perfect order and the women singing the lovely song.
Just too good, at least for me.
🙂
Anup
Wow, what a collection and collation. I share a connect with the Tamizh songs to as I was groomed in Chennai. Will definitely listen to all of them. Only, about an earlier post that corrects the MD on Song#36 to Vasant Prabhu, well, it’s not him either, it’s Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
Vijay
Wow, what a painstaking collection and collation. I also share a connect with the Tamizh songs as I was groomed in Chennai. Will definitely listen to the entire collection. Only other comment is that an earlier post corrects the MD of Songs at #36 to Vasant Prabhu. Well, it’s neither, it’s Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar for both of the songs.
Regards
Vijay
Thanks a lot for yiur appreciation, Surendraji and Anupji.
Anupji: The MD of Song #36 is neither of the Vasants but Hridaynath Mangeshkar. I do not know what airways smoking when I wrote the credits for what is one of my most favourite songs! And for the life of me, I don’t know why I did not catch Ihis blooper in the multiple rounds of review that I did.
AK -:Request you to please fix the error.
Terrific, but the musical score for the 2 songs at #36 have been done by Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar and not either Vasant Desai it Vasant Prabhu.
Regards
Vijay
Please read
‘your’ in place of ‘yiur’,
‘I was’ in place of ‘airways’ (!) ,
‘this’ in place of ‘lhis’ and
‘:’ in place of ‘-:’
Please read
‘your’ in place of ‘yiur’,
‘I was ‘ in place of ‘airways’ (!)
‘this’ in place of ‘lhis’, and
‘:’ in place of ‘-:
in Comment #5
Anupji @4,
What a lovely song! And you are right – one’s heart does miss a beat while watching the swings. What perfect synchronization! Thanks for sharing the song.
Vijay Nevrekar,
Welcome to Songs of Yore.
Anup,
Thanks a lot for your greetings and appreciation.
Vijayji,
How silly of me to do the blunder.
It’s of course Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
In fact it’s one of his earlier songs, I think he was in early 20s or so when he composed it. And everyone was pleasantly surprised to watch his creativity.
Thanks for the correcting me.
I got carried away with the thoughts of भा रा तांबे, the lyricist of the song. And many of his compositions were composed by Vasant Prabhu.
🙂
Anup
Bhandarkar ji,
What a post! What a range!
JUNOON,1978.
Asha Bhonsle,Varsha Bhonsle;Yogesh Praveen; Vanraj Bhatia.
Ghir aayee kari ghata matwari
Saawan ki aayee bahaar re….
The song leads to
Come live with me and be my Love by Jennifer Kendall Kapoor.
I have always liked Vanraj Bhatia’s music for the movies of Benegal and Nihlani.
https://youtu.be/ dLM_9Ds1tY
Bhandarkar ji,
I think you have missed an iconic jhoola number..
Aayega aayega
Aayega aanewala…
MAHAL,1949.
Lata,Naqshab,Khemchand Prakash.
A very Happy New Year to AKji and all the members of SoY.
Ashwin ji,
This is some post.
After swinging wildly on a lot of no-brainer songs on home pitch last night, this post is turning out to be a tough one with ball swinging both ways.
As far as songs are concerned my brain could only reach where your no-brainer ends.
The appetizer is too filling and it will take few reads to cover the main course.
Someday I wish to understand the ragas and hope this post will provide the impetus.
For now few songs I could remember swinging the mood in a positive way are –
koi bata de dil hai jahan..Lata_Rafi_Rajinder K_Chitragupt..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZNQl8cm5iE
bolo ji dil loge..Shamshad Begum_Rafi_Rajinder K_C Ramchandra_ Patanga1949.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBGOSZdse70
Vijayji @ 5 and @7,
Thanks for your appreciation! And as for my blooper wrt #36, it was a cut-and-paste error from Song #35 and has been corrected by AK since. Also, in the discussion leading up to the song, you will notice that I had made no mistake in the MD’s name.
Dr.Shetty @ 14,
Thanks for the compliments and for the lovely song from ‘Junoon’. It’s been years since I last came across this song and it brought back memories of watching the movie on DD in 1983 when I was studying for my 3rd term Chemistry exam in school! What a poignant story! A great movie! And I share your taste for Vanraj Bhatia’s music as well.
BTW, you seem to have excised a part of the YouTube link :). Here is the complete one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLM-9Ds1MtY
Dr.Shetty @ 15,
You seem to have missed seeing Song #9.
Sidhharthji,
Thanks for the compliments and for the two songs, of which I am sure most people will be more familiar with the one from ‘Main chup rahoongi’ compared to the one from ‘Patanga’.
Tere bahiyan ke jhoole mein sainya
BOBBY jhool jaaye….
Yes, BOBBY,1973.
Shailendra Singh,Lata;AB;LP.
Hum tum ek kamre mein bandh ho…
SALAKHEN,1976.
Chal chal kahin akele mein
Saathi chal….
Hemlata,Sulakshana Pandit; Dev Kohli; Raveendra Jain.
( I was in the final year of School. Bekaraar Dil tu gaaye jaa…was/is one of my childhood favorites.
Then Tu hi Sagar hai tu hi kinara..SANKALP,1975…. that fetched the FF award to Sulakshana Pandit, Bandhi re kaahe Preet …SANKOCH,1976..were good. But SALAKHEN must be her first film that I watched and I was surprised to see such a gifted singer singing in the voice of Asha Bhonsle and she herself playbacks a child artiste!!)
JHOOLA,1962.
Rafi, Rajinder Krishan,Salil Chowdhury.
Insaan ka zindagi hai Sukh dukh ka ek jhoola….
I haven’t seen the movie. Is it a full song or just a stanza?
https:// youtu.be/ gX37h27zDTU
( these links always work for me).
Bhandarkar ji,
What came over me!!!
A major goof up!
Excellent article Ashwin, with a wealth of information and examples on raga Hindol. It is not a raga one hears very often – which is a pity, given its gravitas.
Hindol, to my mind is misclassified in Kalyan that. Its movement is closer to the Marwa family – particularly Sohni. The famous song in Sohni – jhoomti chali hava – is mostly Hindol. The distinguishing note komal rishabh makes a very brief appearance in the antara. The classical pieces by Vidushi Gangubai and Ustad Rashid Khan sound a lot like this song.
The Hindolita piece by Bhimsen Joshi is a real find. I have the same lyrics by Bhimsen Joshi in Todi – and it is difficult to say which raga suits it better.
Thanks for bringing in Hindoli or Bhinnashadj. It is a beautiful raga but not heard very often. The best example from Hindi films is “Dheeme dheeme re” from “Ankhon Dekhi” by Mansheel Gujral.
MILAN,1967.
Ram kare Aisa Ho jaaye
Meri nindiya tohe mil jaaye…
…
..
Chandra Kiran ban ke dori
Tere man ko jhoola jhulaye…
Mukhesh; AB; LP.
ಉಯ್ಯಾಲೆ ( Uyyale) and ಜೋಕಾಲಿ( Jokali) are the Kannada equivalent of jhoola. There are many songs on the theme.
The most representative one would be the title song from the 1969 movie UYYALE,based on a novel of the same name.
ಚೆಲುವಿನಾ ಕಲೆ ಬಾಳ ಲೀಲೆ
ಭಾವದ ಅಲೆ ಮೇಲೆ ಜೀವದ ಉಯ್ಯಾಲೆ…
( Cheluvina kale balha leele
Bhaavada ale mele jeevada UYYALE)
P Susheela; Vijayanarasimha; Vijayabhaskar.
https:// youtu.be/ ExZfZLaNkYO
And,then, the joyful, celebratory song from the Puttanna Kanagal movie ಧರಣಿ ಮಂಡಲ ಮಧ್ಯದೊಳಗೆ ( DHARANIMANDALA MADHYADOLAGE)
ಉಯ್ಯಾಲೆಯಾಡೋಣ ಬನ್ನಿರೋ( Uyyaleyadona banniro)
Jayachandran,Vani Jayaram; Vijayanarasimha; Vijayabhaskar.
https:// youtu.be/ Qbc_Pm16cNK
Wah, Wah !!!
What a feast of lovely songs at one place, Ashwin ji.
Thanks a million.
The New Year has started on a Musical Note for me.
Some of the songs which are my favourites from the Hindi and Marathi selections gave me extra pleasure.
Just wonderful.
Thanks again.
-AD
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji;
Your article ….well full of zest and vitality. Everything is incredible . I am enjoying reading your article….and my existence ….living 36 hours a day.
Thanks for recalling Vanraj Bhatia . Well this was another Music Director who sticked to his lines…..of the likes of Naushad and Khayyam and gave many melodies par excellence . He was never under rated by the passionate listeners of classical music. Here is another of his master piece from the same film ….Bhumika …this time a duet.
Sawan ke din Aaye……Bhupinder, Preeti sagar..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdcVs0nceOY
….and melody will continue…..
CHOTI BEHAN,1959.
Lata; Shailendra; SJ.
Baaghon mein baharon mein ithalatha gaatha aaya koi…
https:// youtu.be/ wo4hmUR9s_o
Dr. Shetty ji ;
I was just in a process to post song from Choti Behan….you took the lead !
Well here is one more from SJ camp…..
Baharo phool barsaao……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McP9D114BfU
Ashwin ji ;
A mother’s arms are best swing for a baby to enjoy….after a hard work of picking anything from floors….crawling to no directional path and getting hurt some time too ! and above all crying full throated and not able to explain what happened .
Mother knows the solution .
Getting gently rocked in mother’s arms and hearing slow gentle melodies……mostly lullabies ….taking away child’s tiredness and stress.
Reliving those times now is a great emotional experience . I think this phase of life everyone must have experienced. Lyrics some time invented by mother at that instant itself watching the mood ……some time dotted with shabad and kirtan too. There are many beautiful lullabies that bring back memories to the front fore…even at this stage too one wants to have a mothers arms around you for bliss and comfort. Here is one such song which was any family house hold song.
Aa ja re aa nidiya tu aa…..Lata….Salil ….at their very best…..and with jhoola near by making gentle movement….Bimal Roy’s classic touch…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuNCbL38eUw
Another song from same movie…..Do Bigha Zamin
Haryala sawan dhol bajaata aaya…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcKm9OXY0bY
…..in continuation….
One more song from Bimal Roy’ camp…..a master piece worth weighing in gold / gems….
Ab ke baras bhej bhai ko babul…….Asha….SDB….Bandini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu5O_f4S7rk
ksbhatia ji,
Bimal Roy again…. another classic… another evergreen song.
SUJATA,1960.
Geeta Dutt, Majrooh Sultanpuri,SDB.
Nanhi Kali sone chali hawa dheere aana
Neend bhare pankh liye jhoola jhula jaana.
Dr.Shetty @ 18, 22, 25 & 29
Thanks for all the songs, including the Kannada ones.
Am providing the links to the songs that you have not provided the links to:
1. Hum tum ek kamre mein bandh ho:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBJj-3sgcd0
2. Chal chal kahin ekel mein:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XHPkWt-OXs
3. Insaan ki zindagi hai: Yes, it does not appear to be a full-fledged song
https://atulsongaday.me/2014/08/14/insaan-ki-zindagi-hai/
4. Ram kare aisa ho jaaye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9qhPcwndP0
5. Nanhi kali sone chali:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1rjhKLsi88
I could kick myself for missing out on this lovely lori.
Dr. Shetty @ 22,
FYI…portions of the 1st Kannada song that you have cited are in Shyam Kalyan and Yaman.
Hello Ashwin, simply Breathtaking.. So much plethora of rich knowledge. For a novice like me, Iot to learn.. Its like doing a crash course of Hindustani Music. Thank you so much for sharing..
Subodhji @ 20,
Thanks a lot for your compliments! Yes, I do wish I could get to listen to Hindol more often than I do. It is one of my favourite ragas and I am so glad that I got a chance to feature it on SoY.
As for your observation that Hindol is closer to the Marwa family (and Sohni in particular) than to Kalyan family, I whole-heartedly agree. In fact, I was going to discuss this in the section on ‘Tinhi saanja’ but I wanted to keep things simple, hence I skipped the discussion . I had a hunch that you would come up with this observation and my hunch has been proved right :).
Wrt the Hindolita piece, I have mentioned the fact that the cheez is the same as the one in Miyan ki Todi in the post. BTW, I had the fortune of listening to Bhimsenji render Hindolita at a live performance in Pune in 1989. He had not announced the raga but it was obvious that it was a combo of Hindol and Lalit. I got to know the name of the raga much later from a friend.
Thanks for ‘Dheeme re’. It is hauntingly beautiful! Am sharing the YoutTube link here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkyhf9evugE
Arunji @ 23,
Your comments made my day! Thanks a lot! Am pleased as Punch that you enjoyed the post.
Dr. Shetty ji;
Yes, Sujata lori is great and again masterly directed by Bimal Roy . I think he won filmfare awards four times in a row…..an amazing feat !
The subject ….Jhula / Swing ….brought many memories of radio days . A song that every one could heard walking by the road side …..every house playing radio to the fullest volume and no road side sound polution . One such song which was fav. of all of us was…..saranga teri yaad mein ….beautifully composed and sung too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCFV5oY9nsI
Iqbal Bano was a singer popular for geet and ghazals some time in mid or late 40s . She had a good voice and was fav. among serious listeners . Her most popular was….ulfat ki nayi manzil ko chala….and i quite often listen to this beautiful redention . She migrated to Pakistan and was popular there too. Her subjective song on this jhhula theme is …..
Ab ke sawan to ghar aaja…….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut5sz2SCwXc
KS Bhatiaji @24, 26, 27 and 28,
Thanks for your kind words. You have added some veritable gems! With regard to lullabies from the Golden Age, we have so many of them that are 24 karat gold, among them being ‘Aa ja ri aa ninidiya tu aa’, which you have cited. What a composition!
As for ‘Hariyala saawan dhol bajaata aaya’, I had included it in the first version of the post – it is my favourite monsoon song bar none – but I removed it because I felt that the swing depicted in the song sequence might not be something that comes to mind when one recalls the song. BTW, thanks to SSW, I got to know that it is based on a Bangla song that Salilda had composed for the IPTA – check out the first song in this link:
http://www.salilda.com/nonfilmsongs/masssongtable.asp
Bhatiaji @ 34,
Thanks for the two selections. Shahida Parveen was another Pakistani singer of Hindustani classical music. Unfortunately, she died young. Here is a recording of her rendition of the very same bandish in Raga Shankara that Roshanara Begum has rendered in Song #21 of the post.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZEjAGdu7gA
Punit Murdeshwar,
Welcome to Songs of Yore.
DAAK GHAR,1974
Suman Kalyanpur
Anjaam, Shyam Sagar.
Palak hindole chadhi re nindiya….
https://youtu.be/6lRovAgV8Yk
ksbhatia ji,
Bimal Roy had two hat tricks (Filmfare Awards):
1953_55: DO BIGHA ZAMEEN, PARINEETA,BIRAJ BAHU.
1958_60:MADHUMATI, SUJATA,PARAKH.
His 7th FF Award was for BANDHINI,1963.
Please read the last but one as DAK BANGLA.
Shyam Benegal and Vanraj Bhatia again.
BHUMIKA,1977.
Preethi Sagar, Bhupinder Singh; Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Saawan ke din aaye sajnwa aan milo…
Palma jhulaoon….may qualify!
MAN MANDIR,1971.
Ae mere ankhon ke pehle sapne..
…..
Palkon ka palna jhulaoon tujhe…
Lata, Mukhesh; Rajinder Krishen;LP
( Happy and sad versions)
https:// youtu.be/ Th_rdEv_u_k
https://youtu.be/ yBxOJinRt3u
LAJWANTI,1958
Asha Bhonsle; Majrooh Sultanpuri;SDB.
Chanda re Chanda re,chupe rehna
Soye meri maina…
…
Mamta gaaye pawan jhulaye jhoole Rajakumari…
https:// youtu.be/ c23_jsdghdA
Ashwinji what a gift for 2019 you have bestowed on our community and AK is upto his usual indoctrination. Your post is an afflatus, aniconic in its outlook. I will dub it as an anodyne and aphorism at least for me. You are a cognoscenti on musical discourses. It is a diapason and distrait post. I yearn to be a doppelganger in your mold. You are cut out to be an emcee.To say I am gobsmacked with the post is an under statement. I will call you an humdinger. Please bring out more such gems for education of ignoramus like me to appreciate the higher reaches of music and fusion of hindustanti and film music in like manner. I will have to imbibe the quality of semper sursum hereafter. To conclude your post will be vade mecum.
Ashwin ji:
A swinging post indeed! Eagerly waiting for your next one. Here is ‘Pad gaye jhule’ (Lata and Asha in Bahu Begum; MD: Roshan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2hr39IqH78
Ashwin ji @37;
Thanks for the Shahida Parveen raga shankara based song . …..beautiful rendition . The raga itself is a soothing one…..and you must have noticed a lot of shabads from gurubani are there based on this raag. Basant and its close derivatives are my personal fav.
Coming to songs based on the main theme….here are two from Punjabi movies of the mid 50s. Peengan….is a punjabi equivalent of Jhula or Swing . Lots of scenes and songs are there in many movies including those from Chopras camps. B R and Yash Chopra used to have at least one punjabi folk based song in their movies …..some movies showed jhula as props……like the one shown in Naya Daur song.
Peengan de utte…..Suman Kalyanpur[?] …..Sardul Kwatra….Vanjaran
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3R–NEfE7w
Tu peeng te mein parchhawan…..Rafi, Asha….Sardul Kwatra…Posti
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpEkwjLv6As
Dr. Shetty ji;
Thanks for the information on filmfare awards and many inputs of songs. I think Bimal Roy got award for Yahudi too. That perhaps was after a gap of one or two years after his famous hat tricks.
Mr.Rangan @ 45,
I read the first sentence of your comment and felt happy and grateful. Then I came across ‘afflatus’, ‘aniconic’, ‘anodyne’ and ‘aphorism’, all in quick succession, and I thought, “Wow, what a vocabulary! And he is also being alliterative.” Within a couple of seconds, I came across ‘diapason’ and ‘distrait’ for the first time in my life, and for a fleeting moment, I wondered whether I had misread ‘diapers’ and ‘distress’, but when I realized that I hadn’t misread the words, I had the following thought flash across my mind, “Did I misread ‘Shashi Tharoor’ as ‘D.P.Rangan’?” I quickly cleaned my spectacles with trembling hands and read the name above the comment once again – to my relief it was ‘D.P.Rangan’ (relief because interactions with celebrities make me very uneasy and nervous). I consulted an online dictionary, learnt the meanings of these words and as I read further, I actually breathed a sigh of relief that I was able to understand the rest of the stuff without the help of a dictionary… until I came to the bit about ‘semper sursum’ and ‘vade macum’. Convinced that these were Latin words for sambar saadam and vadai, I figured that you were complimenting me by stating that you relished my post as much as you would relish a meal of sambar saadam with vadai, and I smiled broadly 🙂
On a serious note, I do hope that you know that I wrote the lines above in lighter vein. Your vast knowledge, your vocabulary and your energy are something that I have always admired. Thanks a lot for the compliments and for the encouragement.
Punit @ 32,
Thanks for the kind words.
Canasyaji @46.
Thanks for the kind words and for the song – I had not heard it before.
Dr.Shetty @39, @42, @43, @44
Thanks for the ‘lori’ from ‘Daak Bangla’. I had not heard it before.
The Bhumika song has been cited by Bhatiaji in Comment #24. ‘Yeh mere aankhon ke pehle sapne’ from ‘Man Mandir’ qualifies but it is such a depressing ‘lori’ :). I like the one from ‘Lajwanti’ though.
KS Bhatiaji @47,
Thanks for the delightful Punjabi songs. Both songs seem to be based on Pahadi. Looks like the second song is from the days when Asha had not yet become ‘The Asha’.
Ashwin, I have only lightly sampled this article as I swung nimbly from Leela’s Jhoola to the documentary on Pandit Bhimsen Joshi leaving much in the middle, ‘tween earth and sky as swings do. Saraswati Devi had such refreshing ideas, the tempo changes in this song, the brief instrumental interludes, the vocal movements. And of course Bhimsen Joshi’s powerful voice. who can resist a documentary on him. Once of my treasured possessions is his Siddhi compilation.
I need to explore the classical pieces you have posted in detail.
But for the moment , your mention of “Oonjaal” reminded me of one of my favourite compositions of the 90s. “Oonjaal” is swing in Malayalam too and this is a typical Johnson (such a master) composition swinging between two ragas if you will .:-) Unfortunately the raga the lyrics mention is not one of them as you will see. Sung by Yesudas when still in his prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc03438CN4U
Speaking of the other swing which you refused to do…I remember the first time I heard this song… I had not heard the guitar being played like this…and sadly it talks of the decline of swing or at least of the dire straits it was in. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fAQhSRLQnM
A beautiful post. It will take some time for me to listen to the entire list. A beautiful song on this that comes to me by Lata-Talat (1961)-
https://youtu.be/1qUryoij8A8
Happy new year to all followers of SOY.
One more song which may fit into the present theme — Pad Gaye jhoole –from Bahu Begum(1967) , Asha Lata and chorus.
https://youtu.be/K2hr39IqH78
ksbhatia ji,
YAHUDI won the best lyrics award for Shailendra….Ye mera deewanapan hai…
No other FF awards.
I consider it as a very average movie… not Bimal Roy standard! But, in the end, the Universal truth is..To each his own!
One more from PYAR KI PYAS,1961.
Bharat Vyas, Vasant Desai.
Two versions: Geeta Dutt; Lata Mangeshkar.
Chanda dhale,pankha jhale Maiya tumhare..
…
Chandi ka palna hai toh
Resham ki hai dori…
https://youtu.be/ FwbxV_k_vBw
SSW @ 52 @ 53,
Thanks for sharing the Malayalam song. Further to your comment on the raga mentioned in the lyrics, I am sure you also notice that the taaLam mentioned in the lyrics is not the rhythmic cycle that the song is set to :). Beautiful song, though. I must also admit that I have no exposure to Malayalam film music and hence had not heard of Johnson till I read your comment.
I agree with your observations on Saraswati Devi’s music. Here is a delightful song composed by her that I got to know of from SoY. It has the line ‘man jhool raha pyaar hindole liye umang’ and hence is in syllabus as well :). understand that it is the only song that Lata sang under her baton:
‘Mere aangan mein chaandni chamke chamaacham’ by Lata Mangeshkar & Rajkumari (MD – Saraswati Devi, Lyricist – R.M.Chaturvedi), from ‘Usha Haran’ (1949)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_Ty3blBQWA
I liked your pun on dire straits 🙂
AK,
The ‘sargam’ that Lata sings from 4:28 to 4:46 in the ‘Usha Haran’ song,just before the ‘padhant’, is in your favourite raga – Durga 🙂
Mr. Joseph @54 & @55,
Thanks for the appreciation and for sharing the sweet Talat-Lata duet from ‘Pyaar ki pyaas’. The song from ‘Bahu Begum’ was already shared by Canasyaji in Comment #46.
Dr.Shetty @57,
Thanks for sharing the ‘lori’ from ‘Pyaar ki pyaas’. This is turning out to be a post on lullabies!
Readers,
Stumbled upon this lovely post by fellow SoYer/SoYist, Anu Warrier, on the same topic on her blog. Except for 2 songs, the rest of them have not been cited yet in this SoY post.
https://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/2015/09/my-favourites-swing-song.html
Ashwin,
Excellent post. Your knowledge of music across genres and languages blows me over. And the extensive research you have done and brought all of it in the article is something great.
You have provided a treasure trove of music. I am still going through them and enjoying.
Someone has mentioned”Koi bataade” from ‘Main chup rahungi’.
This film was a remake of ‘Kalathur Kannamma’, a Tamil film (debut film of Kamal Hasan). The Tamil film also had an equivalent “swing song”.
Thanks for the generous praise, Giriji!
Here is the swing song from ‘Kalathur Kannamma’:
‘KaNgaLil vaartthaigaL puriyaatho?’ by P.Suseela and A.M.Raja (MD-R.Sudarsanam, Lyrics-Kannadasan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vFw2qwKYCU
Ashwin @58 true, aadi taalam is not 3/4 or even 6/8.
Speaking of taalam, one of the distinctive features of Malayalam folk song is the type of percussive rhythms used and the instruments like the chenda, edakka, maddalam, thimilla etc. that emphasize them. Being folk, the rhythm patterns are shorter and catchier.
This song mentions an oonjal so it is as you would say still in the syllabus but I am posting it more for the traditional percussive sound which the octopad and the synthesizer follows and occassionally you do hear the traditional drums filling in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCwnvQIf054
Ashwinji
Your reaction was classic in true Wodehouse style. I could not picture words could be dissected in such manner. I admire quality of finding humour in most situations and you are one such. I have read entire collection of Wodehouse, particulaly, Jeeves, Blandings Castle and never tire of it. I have almost the entire collection in ebook format and can upload it. Your linking Tamil songs is unmatched. I honestly wish somebody in Tamilnadu emulates AK and starts a series of old Tamil film songs. It is also a fact enough songs would not be available as in Hindi songs. M K Thyagaraja Bhagavadhar was a legend in his own times. You might have also heard Dandapani Desikar. In Nandanar, a saint in olden days, he has outpoured his heart in great songs.
Ref no 64 Yes I agree with D.P.Rangan there is a treasure house of old Tmail film songs which need to be explored. It is high time some one take initiative to start a fine blog like SOY. There is a MSV times (a website) and it is all about the legendary Music director late M S Viswanathan and his composed songs.
SSW @63,
Liked the song, though I missed the mention of the woolly water :). To my ears, the composition sounded very Rahmanesque.
Your mention of the percussion instruments of Kerala reminded me of a spectacular and moving Kathakali performance – my first live full-fledged Kathakali concert – that I attended in Pune 3 weeks ago. It was an adaptation of ‘King Lear’ by the Annette Leday/Keli Company, and was premiered way back in 1989. The performance was staged in the open (on the cricket ground of IISER, actually) with the audience seated in close proximity to the performers. At the cost of sounding clichéd, I must say that it was a spectacular performance, and very moving as well, especially the last scene of Lear’s death. The chenda and the maddalam players, as well as the singers, were outstanding, and their energy did not flag one bit throughout the almost 2-hour performance. Very memorable for me.
Mr.Rangan @64,
Thanks for being such a sport and not taking umbrage at my response to your previous comment! I am a Wodehouse fan too but I must confess that I have not read his entire body of work. As for your compliment relating to my linking Tamizh songs, I do not think I am deserving of it but I do share your and Mr.Vasudevan’s (@65) longing for an SoY-like blog that would cover old songs in that language.
Yes, I have watched a few of MKT’s films on DD and Nandanaar too. Here is a link to my favourite Thyagaraja Bhagavathar song:
‘Jaya krishna mukunda murare’ by M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MD & Lyricist – Papanasam Sivan), from Haridas (1944)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LZGwwdGvAA
What an unimaginable and tragic twist MKT’s fate took after ‘Haridas’ with his arrest and subsequent imprisonment in the sensational Lakshmikanthan murder case!
I came across the scene, the YT link to which I have given below, last night. I understand that it is an iconic scene from a film that I have always wanted to watch but have never had the chance to do so – Ray’s ‘Charulata’. The song that Madhabi Mukherjee is singing in the scene, is by Tagore and has a Western tune.
‘Fule fule dhole dhole’ by Madhabi Mukherjee (Lyrics and Tune – Rabindranath Tagore), from ‘Charulata’ (1964):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcUHbTBElO0
When I told Madhuraj Jadhav, a friend and colleague and an expert on old Hindi film songs, about the songs that I had curated for this post, around 2 weeks ago, his immediate question was whether I had included the ‘swing song’ from ‘Phagun’. Not having watched the movie or even seen the song sequence, I wasn’t sure what he was talking about but then he started singing the song and he showed me the video on YT, and I slapped my forehead in chagrin. So here, readers, is the Pilu gem from ‘Phagun’:
‘Piya piya na laage more jiya’ by Asha Bhonsle (MD – O.P.Nayyar, Lyrics – Qamar Jalalabadi), from ‘Phagun'(1958)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHiKEL7HU_Q
To me the most iconic scene in a Hindi film (not that I am a great Bollywood film fan) is this one. The eerie sound of the swing of course created by an interesting instrument that was specially made it seems for the film. It is music, a dissonant music but still music.
https://youtu.be/TkDFAC2WbEs?t=481
Inspired by this scene from “Once upon a time in the west” as were many things in Sholay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqTfBysL0wE
Notice the music by Ennio Morricone, the theme is re-used throughout the movie and is there at the end in the final duel. The sustained chords on the electric guitar and the keyboard first and then the orchestra playing the main theme and then the chord tryptich fading in the background.
I liked that the Sholay music was more spare…and no orchestra was present. Less is more.
SSW @70;
Thanks for reminding background music and sound effects of Sholay. At many moments Sholay production outsmart hollywood counter productions from where the source of inspirations were taken. What was amazing is the fine cinematography by 70 year director of photography….Dwarka Diwecha . His team of cameramen did splendid job in creating the mood and flow of naration with audience sitting in ……what next mode . The sound effects and photography capturing the motion of the swing is beautiful .
Yes Ennio Morricone music is too good …..reminds me of another of his very best….Godfather . In Sholay too, RDB made use of his theme music in sad and happy moments very effectively. Amitabh playing theme music on mouth organ ….lying on the ground far away from Jaya…..a call of attention…. sort of…..is beautifully captured.
Sholay made it to the hit in every department , though the film itself was a sort of compilation of some of the best story clips of the western movies . Sholay’s famous scene with Dharmendra atop water tank is an idea lifted from the famous film ….The secret of santa vittoria….starring Anthony Quinn . There are more but …..not on this platform.
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji ;
Your title of the article is the one which brings many memories to the fore . During early 70s I had a chance to see the movie titled…..Sing a song of six pence ….no not the cartoon or children rhymes ….but a feature movie produced in one of the euro country…which one , I have forgotten .
This was the time when I was a member of some international film club and during that time this and the one russian movie….Ballad of a soldier….was shown and both the movies made a lasting impact. I have searched on YT and it is not there.
But my other side of the memory goes to a beautiful scene captured in RK’s Boot Polish scene where both bellu and her brother are singing a song in the moving bombay local train……Dheela dillde bhi dheela dila de …. . Whenever i come across this clip my mind goes to ..sing a song of six pence . What an equation ….Indian Dheela and British Pence.
Watch clip from 7.28 for two minutes….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKQDyWfezBk&t=458s
D P Rangan ji @45 ;
Reading your comments …..I was not only shaken but stirred too…… a situation like ….sir jo tera chakraiye ya dil dooba jaye . Never ever had read such heavy doses of vocabaleries [ straw and other berrys mixed]. I have met you on many occasions but never got to know your hidden side of comic talent . We all enjoyed and do keep up with such comic detailings.
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji ;
Two songs half a century apart…..
Aayi aayi raat suhani sun le …….Lata….Poonam[1952]….SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8d0JOdv5pU
Soona man ka aangan…..Sonu , Ghoshal….Pareenita….S. Moitra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTnrzEuVz-0
Ashwin @68
This is the western tune from which Tagore drew inspiration for “Phule Phule Dole Dole” I think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXagkNBl9Bg
I can move from this into “Nanhi kali sone chali” from Sujata quite easily. 🙂
Mr.Bhatia I think Sholay has quite a few inspirations from Once upon a time in the west, including the harmonica but yes it was despite all its flaws pretty good and Amjad Khan was to me as a small boy the best thing about it. I pretty much ignored other actors in it including my favourite he-man Garam Dharam. I had gone to see it for him but came back remembering only Gabbar and the Jai-Veeru pairing became noticeable only years later.
A correction, I should have said most iconic swing scene in my earlier post.
BORDER,1997.Sonu Nigam, Roopkumar Rathod, Javed Akhtar,Anu Malik.
Sandese aate Hain…
….
Khet khaliyanon ne,hare maidanon ne
…
Basanti belon ne….
Lachakte jhoolon ne…
The Bin Saajan jhoola jhoolon from DAMINI was fairly popular.
NIGAHEN also had a jhoola song…
SSW @70,
Thanks for sharing the two iconic scenes. As for the special instrument made to produce the eerie sound in ‘Sholay’, a clip about it had gone viral on WhatsApp a couple of years ago. Here’s the clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzauGGQ2Seg
Also, thanks to you and to KS Bhatiaji (@71) for introducing me to more of Ennio Morricone’s music. I was familiar only with his score for ‘The Good, the Bad and The Ugly’.
Here is one more song in which the ‘jhoola’ is used as a metaphor, this time for a broken promise:
‘Jhool chuki main vaade ka jhoola, tu to apna vaada hi bhoola’ from
‘Pankh hote to ud aati re’ by Lata Mangeshkar (MD – Ramlal, Lyricist – Hasrat Jaipuri), from ‘Sehra’ (1963)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPCBUunga1E
KS Bhatiaji @72
Thanks for sharing the memories that were evoked in your mind by the title of my post. For me, ‘Sing a song of sixpence’ immediately brings to mind Agatha Christie’s ‘A Pocketful of Rye’, just as ‘Three Blind Mice’ reminds me of ‘The Mousetrap’, and ‘Ten Little Injuns’ reminds me of ‘And Then There Were None ‘ (on which ‘Gumnaam’ was based).
A question on the ‘Boot Polish’ scene? Since ‘dheela’ means ‘loose’, does it mean ‘loose change’ in the context of the scene?
SSW @75,
Thanks for sharing ‘Ye Banks and Braes’. I can move from it to ‘Auld Lang Syne’ quite easily 🙂
KS Bhatiaji @74,
Not sure whether you realized that the ‘Parineeta’ song that you have shared is based on the Tagore song ‘Phule phule dhole dhole’ used by Ray in ‘Charulata’, and a portion of the picturisation is inspired by the corresponding ‘Charulata’ scene that I have cited in #68 above. And to have SSW share the song, the tune of which Tagore borrowed for ‘Phule phule’ in the very next comment, can only be termed as an example of serendipity.
Dr.Shetty @76,
Thanks for the songs from not-so-yore 🙂 that pertain to the theme of this post. Here’s one more that qualifies by virtue of the picturisation (check out the segment from 2:12 to 2:22):
‘Barso re’ by Shreya Ghoshal (MD – A.R.Rahman, Lyricist – Gulzar), from ‘Guru’ (2007)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asw-wTDzGUQ
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji @79 ;
Prior to india adopting metric system , the coin currency existed that were in use were …rupiya , athanni, chawani, duwani, takka and anna and that was our schooling period that we enjoyed spending lavishly !! Yes the cinema ticket was priced at ten annas only i.e. less than a rupee . My school fees was only eight annas a month ! However our fore fathers used to argue over high prices of the early 50s ……taking it as a high jump in prices.
In a way they were right as……. they had seen the period when things were cheaper and even the coins used were fractionally very small. The coins prevelent during their time or early british times were……cowri , damri,dhela, pie and paisa . Not only that there were coins in lesser values too before that period.
So what is shown in the Boot Polish scene is both small kids begging in the train. The film is one of my fav……has won international recognition for acting[ David] and cinematography [ V Ratra].
Now a song …..reminder of cost of riding a jhoola.
Na dhela lagta na paisa lagta hai…..Kishore, Daisy Irani….Girl Friend….HK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOK_FYE6EsI
Anand Bakshi,LP.
1969….ASJK… Rafi, Lata.
Badra chaaye ki jhoole pad gaye haye
Ki mele lag gayee mach gayee dhoom re…
Ki AAYA SAAWAN JHOOM KE
1971…AABA… Rafi
Saare zamane pe Mausam suhane pe
Is dil deewane pe,Veerani si thi chaayi
AAP AAYE BAHAAR AAYEE.
…
…Hawaye ghataye fizaye
Baaghon mein phoolon ne, jhoolon ne..
1981…KROADHI… Suresh Wadkar, Lata.
Chal Chameli baagh mein mewa khilaaoonga…
….chal Chameli baagh mein, jhoola jhulaoongi…
Jhoole ke rassi toot gayi toh?
Aanchal bichaaoongi…( I am always reminded of the nok zok of Jhoot bole kawwa kaate… while listening to this).
KS Bhatiaji @82,
Thanks! Had heard of most of the other currencies that you have mentioned but not of the ‘dhela’. The term ‘anna’, if not the currency, was in common usage even four decades ago when I was a schoolboy – the cycle rickshaw fare for the ride home from school used to be 12 annas. Many of these terms still survive in idioms, proverbs and the like in the languages of India.
Thanks for sharing the Kishore Kumar song. Will it start a flood of songs that mention money and currency? 🙂 Let us wait and see… Maybe the topic warrants a separate article on SoY…
Dr.Shetty @83,
Your armoire (or shall I say ‘almirah’?) of songs is inexhaustible!
Bhandarkar ji,
Yes, Money needs to be covered separately…Maalamaal ho jaana hai!
The ones that come immediately to mind:
Paanch Rupaiya baara aana…
Aamdani athanni karcha Rupaiya…
Paisa ye paisa….
Char paise kya mile…khud Ko…. Kaahe paise pe itna guroor kare….
Ber lo…mewa gareebon ka..
Paisa phenko tamasha dekho…
Na biwi na bachha,na baap bade na Maiya… the whole thing is that ke Sab se bada Rupaiya…
Chhan chhan baaje Rupaiya,naache saari duniya ( CHAAR PAISE)
Pehle paisa,phir Bhagawan
Babu dete Jaana daan…
One Asha Bhonsle song is knocking at the brain…..jo bhi le lo chaar ( aath?) aane mein….
Interestingly, GIRLFRIEND,1961, mentioned by ksbhatia ji has an entire song describing the origin of currency, earlier barter system etc.
Kehte hain ise paisa bachchon…
Great post again, Ashwin. You have covered a huge amount of ground across genres. Astounding depth and breadth. The links are a delight to listen to. Great writing style. Eager to see more posts from you.
Ashwin ji , Shetty ji ;
The Kishore song from Girlfriend has both currency coin and jhoola in its lyrics . So I am sticking to code of the theme. But continue with the shower of songs …..more the songs more the amplitude and peak to the swing.
……in continuation….
But what made me rope in coins was because of title mentioning pence in its theme .
Two songs for keeping the move….
Nari jeeven jhoole ki tarahen…..Lata….Aurat….Ravi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASsD18RNNrM
A remembrence of jhoola in another masterpiece from Baiju Bawra
Mohe bhul gaye sanwariya….Lata….Naushad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyTNLr6kpYk
Adding 3 more songs on the theme (all are relatively less heard let alone discussed)
1 Pyara Hindola mera – SDB Asha Us paar
2 Jiye tumharo lalna – RDB Asha Rakhi aur hathakadi
3 Nandkishor nandgopal
LP Lata chorus Madhavi
Dr. Shetty@86,
I could almost hear the jingle of the coins and the rustling of the rupee notes 🙂 as I went through the list of songs, most of which I am not familiar with. I am sure you have loads more, and in several languages, in your ‘khazana’. So, is it not a fair expectation that you write an article on the topic?
Murali @ 87,
Thanks for the effusive praise and for the encouragement!
KS Bhatiaji @88 & @89
Thanks for bringing the ‘jhoola’ back to its original plane of oscillation with the two songs that you have shared and for pointing out that the song from ‘Girlfriend’ does mention ‘jhoola’. ‘Mohe bhool gaye saawariya’ has the unique distinction of being a song that features a stationary swing (save, of course, for the superimposed scenes from ‘Jhoole mein pawan’ to indicate Gauri’s memories as she sings).
Rahulji @ 91,
Thanks for sharing these relatively lesser known songs, all of which are new to me. Have provided the links to them below for the convenience of other readers:
1. ‘Pyara hindola mera’ by Asha Bhonsle (MD – S.D.Burman, Lyricist – Yogesh), from ‘Us Paar’ (1974)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jYzgH84UWs
2. ‘Jiye tumhaaro laalna’ by Asha Bhonsle (MD – R.D.Burman, Lyricist – Majrooh Sultanpuri), from ‘Rakhi aur Hathkadi'(1972)
I like the way the guests in the scene resume their seats in sync with the music (3:01 onwards) 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFjbQWCswO4
3. ‘Nandakishore nandagopal’ by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle & Chorus ( MD – Laxmikant-Pyarelal), from ‘Madhavi'(1969)
I would like to point that Asha is also one of the singers. And this may be the only instance in which Asha sings for the more prominent actress (Padmini in this case) in a Lata-Asha song!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVUwTHB4hGQ
Please read ‘@90’ in place of ‘@91’ in my previous comment.
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji ;
Badal, Barsaat , Rim Zhim , Pawan……and Jhoola ….how these all clubbed together to make a sense of love in the waiting to happen ! To add thunder ….brings many closer . When melody is queen and lyrics are romantic ….the pleasure reins the show .
Many songs carries additional beautiful interludes to highlight the effects . A song with no such word as jhoola but as a prop for swing and sway…
Chheen Liya Re Beimaan Mera Dil….Lata…Zindgi aur Hum…Roshan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGTzt8N9dfE
….in continuation…..
Same movie same set but this time song with jhuula as lyrical word.
Ja re ja re meri chhod chhunariya…..Lata
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6BajjXRpGo
Another song which has an almost stationary swing is ‘ tumhi meri Mandir ‘ from Khandan , MD Ravi (1965 )
https://youtu.be/3vXDRgjtg88
SHAAN,1980 has the swing sequence where Sunil Dutt,Raakhee and a child artiste are enjoying a swing ride and Shotgun Sinha attempts to shoot at Dutt.
SAAGAR,85… Chehra hai ya Chand khila… Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia enjoy a swing ride together before the song begins…. swing continues to be the backdrop…in action and also still.
Stretching one’s imagination a little too far,I will mention a favourite scene from the childhood: SEETA AUR GEETA…Hema Malini ,at the police station, ‘ swinging’ atop a ceiling fan and the dialogue between her and Manorama:
” Neechey aao beti”
” Oopar aao Moti!”
I chuckle even now by remembering the scene!
BAMBAI KA BABU,1960
The song Deewana Masthana hua dil..at the beginning Suchitra Sen is shown on a swing.
Asha Bhonsle, Majrooh Sultanpuri,SDB.
The powerful climax scene of VAASTAV ,1999 has the Mother and Son ( Reema Laagoo, Sanjay Dutt) sitting on a swing; mother shooting her son; the swing swinging with the son’s corpse on it.
DULHAN WOHI JO PIYA MAN BHAYE,1977
Le toh aaye hain hamen sapnon ke gaaon mein…. Hemlata, Ravindra Jain..has the heroine Rameshwari on the swing for most of it’s length.
NAVRANG…. Sandhya and extras ‘ swing’ on giant bells in the song
Tu chupi hai kahan….
Puns in the “Swing a song of sixpence”
The very title “Swing a song of sixpence” is a pun on the English nursery song “Sing a song of sixpence”
Ashwin Bhandarkar so far has established “as a Pun-dit Pun(e)kar.” as AK has said, taking a cue from the addiction of Ashwin of punning about, as a man with an axe of Washington, going about cutting down everything without a second thought. The making a pun on the word “Punekar is the last stroke. But this infatuation of Ashwin is an added entertainment in this article and occasionally comes out in his comments on SoY posts as well.
Many readers perhaps are aware of what is “pun”. It will not be much outplace if I dwell on this point a little longer and swing a Chinese fan to puns for my joy in reading them as well.
A pun is a “double entendres” that is two meanings of a word or a phrase. It is mostly used by the writers to create a comic effect or make their writing interesting and also to draw attention to different meanings.
Ashwin goes on using various ideas to make his post interesting for example he starts with the beginning to get rid off his lateness in doing second post:
“So I swung back into action in right earnest over the weekend by beginning this article on songs on swings.”
Thus he uses two words “Swung” and swings”. One will find these things in a few more passages until; he gets crowded with many songs about swings. So we can say safely we are in full swing as “He had swinging festival in the SoY” to celebrate the New year.
There is also Mr Rangan who is also addicted to the puns as the titles of his many Posts are marked with double entendres for example “Tasveer exhibits of Bollywood” published on 22 March 2018. The other titles too, have this interesting way of titling and credit goes to him for using puns. Following are some of the titles of Mr Rangan:
Bacchus in Bollywood (10/9/2016)
Star showers in Bollywood (7/4/2016)
Flowers bloom in Bollywood (2/5/2017)
The English writers are very fond of using puns notable among them is Shakespeare. He uses them in his poems and plays generously. There is hardly a play without the use of his intelligent puns.
Hamlet is full of them. When Polonius comes to see Hamlet, sent by the king to find out the discontents of Hamlet, and Hamlet ignores him. He asks Hamlet do you know me sir. And Hamlet replies yes You are a Fishmonger!”
It is an insult on the King’s minister in many ways. A fishmonger usually in Hamlet’s time was somebody smelly and not seen by the respected people. Secondly in English “to fish means without warning trying to extract information in general talking or questioning in the court of law. One will find in the stories of Perry Mason, the opposite lawyer always complaining about Perry Mason of “Fishing for the information” which is unlawful in the court or in general behaviour.
There is hardly an English news paper that does not use pun in comment of political or social event.
In America it is also the same. In Yesterday’s “Sunday New York Times” on the front page a cartoon picture was presented in the style of the Hollywood film advert:
“The Wall Is Coming” showing the big Chinese wall.
This is to criticise the Trump’s closing down all the governments offices and buildings until the lower house would pass his bill for the money for the Wall.
Here the “Wall” has many meanings. The American senators are against the wall. They have created a wall against Trump’s all ideas and so on.
Long time ago, when I use to have access to read the News Papers in the Indian High Commission. Now the access is limited and I do not go there. There was a time the Indian Congress had a President called “Ram”. He became ambitious and wanted to become the Prime Minister of India. But his intentions were nipped in the bud. He was sacked. The Indian News Papers gave the title: Aya Ram, Gaya Ram”. This became very famous for a long time with the Indian journalists.
In Sanskrit there are plenty of puns. The “Mahabharat” itself is pun. It means the great history of Bharat Tribes”. And also the great War between the two tribes of Kuru or Bharat. Also it is a greatest book written in the world.
In Bhagvad Gita there are many double meaning words for example in the following verse:
2.59
Vĭṣhăyā vĭnĭvărătăntè nĭrāhārăsyă dèhĭnăḥ
Răsăvărăjăṃ răso-ăpyăsyă părăṃ dṛĭṣhṭvā nĭvărătătè 2.59
Fasting soul within the body diminishes the cravings for all kinds of drinks but the fixed mind on the afar can see the oozing of the juice even in this principle. 2.59
The two Ras Words are used one is about drink and other means the essence of this saying. The second Ras is the essence.
The Tagore’s book of poems called “Gitanjali” is a pun on the Bhagvad Gita.
After Xmas the shops have been announcing “Sale”. One shop simply advertised “We “Sale”, using the “Sale” as a verb meaning both sell and sale.
Many titles of the films in Hollywood and Bollywood have double meanings: e.g. River of No Return.
In Bollywood too e.g. RK’s “Aag”
Many songs of the films are also have double meanings. Somebody could do a whole post on it.
This comment is increasing every second like the tail (or tale) of Hanuman in Lanka.
Shalan Lal
Shalan Lal ji,
Though I am not a political ‘Pun’dit,I would like to clarify the origin of Aaya Ram Gaya Ram.
You seem to have JagjivanRam in mind. But,it was a Haryana MLA,Gaya Lal, who in 1967, party hopped( hopeful of greener pastures) twice within a day and thrice within a fortnight… Congress to United Front and to Congress again… and to UF!
On his Ghar Wapsi,Rao Bhirendra Singh,a Congress leader,is supposed to have said,in a press conference…Gaya Ram is now Aaya Ram. But ,on his defection again,it was Yashwantrao Chauhan who said,AAYA RAM GAYA RAM… and, the qoute became popular for turncoats of Indian politics.
Hey Ram!!!
Shalan Lal,
My two pennies worth on ‘puns’:
I would not have butted in after your scholarly presentation, lest you should think I was taking pun-ga (I apologise for my trite attempt at punning :), but I find you stopped yourself from saying more as it was becoming too long.
Would you say that यमक अलंकार in Hindi/Sanskrit is similar to ‘pun’? As in
रहिमन पानी राखिए बिन पानी सब सून
or,
कनक कनक ते सौ गुना मादकता अधिकाय
Bhushan’s शिवा बावनी (52 verses in the praise of Shivaji) is full of such puns.
You mentioned the implicit pun in the word ‘Mahabharat’. There is a saying in Sanskrit about the great epic: यन्न (यत्+न) भारते तन्न (तत्+न). That which is not in Bharat (i.e. the great epic Mahabharat) is not in Bharat (the country). This would be probably a pure intended pun. Sanskritists were very fond of composing such aphorisms for impact.
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji;
Picking threads from songs @ 95 , here are two more; one again turned out to be a lorrie and other from an old tamil film…..
Aari nindiya ki pari….Lata….Rishte Natte….MM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gw9nLTM0Vk
Mangamma Sabatham 1943 — NSK & T A Mathuram Comedy Scene & Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UyeP5Rco_s
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji;
There are many sights and sound that I have hidden from myself. They do have a place in my brain ….only a little de-etching is required to bring them back. Is Mute the culprit ?…I wonder some time.
But; Integrity of good visuals and good sound …..is what stimulate good feelings . A man took a long period watching a beautiful canvas painting and on asking how he rate the painting ?….he replied…its a masterpiece but there is no background music !!
A good visual is a great challenge to music composers….and vice versa too. Only good integration brings the laurels . Got just Satyagit ray in my mind……his shots of streets in Charulata….a magnifiecient piece of art….all inclusive in one film.
So bringing in more of songs …this time with swing as props. They are fav.of mine that carries beauty of visual arts to the fore front……
yaad kiya dil ne….Lata, Hemant….Patita….SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvwnvoUOa-Q
Mere sapne mein aana re…..Lata…..Rajhath….SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO1L_yv1NfM
Pyar hua chup kese…..Kavita….1942 A love story….RDB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMCGeLdhL-M
Kuchh na kaho…..Kumar Sanu…1942……RDB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIWy295Gb3o
……will be back with more….
ksbhatia ji,
Swing as a prop:
CHORI CHORI….Ye raat beeghi beeghi…
HAATHI MERE SAATHI…Sun jaa aa thandi hawa…(entire song with Kaka and Tanuja on the swings).
HEERA PANNA..,..Main tasveer uthartha hoon…
Asha Parekh,at her swinging best,swings/ sways on an improvised swing in the song
Daiya ye main kahan fasi…
CARAVAN,1971.
Superb voice modulation by Asha Bhonsle.
So lost in enjoying the swings that forgot to add my congratulations to Ashwinji for such a marvelous post.
When the theme involves jhoola/ palna dori…
Sure are to follow many a Lori!
Jhoolna jhoolo mere pyare Lala re…
….
Palna nihare aur leve balaiya…
BAKTH DHRUV,1947
Lalitha Deolkar,Krishna Ganguly; Pandit Indra; Shankar Rao Vyas.
https://youtu.be/ _ LRdT_fWjIA
Interestingly,the infant in the song sequence grows up into cutie pie Shashi Kapoor….his debut?
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji ;
After a pause I am back…..was lost in beautiful flute melody based on Rag Hindol Bahar by non other than the dedicated musician ….D’Amel of bygone eras of AIR mumbai., who we used to hear to his melodious compositions . Such are the hidden gems we have forgotten ….thanks to YT for bringing back the memories .
Raag Hindol Bahar …..by D’Amel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J46ca1nWx5M
Dr Pradeepkumar Shetty @ 102
As mentioned by you “Though I am not a political ‘Pun’dit,I would like to clarify the origin of Aaya Ram Gaya Ram”
You have explained the idiom “Aaya Ram Gaya Ram” very clearly and also you brought to the notice the word “Gaya” as the part of Ram who was a turncoat politician and gave rise to the idiom “Aaya Ram Gaya Ram”. Thus there occurred double pun on the word “Gaya”.
Well done Doctor! And thus you proved that you, yourself are clearly a political Pundit. But your Fingerer-touch knowledge of the film songs shows you are also a Film songs Pundit as well along with the incredible Mr Ksbhatia. Note his comment @ 105 “There are many sights and sound that I have hidden from myself. They do have a place in my brain ….only a little de-etching is required to bring them back”
I am going to print out that and going to frame it and put next to MY TV to remind me not to get carried away with other parts of the film while watching the big movies that have all kinds of landscapes.
The word “Pundit” is made from the word “Pund” which means amass of knowledge. All Brahmins from Kashmir by tradition keep the knowledge of Sanskrit language, literature and religion so all Hindu Kashmiri males have “Pundit” as a title at the beginning of their names. All the male members of the Husnlal Bhagatram have “Pundit” as the title.
Others have to achieve the title by showing their expertise. Nowadays many classical musicians either aquire the title “Pundit” or reputable Institute bestow the “pundit” title on them.
Shalan
AK @ 103
Thank you for your comment and raising further points about Yamak in Sankrit and Sanskrit origin languages.
Your following self demeaning comment is not proper self assessment. In fact your efforts of making “Puns” are delightful.
Just in today’s morning paper on a page, a photo is published. A journalist photographer spotted the macho Hollywood hero Bruce Willis of many “Die Hard” series of films was coming out from a London Hotel and he snapped the photo for his newspaper. The subeditor published it with his title
“Bruce Swillis” as he bulged enormously and could not walk straight.
His pun was on the last name of Willis as Swillis a word made from Swell+Willis.
It is amusing and wonderful to see how he made the word like that.
So you should not call your efforts trite or under low art.
Your puzzlement is about if the Yamak could be Pun? :
I think not. The aim of Yamak is to create alliteration and rhyming in the prose or poetry.
A “Pun” is to bring out another meaning from the original word and in the new made up word.
If you look at the Stevenson’s poem “The Swing” quoted by Ashwin towards the end of his opus you will find the following pair of words:
“Swing-thing, Blue-do, Wall-All, Wide-Countryside etc.
-that come to the end of lines in the poem. They are rhyme words and their purpose is to give a kind of rhythm to the poem.
Sometimes the similar or same words repeated like in your example:
“कनक कनक ते सौ गुना मादकता अधिकाय” :
Here the words create sound due to alliteration but not the two different meanings unless you have seen them differently. I think the poet is measuring Gold and Lust with each other. Unless one Kanak is woman and the other is gold.
However using puns in the artwork often creates sound and alliteration which is usually not aimed at. The aim is what is called in Sanskirt “Vakrokti”.
About the quote from Mahabharat: it has before those words or after there a phrase called
“Vyasoshtitm Jagat Sarvam” meaning Vyas Maharaj has tasted all the experiences in the world. Then your quotation comes in.
I agree with your statement that Sanskrit writers did go on creating Pandityapurn Subhashits in their words.
However In King James English Bible created many English phrases and Biblical sayings that are common in English.
It is pity that, that Bible was not ready when Shakespeare was alive. Shakespeare created many wise worded phrases and sayings in his writings of plays and poems.
Shalan Lal
Ashwinji,
First of all forgive me for swinging in late. Thank you for presenting a different and remarkable theme. The topic presents scope for a lot of interesting write-up and a competent writer like you could have done justice to the subject. On this count you disappointed me. But you have more than compensated us with some wonderful songs. I am yet to listen to all the songs. With swaying health and hence mood I could not get in early. Music changes mood to a greater extent. Our moods are constantly on the move. I am sure there would be an upward swing after listening to all the 42 melodies you have presented.
I am posting a song which has both Leela and Jhoola.
Aao Jhoola Jhoolen by Meenakshi Shirodkar and a male Voice(?), film Brandy Ki Botal (1939), lyrics Pt.Indra Chandra, music Dada Chandekar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=41&v=d8uFM9yQqqs
Another vintage song with word Jhoola
Nirmala (Shanta Apte) on hearing that Sushila Devi (elder daughter of Nirmala’s old husband) is supposed to come home during Diwali rushes to tell Chitra. Chitra the younger daughter informs Nirmala that it is Sawan now…….and Chitra starts singing and in the course of this song the director takes us through to Deewali. Only the first line of the song hast the word Jhoola nor there is any swing in the scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS9nXNixSek&feature=player_embedded
Saawan Jhoola Jhool Ke Nikla by Shanta Apte, film Duniya na Maane (1937), lyrics Munshi Aziz, music Keshavrao Bhole
Ms. Shalan Lal @111;
Thank you for your encouraging remarks and comments which means a lot for me.
Memories fails me many times. But heart…. humming the tune …..bring back the words forgotten . Dr. Shetty amazingly holds the court in this field . So also are my other friends who hold old castles remarkably well . I am glad Venkatraman ji is back with vintage melodies and sharing his views with delightful comments and observations .
Now alligning myself for some jhulla songs of vintage and golden period songs …..probably hearing for the first time.
Mana Jhule re jhule re…..Binodini Devi….Ram Vivah [1956 Odiya]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEqo_WxLzw4
O dulha baabu jhoole mein jhool….Asha, Balbir…Afsana [ 194?..unreleased movie]…Rajhans Kataria [MD]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkCNIk-z-6k
Jhule haiya nache jiya…..Shamshad….Naiya[1947]….Anil Biswas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1dk4m94Ny0
Jhul tu jhul jhule mein jhul…..Singer[?]….Ram Rajya [1943]…Shankarrao Vyas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLTvbkdOgeg
…..to be contd…..
Ashwinji,
My late swing may not have the cutting edge, since I have stepped at the fag-end of the match where the concerned players have contributed to their might. Yet I would try to pick up a few tail enders. You have structured your field very astutely. I would simply follow your lead and try to add to your wonderful bouquet of songs. Out of your first 16 songs from films the first two songs had swings figuring in both the lyrics as well as on screen. Let me add a couple.
In the first song Shakuntala (Jayashree) renders the song while Dushyant (Chandramohan) gives her company. Only during the first one minute of the song we see them in the swing.
Jhulungi Jhulungi jiwan bhar ye jiwan jhula by Jayashree, film Shakuntala (1943), lyrics Ratan Piya, music Vasant Desai
http://muvyz.com/song/hm981070
In the second song too, Noorjehan renders the song while Nazir giver company in the swing during the entire length of the song. The word Jhula can be heard only in the last two lines of the song.
Jhulenge hum jhula haye
Jhulenge hum jhula haye ek duje ki baho me
Rut Aayi Suhani Hai by Noorjehan, film Gaon Ki Gori (1945), lyrics Wali Sahab, music Shyam Sundar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7wa2U03vpI
Bhatiaji,
Sorry I could not respond to your warm welcome in the previous two posts. Both you and Shettyji are going strong and scoring at will. Having entered the field late I would try to chip in a few here and there. I am yet to go through the entire post and comments.
Aaya Aaya Re Aaya Re Sawan Dekho Aaya Re by Lalita Deulkar, film Sawan Aaya re (1949), lyrics Rammurti Chaturvedi, music Khemchand Prakash
Here the swing(s) can be seen throughout the song, but the word Jhuloon appears only at first line of the last stanza.
Jhuloon mai prem hi dole jhuloon mai prem hi dole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6HghaZsJOM
Bhandarkar ji, ksbhatia ji, Shalan Lal ji,R Venkataraman ji,
Thanks for the good words. A quarter of the songs posted are from memory… recalled spontaneously or with some effort; and three quarters,’ discovered’.
Now,a hilarious jhoola mishap from VIDYAPATI,1937.
Kanan Devi,Kidar Sharma,R C Boral.
https:// youtu.be/ 5_e5WOyqiRO
CHALBAAZ,1958.
Prem Dhawan,Chitragupta.
Rafi,Geeta Dutt,Usha Mangeshkar?
Ambuwa ke daal pe jhoole pade…
https:// youtu.be/ L13GtLNCVLO
Ashwinji,
The next three songs in your presentation, where there is mention of Jhoola and/ or Hindol, were excellent picks. Likewise, the selection of songs, where the word is used in a figurative sense, is too good. We might have heard them earlier several times, yet hearing them in a different perspective give added enjoyment.
Saat suro ke saath hai jhule saat suro ke saath hai jhule
jo chule wo sab dukh bhule sab dukh bhule sab dukh bhule
Jhula dhanak ka dhire dhire ham jhule
ambar toh kya hai taro ke bhi lab chhule
masti me jhule aur sabhi gham bhule
makes one forget “Sab Dukh” and swing in “Masti”.
I had expressed my disappointment on the lack of an introductory write-up on the subject. But your structural presentation along with the associated narratives (and clippings) provides an interesting reading.
Here is a song where the word Jhulana occurs in the mukhda. The visual of the song is not available.
Jhulana dala de, More saiya ko bula de, by Zeenat Begum, Munawar Sultana & Dilshad, film Pagdandi (1947) lyrics D N Madhok, music Khurshid Anwar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7g67bOkUKI
Children love movement. As infants, they love to sway. Swinging on a swing-set is often one of life’s most cherished childhood memories. Regardless of how swings change over the years, they will always put a smile on the face of children.
In effect, the following songs are cradle songs, but the words Jhuoola, Jhulana and Jhulaye etc. crop up in the songs.
Jhoolna Jhulaye Maiyya by Rajkumari, film Naulakha Haar (1953), lyrics Ramesh Gupta , music Bhola Shreshtha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTbRJfuc1B8
Visuals not available for the following songs.
Gokul Mein Chhaya Ujiyala by Md. Rafi & Suman Kalyanpur, film Neel Mani (1957), lyrics Bharat Vyas(?)/Gopal Singh Nepali(?), music Chitragupt
ho jhoole re dekho
palna mein lalna
bhooli hain sudh gwaalania
jhoole jo jhoola
to jhoolne ke sang sang
jhoole ye phaag hamaara re
nanhe nanhe haathon ko nachaaye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p-PXp2H4NE
Chanda Loriya Sunaye Hawa Jhulna Jhulaye by Lata Mangeshkar, film Naya Sansaar (1959), lyrics Rajinder Krishan, music Chitragupt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=72&v=0FX_TudcIhI
Dr. Shetty ji, Venkatraman ji ;
I am enjoying the very rare songs posted by both of you and I am amazed by the energy you all posses . It is still a difficult task even to keep 25:75 ratio . So much so that all the vintage songs belong to radio days and recalling them when you were just 4 or 6 years old…..really a difficult job. Yes the popular one having repititve quality with added melody topped with rhythm and beats ….are always enjoyable and are remember for long……..a great shelf value.
KS Bhatiaji @94, 95, 104, 105, 110 & 116:
Thank you for all the songs! I must confess that I listened to only those that I had not heard before and to the ones that I had already heard and liked. For me, the prize catches were:
1. The scene from ‘Mangamma Sabatham’. How in the world did you locate it? Or is it that you have watched the film, which was very successful in its time? I ask you because you had cited the Vasundhara Devi song, which was lifted from a Carmen Miranda song, from this film in a comment on AK’s post on the best songs of 1947.
BTW, NS Krishnan and TA Mathuram were the first couple of comedy in Tamizh films in the 40s before NSK was implicated, along with MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, in the Lakshmikanthan murder case, and jailed. Both MKT and NSK were acquitted and released after more than 2 years, and they even resumed their acting careers, but unfortunately they did not enjoy the success of their heydays and both of them died relatively young.
2. D’Amel’s Hindol-Bahar: If there is one find that made the writing of this blog worth the effort, I would say that it is this. Honestly, while I had first read about D’Amel (Dinkar Ammembal) in the articles by Mohan Nadkarni in the early 80s, I had hardly got to listen to his oeuvre. Coming across this gem made my day! I see that there are a few of his 78 rpm recordings on YouTube – I plan to listen to them over the weekend.
The other interesting thing is that D’Amel seems to be playing the well-know bandish ‘Koyaliya bole’. Here is Bhimsen Joshi’s rendering of this ‘bandish’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyzeOHSATEc
3. The Oriya song by Binodini Devi.
A few more comments:
1. Asha Bhonsle’s voice is unrecognizable in the song from ‘Afsana’. No wonder, given that is is from the 40’s, when she could not have been older than sixteen.
2. As for the ‘Ram Rajya’ song, guess which song started playing next on YT? The one below… and Shobhana Samarth is on a ‘jhoola’ in the picturisation! 🙂
‘Beena madhur madhur kachhu bol’ by Saraswati Rane (MD – Shankarrao Vyas, Lyricist – Ramesh Gupta)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyyhMFSH8Bg
3. Last but not least, I loved your comments about the integration of good visuals and good sound.
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji ;
The Guru Granth Sahib is poetry, and its poetry is sung. The full spirit and power of the word is in the singing of it. All of the shabads contained in the Guru Granth Sahib are set to particular traditional musical scales called ragas, each meant to be played at a particular time of day or to evoke a particular mood. When Guru Arjan arranged the Adi Granth, he ordered its thirty-one sections according to musical raga. The ragas are noted before each shabad.
Now here is one shabad which is based on Raag Basant Hindol…..melody that rules the ears and mind……produced by God and heard by Soul.
Sadho Eh tan Mithiya Jano……Sri Guru Granth Sahib
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn53KZB-Xn4
Josephji @96,
Thanks for posting the ‘Khandan’ song. I had never noticed the swing in all the times that I had watched it before.
Dr.Shetty @97-100, 106,107
Here are the missing links to songs that you have cited:
1. ‘Chehra hai ya chaand khila ho’ by Kishore Kumar (MD – R.D.Burman, Lyricist – Javed Akhtar), from ‘Saagar’ (1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwomRoPphnA
2. ‘Deewana mastana hua dil’ by Asha Bhonsle & Mohd. Rafi (MD -S.D.Burman, Lyricist – Majrooh Sultanpuri), from ‘Bombai ka Babu’ (1960)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vKH-W2WkPc
3. ‘Le to aaye ho humein’ by Hemlata (MD & Lyricist – Ravindra Jain), from ‘Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye’ (1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-Hjah2Ir3w
4. ‘Tu chhupi hai kahaan’ by Asha Bhonsle & Manna Dey (MD – C.Ramchandra, Lyricist – Bharat Vyas), from ‘Navrang’ (1959)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lieuCEc_wI
The following songs are lovely songs and still in the syllabus even though the platform for the swinging activity is the hammock:
1. ‘Yeh raat bheegi bheegi’ by Lata Mangeshkar & Manna Dey (MD – Shankar Jaikishen, Lyricist – Shailendra), from ‘Chori Chori’ (1956)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1DZxkiMjRo
2. ‘Sun ja aa thandi hawa’ by Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar (MD – Laxmikant Pyarelal, Lyricist – Anand Bakshi), from ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’ (1971)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCwpOsae5Wg
3. ‘Main tasveer urata hun’ by Kishore Kumar (MD – R.D.Burman, Lyricist -Anand Bakshi ), from ‘Heera Panna’ (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yzgOnzDdKQ
This song barely makes the syllabus but I do agree with you that
Asha P’s swinging and Asha B’s singing are fab.
1. ‘Daiyya ye main kahaan phasi’ by Asha Bhonsle (MD – R.D.Burman, Lyricist – Majrooh Sultanpuri), from ‘Caravan’ (1971)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP7woImxNXQ
https://youtu.be/WIoF0lylL4Y
Has anyone mentioned this लोरी
” झूमे रे झूमे रे , हो मेरे गोद में तारे झूमे ”
परवरिश / आशा भोसले / ललिता पवार
Shalan Lal @ 101 & 111,
After perusing this article, a friend of mine remarked in jest that I had written a PhD thesis and that it would take him a long time to go through it. Another college friend, whom I chanced upon at the Sawai Gandharv Bhimsen Music Festival – I was meeting him after 30 years – said that it will take him until the next SGB Music Festival to absorb the contents of my post. If only they had known, while making their comments, that there is an academic by the name of Shalan Lal, who has the ability to pack in material that is worthy, both in volume and weightiness, of two PhDs and then some, in one comment on SoY, they would have reserved their comments to themselves. Your treatise on puns @ 101, and your comments on puns on my previous post on bees and honey, makes you more than worthy of the title of Pundita, a title that is even more apt for you considering that you are an academic.
Now, here are my comments/questions on what you have written:
1. By saying ‘going about cutting down everything without a second thought’, you seem to suggest that I am indiscriminate with my punning. If this is indeed your point of view, I beg to disagree.
2. The analogy of the story of George Washington and his axe is not appropriate in this context. The story is about his honesty in admitting that he had felled his father’s cherry tree. It has nothing to do with ‘going about cutting down everything without a second thought’.
3. Thanks for the pun on ‘ras’ from the Bhagwad Gita. It brings to mind the story from the Shrimad Bhagavatam in which Naradmuni asks Vishnu for a face like his (Hari’s) and Vishnu gives him the face of a monkey (also Hari, in Sanskrit). A classic story of double entendres.
4. I am curious as to why you consider ‘Gitanjali’ a pun on ‘Bhagwad Gita’.
5. Wrt your comment on classical musicians being conferred the title of ‘pundit’, there is unfortunately no formal system by which titles like ‘Pandit’ or ‘Ustad’ are conferred on a person. These titles are informal and people start referring to classical musicians/dancers as ‘Pundit’ or ‘Ustad’ or ‘Vidwan’ (and ‘Vidushi’ or ‘Pundita’ in a nod to gender equality these days) once they have reached a certain stature or level of popularity or chronological age and sometimes it has no relation to the person’s level of skill/knowledge/expertise. And for obvious reasons, musicians are complicit in this punditization/ustadization/vidwanization – in the worst cases, these titles are self-appropriated. Personally, I’ve come around to the opinion that we should stop using these titles but I do not think it is possible in our culture.
Last but not least, I’m sure that you will take my leg-pulling and comments in your stride, like the sport that you are, and that you will not turn into a Sullen Lal and sulk 🙂
Ashokji @108,
Thanks for the kind words!
Dr.Shetty @109, 119 & 120,
The ‘Bhakta Dhruva’ song is a beauty! It is based on Raga Kafi.
The link that you have provided to the scene from ‘Vidyapati’ did not work for me. Neither was I able to locate the scene independently. But look what I chanced on during the search:
‘Dole, dole hriday ki naiyya’ by Kanan Devi (MD – R.C.Boral, Lyricist – Kidar Sharma)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaiV1jVeQpk
The ‘naiyya’ in the scene seems to have a function as a a ‘jhoola’ as well, or is it the other way around?
The ‘Chaalbaaz’ song is the first song in which I have heard the voices of Geeta Dutt and Usha Mangeshkar together.
AK @103,
Your attempt at punning was not bad at all! And, I loved the Sanskrit pun on the Mahabharat that you’ve shared! Allow me also to thank you, albeit in a belated manner, for the privilege of having my post featured as the first post of 2019!
Venkataramanji @113-115, 117,118,119,120
It’s good to have you back as an active participant! I sincerely wish that 2019 proves to be a year of good health and good cheer for you.
You are the only one to have acceded in full to my request at the tail-end of my post by sending not only bouquets my way, but brickbats as well! Let me first thank you for the compliments regarding the song selection and the way I have structured the post. I struggled a lot with the structure, given the different aspects of the topic and genres of music that I wanted to cover, and it took me a long time to finalize it. Your compliment has made all that effort worthwhile.
Let me now come to your criticism of the post not having an opening write-up. I am sorry that I have disappointed you. In my defense, I would like to make the following points:
1. Like I had done for my previous post, I had wanted to include some of my childhood memories of swings as a prelude but I did not want my readers to get bored, especially given that more than one had mildly complained to me that I had taken way too long to get to the songs in ‘Beena madhur madhur kacchu bole’, therefore I dropped the idea.
2. The post was becoming anyway too long and I did not want to stretch it any more. In fact, I had thought of including a whole section on cradle songs but I dropped the idea and included only the song from ‘Shabab’ knowing fully well that readers like KS Bhatiaji and Dr.Shetty and yourself would add these songs anyway, and my hunch has proved to be correct.
Now coming to the songs that you have posted, I enjoyed the first one from ‘Brandy ki Bottle’ (!!) and the second one from ‘Duniya na maane’ as well but the link to the second song has only the audio, not the video. I will listen to the other vintage songs at leisure and post my comments on this page.
Please read ‘too long anyway’ in place of ‘anyway too long’.
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji;
With boat swaying in song…..I liked dole dole hirdey ki naiya ….by kanan devi …..singer with a golden voice of the 30s and 40s .
We still are in the middle of our journey …..shifting to cruise with some more songs ……that still wants to make entry thru visuals or words or both . We will revert back with vintage songs as soon as we reach tail end.
Tu mera chand mein teri chandni……Geeta dutt….Dillagi[1949]……Naushad . This was the first song Geeta dutt sang for Naushad but no vinyl record was made ; as such it exists in film only. [ This song was extensively discussed in another of SoY post]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C05k714hsFQ
Jhuk Jhuk Jhola khaye…..Lata, Mohinder kapoor [ as a highlighter in chorus ]….Do Behnein[1958] ….Vasant Desai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zMql6_9UQg
Aaye re din sawan ke…..Lata…..Gaban [1966]….SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rUlYVoEQgg
Jawani Jhoolti hai…..Lata [ singing as a duet for Madhubala and Her sister]…..Naata [1955] ….S. Mohinder…..this film was produced by Madhubala and probably Rail ka Dibba too was produced by her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laaD5d3pCFw
…..to be contd.
I am reminded of one more song that I liked and may qualify for posting here from Beti Bete (1964) , Lata , MD – SJ , Aaj kal mein dhal gaya
https://youtu.be/q_cFj08mQ60
I forgot to add the male version of the song from Beti Bete that I posted above, which is by Mohammed Rafi
https://youtu.be/Bf87JpFSwLE
Ashwin,
I have said time and again that I lack the expertise of expressing my feelings, I take सहारा of hindi lyrics.
Here in your post I am so late I can defend by saying that all I would like to say and more has been said.
For your great effort I have a video, This video represents the feeling I went through gliding from one song into the other.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb7cmIs9GwE
Thank you for taking us for the ride and to AK for aiding and abetting this ride.
Uff…forgot to post two songs .
Sunil Dutt in two altered jhoola songs
DEKHO RE DEKHO LOG AJUBA YE BISVI SADI KA…YE CHANDA ROOS KA NA YE JAPAN KA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKGtwMQzmyw
“AAG PANI ME LAGI”BY M.RAFI & LATA,M:SALIL CHOWDHARY-“JHOOLA-1962”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=W4eyAUdSL_4
Venkataramanji,
Listened to the songs that you have shared from ‘Shakuntala’, ‘Gaon ki Gori’, ‘Saawan Aaye Re’ and ‘Pagdandi’. I had heard the 2nd song before (most probably through SoY) but not the others. The tune of the 2nd line (‘More saiyyaan ko bula de’) of the ‘Pagdandi’ song is almost the same as that of the 2nd line (‘Hamko bhi saath le le re’) of ‘O door ke musafir’ by Rafi from ‘Udan Khatola’.
Venkataramanji @ 122,
The ‘Naulakh Haar’ song – The first time that I’m seeing Durga Khote lip sync a song!
The ‘Neel Mani’ song – I feel there is a 2nd female voice that comes in at 1:53 unless it is a case of slick sound editing.
I am surprised that no one posted this well-known cradle song:
1. ‘O pardesi musafir’ by Suraiya & Lata Mangeshkar (MD – Husnlal Bhagatram, Lyricist – Qamar Jalalabadi), from ‘Balam'(1949)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bOi-5_kERU
In ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, the Krishna Janmashtami celebration scenes provide the prelude to ‘Mohe panghat pe’. An idol of Krishna kept in a ‘jhoola’ is worshiped by Jodhabai, following which Akbar gently swings it between 39:14 and 40:36:
‘Mughal-e-Azam’ (1960):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNzLsR8fjkA
Ashwin Bhandarkar @141;
I had Balam song in mind but on closer look I thought some one has doctored it by superimposing other song visuals …..making it as of original . I may be wrong but needs to be clarified . Actually this has happened many time . A number of romantic songs have visuals of Dilip Kumar and Madhubala !! on YT.
Ashokji @108,
108 is an auspicious number and it is a blessing to receive your compliments in the 108th comment on my post!
Pramodji @128,
No, no one else has shared the ‘lori’ from ‘Parvarish’. A nice, lilting melody! And it is a welcome change to see Lalita Pawar as a loving mother!
KS Bhatiaji @134,
The ‘Tu mera chaand’ song from ‘Dillagi’ is the 3rd instance of a song that I know that features a non-singing Suraiya listening to another female singer. The other two are ‘Sapna ban saajan aaye’ (Lata) from ‘Shokhiyaan’ and ‘Chup chup khadi ho’ (Lata & Premlata) from ‘Badi Behen’.
I am not sure why you have included the ‘Do Behnein’ song. It does not feature a swing, nor is there a mention of a swing in the lyrics, unless I am missing something. Nevertheless, what a coincidence that the very next song that you have cited has been picturised on ‘do behnein’ in real life!
Josephji @135 & 136,
The first version of the song qualifies for inclusion in this post and the second version qualifies by extrapolation 🙂
Mumbaikar8 @137 and 138,
I am glad that you enjoyed the post but while going through it I hope that nowhere did you experience anything similar to what happens at 3:47 in the video that you have shared in Comment #137 :). Thanks for both songs. Another song (stanza?) from ‘Jhoola’ (1962) has been posted by Dr.Shetty @18.
KS Bhatiaji @143,
I agree with your observations.
Venkatraman ji;
When I go for a class of classic songs I get myself perfectly dressed up for enjoying best of the bests . When mind and eyes are alligned …..you yourself have to be alligned with music . There are many intense songs …..that one loves to make them a part of their lives. After all stairways to heaven must enjoy the rainbows too.
Nache man mora magan…….Rafi…..Meri Surat Teri Aankhen….SDB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5as7b0Zz8GI
Man Ki Been Matwali ….Rafi, Lata ji…Shabab…..Naushad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNJUpYFwfVw
…..to be contd.
Ashwin @ 146
Good catch. Starting song # 20 that’s how I felt :- (
Post Number 150…. let us make it exotic…how about an extra special
Beeda?
Did I hear someone saying, Come again?
LEKIN,1991
Lata Mangeshkar, Vasanth Dev,Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
Mohe naihar se ab toh bulayi le piya…
….
Magli ke patthe ko jhoola jhulaye ke
Kewde ke patthe pe thaali darai ke
Mohe beeda lavangi khilayi de piya.
Who would imagine beeda making can involve jhoola! But,my brain was telling me some unusual jhoola reference in a song from LEKIN! The same grey cells, obsessed with jhoola theme were wishing why wouldn’t the lyrics of
Mehbooba Mehbooba
Bana de mujhe dulha
Jala de mera choola…
Include a jhoola!!!!
Strange are the workings of one’s brain!!!!!
RUDALI,1993.
I immensely like the whole album.
Lata Mangeshkar, Gulzar,Bhupen Hazarika.
Jhooti mooti mitwa aawan bole
Bhadhon bole kabhi Saawan bole…
Baadlon pe chalne ko chaahoon piya
Aao mera jhoolna jhoolao piya.
Sunday, and I am on a swing!
LAAL SALAAM,2002.
Lata Mangeshkar, Roopkumar Rathod; Gulzar; Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
Mitwa lai jaiyo,mitwa lai jaiyo..
…
Ambuwa ki daali jhoola daaroon
Tum jo mile toh Saawan waaroon.
CHAR DIWARI,1961.
Lata Mangeshkar, Shailendra,Salil Chowdhury.
Neend pari lori gaaye
Maa jhulaye palna….
https:// YouTube.be/ AWGQ2VqcAFo
DOOR GAGAN KI CHAON MEIN,1964
Asha Bhonsle, Shailendra, Kishore Kumar.
Khoya khoya Chanda,khoye khoye taare
Tu bhi so jaa,Chand hamaare…
…
Jhoola chandi ke pade
Heero pannon se jhade
Resham ki dor bandhi
Jhoolega Lal mera
SUVARNA SUNDARI,1958
Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey; Bharat Vyas,Adi Narayana Rao.
Chanda se pyaare, akhiyon ke taare
So jaa re….
…
Toot gayi meri kismat ki dori..
..
Asuvan ke jhoole ab na jhula re..
GANGU,1962.
Geeta Dutt,Suman Kalyanpur; Prem Dhawan; Kalyanji Anandji.
Geeta Dutt,of Nanhi Kali ,feels ‘ Sona haraam hai’!
Mehfil hai,aaj ras hai
Sakhi hai,jaam hai
Jab tak ye raat baaki hai
Sona haraam hai .
Suman Kalyanpur wants the child to sleep:
Soya hai Chanda soye hain taare
So jaa re so jaa Raj Dulare…
…
Nahin ka jhoola Maiya jhulaye.
https:// youtu.be/ 28lrx2OiVWX
CHIRAG KAHAN ROSHNI KAHAN
Lata Mangeshkar; Ravi ( lyricist/ composer)
Tim Tim karte taare……
..
Nindiya pukaare..
…
Rang birangi panchi tujhko jhoola jhulaye
Geeta Dutt is here,now,to make amends!
Shree Ganesh Mahima,1950.
Ramesh Pandey,S N Tripathi.
Taaron ke palne mein jhoole Chand hamaara re..
https:// youtu.be/ qW5pkXTM5wM
KURBANI,1943.
Ishwarlal, Kausalya: Wali Sahab; Khemchand Prakash.
Aao Sajan tumhe jhoola jhulaoon.
https:// youtu.be/ N9lwDBO_lO8
Ashwinji @132, @133, @139,@140
Thanks for your good wishes.
I very well understand the painstaking effort behind this compilation. I read your reasons you have cited for not including a opening write-up. I cannot recollect anybody complaining in your debut post. In fact your write-up was a fabulous read. I am sure, readers of SoY articles expect you to share more from your Bhandar and I too was just doing that. Still you can share your childhood memories of swings and other details that you would have liked to include as a sequel or epilogue in this comment section.
I am glad that you like the songs posted by me. Yes, song from Duniya na maane’ has only the audio, I could not find a video. I should have mentioned it. Since I had watched the film, I gave a description of the scene preceding the song.
Thanks for the minute observations.
@141
I have mentioned in my earlier comment that children love movement, they like to sway. In the song ‘O pardesi musafir’, you can see the kid swaying on wooden rocking horse and later going round in motion on a miniature merry-go-round. Indeed a nice song. If I remember right, Pradip Shettyji posted or mentioned this song in the “Musfir “post last year. But as per the guideline set by you this song does not qualify for this post. You wrote that song with a cradle in the visuals will qualify if the word Jhoola or the associated word is referred in the song. I did not find any such mention in this song.
Strictly speaking the following song too does not qualify. But I am taking the liberty of posting it since the word Jhulau is used in the lyrics!
So Jaa Lalna Mai Palna Jhulau by Lata Mageshkar, film Dhiraj (1942), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Gyan Dutt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ile3SRzFOQ
Dr. Shetty ji ;
There is a Met forecast of rain today….but it is yet to come . But before that your shower of songs are all over this place …..must be a surgical venture.
Yes, Rudali songs are awesome . During my posting in Assam in 1979 I used to hear and enjoy many of Bhupan Hazarika songs in the company of my local friends there. Rich in voice like Hemant !
Two songs to keep the ball rolling ….one vintage [punjabi] and one golden.
Farishton ki nagri mein….Mukesh…Hamari Yaad Ayegi [1961]…Snehal Bhadkar….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBCVlEK92ao
Bagan vich peengan[ meaning jhoola] payiyan…..Master Madan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko1W-toA1E4
…..to be contd.
https://youtu.be/JrlzqP0m8Uc
Let me present a very very old nd very popular Marathi hindola song .
16 VAYADHINILE1977., the brilliant Bharatiraja debut Tamil movie, starring a 14 year old Sridevi in the lead(!), and brilliant performances by her,Kamal Hassan and Rajnikanth got the National Award, best female playback singer to S Janaki for the song Sandoora Poove….
The visuals have Sridevi on a swing.
The Vani Jayaram song …SOLWA SAWAN is no patch on the original.
k s bhatia ji,
Hope it did rain yesterday.. unlike the Englishman venturing out for a picnic when the Met department forecasts a rainy day!
Did we all miss the iconic Bidai song
Babul ki duwayen lete jaa?
NEEL KAMAL,1968
Rafi,Sahir Ludhianvi,Ravi
Bachpan mein jhulaya hain tujhko
Bahon ne mere jhoolon ke tarah
Surprisingly,the same combination in the same movie again mentions baahon mein jhoolna…,this time,not from the Babul to the daughter,but, Premi to his Premika!
Sharma ke yoon na dekh mujhe
Ada ke muqaam se….
…
Duniya ko bhool kar mere bahon mein jhool jaa.
Ashwin@129
Ashwin Punhos 01
I am thrilled at your first paragraph bringing in two musically minded friends met at Sawai Gandharv Festival. Nice to know that you take interest in the intellectual and cultural activities of the Punekars who often are called “Puny” kars for which they are very famous since Poona aka Pune became an avant-garde Centre of all cultural, educational and intellectual activities after the demise of the Peshwa rule.
Your frineds’ remarks about your long and comprehensively done post though looked like a Kashi Shastri’s “treatise” is very light as one can smell various flowers and hear the birds in the Vasant Ritu in a garden walk. Your explanations notes in the various areas of music are very light and you brought in specimens from various Indian languages and you went as far as Ganga Jamuna Duab making it colourful or Gangajamna.
You also bestowed a title on me as “Paundita”. But I support your view that all the titles like Pandit and Ustad etc should be thrown away. So it is not good for me.
Actually I am a street fighter on the issues of women and children and a constant combatant so one could call me “Sangraamikaa” a woman warrior!
My point was based in the following statement “He (Hridaynath Mangeshkar) was awarded the title pandit by the people of Maharashtra at the hands of Bhimsen Joshi and Jasraj. The Shankaracharya has conferred upon him the title Bhaav Gandharva.” From a biographical article in the Wikipedia on the celebrated singer composer and a family man.
Now about your numbered “Punhos”:
Before I go about them, I want to explain the word “Punho” which is in the “Pali” language of Buddhism and it means Prashna- question.
After the Alexander’s return to Europe he left his officer called Selukes Niketor to rule Punjab and Afghanistan. He became Buddhist and took his name as “Milind”. He asked many questions and discussed his understanding that is called “Milind Punho” in a book in Pali and essential for the study of Buddhism. My use is a pun on it as we are in the land of Puns and punning.
Now your bullet points 1 & 2:
The story of Washington’s Axe or Hatchet is very intriguing. But it leads to the meaning that a novice’s itching to handle a gift without looking back or forward.
I do not believe the story is true as it is totally daft.
I would like to question the father of George Washington buttonholing him what a senseless act to give a boy of six years a present of Hatchet that he would go around cutting anything come into his sight?
Furthermore George could have cut his own arm or foot. It is a father’s responsibility to give an apt present to his issue of six years.
Secondly what is truth and a lie to a six year boy or girl?
Third for telling truth is reward of ignoring the cutting down of the tree is damn stupid. That tree would have taken very long time to grow and to bring out cherries and his family would not have understood the phrase of “Cherry picking”.
But the story is inserted in a biography of George Washington in the year 1800 for selling the book and glorifying the founding father of U.S.A. And a myth started to spread.
My mention was about those get too much addicted to the habit of punning and not you. I think you have complete sense of how far you go into your favourite past time.
But I have a story of a wood cutter who lost his hatchet in a pond and started lamenting over it loudly. Luckily a water nymph comes out to see who was crying in the wilderness. After knowing his reason for his crying she offers him the choice of three hatchets one axe was silver, next was gold and the third one was an iron one. He truthfully told her that his was the iron one. Then the nymph rewards him all the three axes for his being truth.
But my story does not end there. Next time his visit in the jungle was accompanied by his six year old daughter to carry the bundle of cut wood. But the little girl while picking flowers by the brink of the pond fell in the pond and drowned.
The woodcutter loudly lamented and the nymph came out and learned that the woodcutter had his daughter fallen in the pond. She went down the bottom of the pond and brought out a very pretty girl. The woodcutter told her she was not his daughter. Then the nymph brought out another girl who was facially ugly and lame. The woodcutter refused her as his daughter. Then the nymph brought out his real daughter. But the woodcutter refused her as well.
The nymph accosted him for telling a lie. The wood cutter said if he would have told the truth the nymph would have given him all the three girls. How he could have afforded to feed them and faced the problem of finding the husbands for them?
What nymph did I do not know. But the truth is young girls are killed by their parent in India to save the troubles. If a girl is born, the family becomes sad in India and do not celebrate. And this a naked truth.
!Aaj Ki Mulakat Bus Itani…….
More about your “Punhos” next time.
Shalan Lal
Bhatiaji & Pradipji,
Simply amazed at your energy levels in finding out and posting songs one after another. Relatively I have slowed down and trying to get back into the groove. It appeared to be a close affair, but Pradipji has stepped on the gas and racing away towards half century mark. I notice that Pradipji concentrates mainly on the post 70s songs, chipping in
with a few from the vintage and golden era, Bhatiaji is more comfortable with songs from the vintage and golden periods. A lot to listen and enjoy. Both of you have a keen eyes and ears to locate these songs. Thanks to both of you.
Bhatiaji,
The song and visual from Mangamma Sabatham was a pleasant surprise. Loved listening to the Basnat Hindol by D’Amel on the flute. I found from Parrikar’s blog site that he is actually Dinakar Rao Amembal. There is a detailed write-up on him. The Sabadh in Basant Bahar was divine. Can you tell me who the singer is? Thanks for posting the classic pieces, naache man moraa magan dhigadhaa dhigi dhigi (Bhairavi) and man ki been matwari baje (Bahar, Basant).
N Venkatraman ji @ 167 ;
You are right on dot on target board. I usually roam about old songs worthy of post . Not only I enjoy these new find old gems but sharing among like minded people that SoY comprise of makes me happy.
The Mangamma Sabatham song is result of my exploration on two accounts…..one, my obssesion of watching my childhood idol Ranjan in a number of south indian movies like ….chandralekha, mangla , etc……and two, getting connected thru dance numbers with large settings and linking the likes of same in hollywood productions . Yes carmen dances and operas brought in many surprises . On such occasions ….Ms. Shalan Lal, SSW, Rangan ji , yourself and quite more were very quick in response and added their useful observation . That made the blog very interesting.
Listening to D’Amel flute is a bliss and so also to the shabad based on Basant Hindol . Note the clarity with which it is sung. This is the outcome of Gurmat Gyan Group of Ludhiyana . Such groups are very dedicated one who teaches raagas and make singers a perfectionist in reciting shabad gurubani . There are quite a number of shabads available under Manbir singh. Just prescribed on the side line and you can hear many more. Yes ; if you hear one i am sure you would like to listen all. The meanings are given in english and hindi as well. So stayed divine.
I am glad you liked the songs …..Nacche man mora…and….Man ki been matwali baje . Tabla in Naache man mora is awesome ….the head swayed with its beats and my study table helped my fingers to match its beats . For both …SDB and Naushad at their very best .
N Venkatraman ji;
As you brought out everyone in their childhood had fun riding a jhoola. In my childhood I used to believe Rainbow as a Swing that god has made upside down….making it a theory that all those born up there falls from the appex of rainbow and lands upon the small wooden jhoola that was there in every household.
Whenever I see a rainbow my mind goes to childhood querries as to how it is formed , what if we ride a rainbow ……will we come closer to god. There must be a life there as we see and hear many birds celebrating seeing all the colours at one go.
If life is there…..here is a beautiful song….
Somewhere over the rainbow…..Judy Garland…The Wizard of OZ[1939]….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnU
Now trying for my other fav.landscape…..Mirage
Ashwin @129
Ashwin Punho 02
Now I come to your further curio-questions and comments.
Your example of “Hari” (Krishna/Vishnu) and Hari-Monkey is superb example of lord god’s play on the words and action.
This makes Krishna/Vushnu very close to human beings and not as a far away God in the heaven. Even Bible says that the Lord God made Man in the image of Himself makes more clear now and Darwinians too should be happy with the meaning of Hari as an Ape. Wonderful!
Now your pointed question:
“am curious as to why you consider ‘Gitanjali’ a pun on ‘Bhagwad Gita’”
There are many similarities between both works.
Gita was told to Arjun when his soul was sunk into the mire of self doubts about killing his own cousins, teachers and many other close friends and creating an apocalypse.
Ăho bătă măhătpāpăm kărtŭm vyăvăsĭtā văyăm
Yădrājyăsŭkhălobhènă hăntŭm svăjănămŭdyătāh 1.45
What ho! an enormous apocalypse we are about to set loose
Corrupted by the seductive power, about to obliterate relatives! 1.45
ĖvămŭktvāĂrăjŭnăḥ săṅkhyè răthopăsthă ŭpāvĭshăt
Vĭsṛĭjyă săshărăṃ chāpăṃ shokăsăṃvĭgnămānăsăḥ 1.47
Ărăjun thus spoke in the middle of the war and sat in the chariot,
Dropped down his bow and arrow and drowned in the sorrow15. 1.47
Gitanjali
“Many of the verses in Gitanjali are beautiful prayers written after a gut-wrenchingly painful period in Rabindranath Tagore’s life, during which he lost his father, wife, daughter and a son in quick succession. His unfathomable pain and unshaken devotion to God are captured in the moving prose-verses of Gitanjali”.
The Nobel Prize was an accolade came to him but he took it in his stride and used it to enhance Indian culture by creating “Shanti Niketan” and travelled all around the world reading his poems and lofty lectures on the Vedic culture.
No other Nobel Prize winner has used the prize like Tagore has used.
The word Bhagvad Gita is the song of Lord God. Gitanjali is the spiritual “Songs’ offering” of Robindrnath Tagore.
I think this much is enough.
A pun should not be taken as “has only comic effect”. It could be used as serious as Gurudeb has used.
Following example from the Gitanjali may elate you:
“On many an idle day have I grieved over lost time. But it was never lost, my lord.
Thou hast taken every moment of my life in thine own hands.
Hidden in the heart of things
thou hast planted nourishing seeds,
now
art into sprouts, buds into blossoms, and ripening flowers into fruitfulness.”
The Cardinal characteristics of Tagore’s lyrics are their Song like quality. They are meditative, reflective and remarkable for their spiritual character. Tagore’s English lyrics are mainly prose poems in which he uses the musical language and the incantatory tone.
If you are not convinced after the above nothing will convince will convince you any more.
Now on a lighter note:
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan the Duchess of Sussex announced to the Reporters that they are expecting their first issue in April. Furthermore the Duke revealed that he meditates every morning.
One News paper today gave a front page Title:
HarryKrishna! An obvious pun on Hare Krishna!
Thus ends Ashwin Punho Chapter Two called “Gita Gitanjali Resemblance”
Shalan
Was trying to swing back to this post for the past few days. But the magic of Shyam Sundar held me back. But the lure of the Jhoola has brought me back to this post once again.
Bhatiaji @ 168 , @169
Thanks for the detail response. Just in case if you are not aware, Pandit Shanta Prasad played the Tabla for the song Nacche man mora.
The rainbow is nature’s creation. We naturally delight in it. There is something awe-inspiring in the appearance of a rainbow after a storm. Thanks for sharing your childhood beliefs and feelings which you still cherish and the wonderful song ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’.
One would feel like swinging to this vintage Jhoola song (only audio available).
Madhuban Me Radha Jhoole Hindole by Khursheed, film Prabhu ka Ghar (1945), lyrics Pt. Indira, music Khemchand Prakash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zamj1YPwo8I
One more ….. (Video not available)
Naino Me Jhula Dala Kajal Ki Dor Ka by Geeta Dutt, film Chakori (1949), lyrics Mulkraj Bhakri, music Hansraj Behl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3udsEUcALbA
Two more from the Golden Era for which visuals are not available.
Jhulo Jhulo re Jhulna Jhulaun by Lata Mangeshkar, film Ekadashi (1955), lyrics Pt. Madhur, music Avinas Vyas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr6bVb90bao
Mohabbat ka mausam , umango ke jhule
koi mere dil ki nigaaho me jhule
ha koi mere dil ki nigaaho me jhule
by Suman Kalyanpur, film Reshmi Romal (1961), lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, music Babul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Cfth73sWU
Two Lata songs from 1967…
JAB YAAD KISI KI AATI HAI,Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, Madan Mohan.
Tere bin saawan kaise beeta
Tu kya jaane baalma..
….
Gaaon mein jhoole jab leharaye…
SHAGIRD, Majrooh Sultanpuri,LP.
Ud ke pawan ke rang chaloongi
Main bhi thihare sang chaloongi…
….
..
Jharne darpan leke nihare
Lehare jhoola jhulaye….
UMRAO JAAN,1981.
Shahida Khan; Traditional lyrics; Khayyam.
Jhoola kinne daala re amariya
Jhoole more sainya,
Loon main balaiya…
Pradeepji,
Thanks for the posts. Here are the links to the two Lata Mangeshkar songs posted by you @173. Nice songs.
Tere bin saawan kaise beeta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P97HYHaWls
Ud ke pawan ke rang chaloongi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JamQ85arY1o
I was about to post this wonderful song from Umrao Jaan (1981) But not the version mentioned by you. Let me first post the version mentioned by you.
Jhoola kinne daala re amariya by Shahida Khan Nizami, Traditional lyrics, music Khayyam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JumwtvjO5Pc
This male version was rendered by Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan of the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana. Ustad Rashid Khan is his disciple and nephew. Both of them were born in Badayuni in UP the place where lyricist Shakeel Badayuni belonged to.
Most probably the bandish is base on Raag Piloo. Ashwinji may confirm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=38&v=nkaf8XjJUtA
Ashwinji,
Probably you must be aware that there is one more Jhoola song with an almost similar picturisation, except for Shah Nawaz it is Ashok Kumar who comes in the guise of a postman. Here is the song
Jhoole Ke Sang Jhoolo sang mere man by Leela Chitnis, film Jhoola (1941), lyrics Kavi Pradeep, music Saraswati Rane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aksoPDW_fjs
Likewise there were two songs in the film Usne Kaha Tha (1961), where there is no mention of swings in the lyrics. One of them was posted by you (#11). Here is the other one
Machalti Aarzoo Khadi Banhen Pasare by Lata Mangeshkar, film Usne Kaha Tha(1961), lyrics Shailendra, music Salil Choudhury
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74_5nGZxFpM
Bhatiaji,
The Mukesh version of the song (Posted by you @35), the swing appears briefly when line ‘vo ambuva ka jhulna, vo pipal ki chhaanv’ occurs for the second time in the second stanza. Here is another song from the same film where you can see the swing for a good 15 seconds during the prelude. However there is no mention of Jhoola or any similar words in the lyrics.
Lagi Tumse Lagan by Mukesh & Lata Mangeshkar, film Saranga (1961), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music Sardar Malik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7spVmYNwYos
One more tuneful vintage song composed by Ghulam Haidar. I believe Naseem Akhtar, Zeenat Begum along with a third female singer lent their voice for this song.
Jhoolon ki aayi hai bahaar by ??, film Bhai (1944), lyrics Shatir Ghaznavi, music Ghulam Haider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RFRXcTxmzQ
In the following song from Shehnai (1947) the words Jhulo, Jhulna and Hindolna occurs several times and you find the lead actors swinging in miniature giant-wheel and merry–go-round.
Chadhti Jawani Me Jhulo Jhulo Meri Rani tum prem ka hindolna jhulo prem ka hindolna by Geeta Dutt, Binapani Mukherjee & Chitalkar, film Shehnai (1947), lyrics Pyarelal Santoshi, music C Ramchandras
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_oyldVp8Us
N Venkataraman ji,
Thanks for providing the links for my songs. I am posting some more:
AURAT,1967.
Naari jeevan jhoole ki tarah
Is paar kabhi,us paar kabhi.
In the JIS DESH MEIN GANGA BEHTI HAI song…Kya hua ye mujhe kya pata…
Padmini and Chanchal swing on a pair of swings.
Has anyone mentioned MAIN CHUP RAHOONGI song Koi bata de dil hai jahaan… the lead pair swing on twin swings.
ZINDAGI AUR HUM,1962…
Jaa re jaa re chod chunariya
Ab main nyaari jhooloongi…
RAM RAJYA,1967
Haule haule jhoolaniya jhoolaoon
Jhoole mein muskaye re…
MALTI MADHAV,1951.
Koi bana aaj apna
Sukh mein aankhen band ho rahi hai..
…
..
Prem hindola jhooloon hilmil
Dekh kadam seekha…
Lata Mangeshkar,Pt Narendra Sharma, Sudhir Phadke.
One song with swing that I recollect and feel that it should also qualify under this discussion is by Mohammed Rafi , MD Shankar Jaikishan , year 1964 , film Raj Kumar . We can say that this is a natural swing in which both the lead actors participate. Please watch the song from point 2min . 19 sec. onwards. Shankar Jaikishan are known for their orchestra with 100 violins or more ( this song is perhaps not one of those with so many violins ).
The link for this song – ‘ Tumne kisi ki Jaan ko…. ‘
https://youtu.be/GwfqaXbobDI
Mr. Joseph
Absolutely right. In fact Ashwinji has mentioned in his narrative against song no. 11 that the prop roots of the banyan tree can make excellent substitutes for swings. And you have produced a fantastic example.
Ashwin, while digging through some of my CDs I came across one that I had forgotten in the deep recesses of my stash and it had the Jhula you had mentioned in your article, the one sung by Shobha Gurtu. The CD that I have has Kalpana Zokarkar singing it. Luckily it is on youtube so I can share it.
https://youtu.be/ntsgrI1zY3k
It has a lovely Khamaj based thumri “Sachi Kaho Mose batiya”
Anyway the Jhoola by Kalpana Zokarkar for some ineffable reason reminds me of this gem from Sardari Begum. Shubha Joshi has sung it beautifully.
https://youtu.be/3qUnxXtGmeY
Pradipji @ 178
Jare jare mere chod chunariya Ab main nyaari jhooloongi is a honey dipped song composed by Roshan. Thanks for mentioning this song. Here is the link.
Jare jare mere chod chunariya by Lata Mangeshkar, film Zindagi aur Hum (1962), lyrics Shiv Kumar Saroj, music Roshan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6BajjXRpGo
There are two more songs in this film where you will find swing in the visuals.
Here is a beautiful Sawan song
Chhin Liya Re Baiman Mera Dil by Lata Mangeshkar, film Zindagi aur Hum (1962), lyrics Shiv Kumar Saroj, music Roshan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=fbvdr38wPDM
In the next link there are two parts of the same song. The song I am referring to starts at 3:08. You can spot the empty Jhoola swinging at 3:11 till 3:41 before the camera shifts towards Nalini Jaywant.
Hum Teri Lagan Me magan, bahut din bhatke by Lata Mangeshkar, film Zindagi aur Hum (1962), lyrics Shiv Kumar Saroj, music Roshan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=41&v=9V2-F8avgSc
N Venkataraman ji,
Thanks for the additional songs from ZINDAGI AUR HUM.
We all remember Rekha and Jaya Bhaduri on swings in the very popular songs Gum ho kisi ke pyar mein ( RAMPUR KA LAXMAN) and Bahon mein chale aao ( ANAMIKA) , respectively, right?
So also Vinod Khanna on a swing in the only Rafi, Mukhesh,Kishore,Lata song…Hum Ko tumse ho gaya hai pyar kya karen ( AMAR AKBAR ANTONY).. while Shabana Azmi goes about collecting the sookhe kapde!
Wasn’t there a song or an extended sequence in SHAQUE with these two on a swing?
Two sweet Lata Mangeshkar_ Chitragupta songs:
TEESRI GALI,1958.
Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Tauba ji tauba na poocho mere haal..
…
Unke khayalon ke jhoole mein jhool ke…
https:// youtu.be/yZyCtGzFUX4
NAYA SANSAR,1959.
Rajinder Kishen.
Chanda loriyan sunaye
Hawa jhulna jhulaye
Rani nindiya sulaye mere Lal ko..
https:// youtu.be/ OFX_Tudclhl
Pradipji @178
The song Koi bata de dil hai jahaan from Main Chhup Rahoongi was posted by Siddharthji @16. Nari jeeven jhoole ki tarahen, a nice cradle song, was also posted by Bhatiaji @ 89. If I remember right this was Rajesh Khanna’s 3rd or 4th film. He played the role of Padmini’s brother.
Here is the link to the song Kya hua ye mujhe kya pata. Another nice song.
Kya hua ye mujhe kya pata by Lata Mangeshkar & Asha Bhosle, lyrics Shailendra, music Shankar Jaikishan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4McIJqWWww
Please note Ashwinji & Mr.Joseph, besides the prop roots of the banyan tree, even the strong creepers hanging from trees can make good substitutes for swings. Please watch Padmini holding on to creepers at 1:11 – 1:18 and again at 1:26 – 1:34 in the above link.
Venkatraman ji ;
Coming back after three days of indisposition . WoW what an additional songs posted by Your good self and Dr. Shetty ji . Yes some of the songs are getting repeated orders…..but a must appreciation for continuing the league.
Thanks for bringing out the name of Tabla Player of my fav. song where SDB , Sitar, Sarangi and Tabla poured their heart out for bringing best of classic song which I think only Rafi sahib could honor their expertise.
Like this song there is one more by Lata ji where in she sang three in one raag in one compiled song…..a beautiful song that can soften many hearts.
HUM GAWANWA NA JAYIBE HO BINA JHOOLNI…..Mamta…Roshan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqpuhA__Igo
Well this songs stands as one of best collection. Hats off to Roshan ji
Both Saranga and Zindgi aur Hum had quite a number of songs with Jhoola as a prop as well as a worded song.
Dr. Shetty ji ;
SSW ji posted a beautiful song from Raj Kumar. The song is a coplete listener’s delight for lovers of prelude , interlude and fine composition by Jaikishan [ I suppose] . Jaikishan , as we know had a third eye for romantic and modern songs compositions . One can find touches of beautiful flute in mid antras…..of which he was known for. One can endlessly listen to the beautiful background music of Mera NaaM Joker wherein every second scene of part two had swing scenes performed by Russian and joker artistes . It will be worth posting one video/ audio under the theme.
Meanwhile here is one song from Sarvan Kumar …..which I suppose should fit the bill .
Mata Pita Ka Naam….MK….Sharvan Kumar [1956]….Shiv Ram Krishan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-AfDXw-_rk
Pradipji @178
Bhatiaji had also posted a song from Ram Rajya(@116), of course that was Ram Rajya of 1943. Is it the voice of Amirbai Karnataki?
The story line of Ram Rajya (1967) was the same as that of the 1943 version and it was produced by Shankarbhai Bhatt, elder brother of Vijay Bhatt, who also directed the 1967 version. The cinematography for this film was by Pravin Bhatt, son of Vijay Bhatt. Vijay Bhatt (Vrajlal Jagneshwar Bhatt; was the producer and director of Ram Rajya of 1943. He had made several films based on Ramayana, which included Bharat Milap (1942), Ram Rajya (1943) and Rambaan (1948), Ramayan (1954), and they had all proved successful.
The song-situation Jhul tu jhul jhule mein jhul posted by Bhatiaji should be identical to Haule Haule Jhulaniya Re Jhulao mentioned by you. There is also similarity in the lyrics. Both of them are cradle songs sung for Lav & Khush. Only the audio version of the song mentioned by you is available.
Haule Haule Jhulaniya Re Jhulao by Lata Mangeshkar, film Ram Rajya (1967), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music Vasant Desai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=201&v=lwoATnWHZnI
Tunes of two songs from the original Ram Rajya (1943), composed by Shankar Rao Vyas, were repeated in the 1967 version of Ram Rajya by Vasant Desai.
One of them was Neele Neele Gagan Tale (1967), the original song being Aaj Anand Bhayo Re (1943). Since this two songs are not swing songs I am not posting them.
As regards the other song
Ashwinji in reply to Bhatiaji’s comments wrote @124,
“As for the ‘Ram Rajya’ song, guess which song started playing next on YT? The one below… and Shobhana Samarth is on a ‘Jhoola’ in the picturisation!
‘Beena madhur madhur kachhu bol’ by Saraswati Rane (MD – Shankarrao Vyas, Lyricist – Ramesh Gupta)”
The same tune was again repeated in the 1967 version of Ram Rajya, based on Raag Bhimpalasi (sounds very much like Karnataka Devagandhari). However the lyric was different.
Rain Bhayi So Ja Re Panchhi by Lata Mangeshkar, film Ram Rajya (1967), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music Vasant Desai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrepZg6lcZI
According to Raju Bharatan, Vasant Desai had been chosen as a recipient for the inaugural Dr. Brihaspati Award, later known as the Saraswati Awar”, but it was pointed out that two of the songs from the 1967 Ram Rajya were replicate songs from the original Ram Rajya (1943) composed for it by Shankar Rao Vyas. The award for that year (1968) went to Naushad for the film Palki (1967)
….in continuation ….
Two examples of Background music of Mera Naam Joker.
The first one got day lighted in RK’s much later movie Ram Teri Ganga Mailey….wherein MD was Ravindra Jain .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4sxD02OwT0
The second one is a background score in circus sequence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60tZmr1LPgA
More than 33 audio clips and all are worth listening.
Pradipji @184
Probably you are looking for this song
Ek Dil Hai Ek Jaan Hai by Asha Bhosle & Mohammed Rafi, film Shaque (1977), lyrics Gulzar, music Vasant Desai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvZ1MP80IwA
Here is also the link to song from Malti Madhav (1951) mentioned @ 179
Koi bana aaj apna….
Prem hindola jhooloon hilmil
Lata Mangeshkar,Pt Narendra Sharma, Sudhir Phadke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=42&v=OQdNLvjJU_k
Bhatiaji @ 187
Hope you are fine now. Take care.
The song from Mamata has one more stanza. Actually I am on way to a whole night classical programme. I am typing from my phone. I will respond tomorrow morning after my return.
ksbhatia ji,
Had never heard the MAMTA song. MAMTA for me is essentially chupa lo Yoon Dil mein pyar.. Celestial,I would say.
N Venkataraman ji,
Somehow, missed the RAM RAJYA analysis earlier. Very informative. Thank you. Thanks again for the SHAQUE song. Exactly what I was looking for.
VIDYA,1948.
Amirbai Karnataki,Raja Mehdi Ali Khan,SDB.
Meri muniya ki akhiyon mein tu aajaa nindiya..
…
Dheeme dheeme pawan ke jhoole aaye
Aaye ise jhulaye..
https:// youtu.be/ 6FY_FXvotc
PARAKH,1960.
Lata Mangeshkar, Shailendra,Salil Chowdhury.
Mila hai kisi ka jhumka…
…
Pyar ka hindola yahan jhool gaye naina…
BIN BAADAL BARSAAT,1963.
Asha Bhonsle, Shakeel Badayuni, Hemant Kumar.
Bin baadal barsaat nahin hogi..
….
O naadanon,o deewanon sunlo meri baat
…
Khushi par na phoolo,gam ko tum na bhoolo
Kirnon mein na jhoolo.
Jumping decades…
DDLJ,1995.
Ho koyal kooke kook uthaye..
..
Baaghon mein jhoolon ke mausam wapas aaye re
Ghar aajaa Pardesi tere des bulaye re.
We have seen Lalita Pawar singing Lori earlier. Now, it is the turn of Achala Sachdev!
DEKHA PYAR TUMHARA,1963.
Suman Kalyanpur, Majrooh Sultanpuri,Raj Ratan (WHO?)
Taron ki gori Chand ki gudiya..
…
Bajne na paaye jhoole ke ghungroo…
https:// youtu.be/ 444n7a14q5c
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji;
Borrowing my pre birth time to dig out music and songs that obviously have not heard by me in my life span. Its worth a journey [ be it on rented shoes ]….. how our fore fathers used to enjoy time and life that they lived. Breathing back and listening to their times is like echoes that embrace blessings. Heard melodies are always honey dipped but unheard melodies are some time more sweeter.
My backword journey begins now…..
Saaqi ho sahan-e-baagh ho abr-e-bahaar ho…..Anil Biswas, Sardar Akhtar….Piya ki Jogan[1936]….Anil Biswas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXrUymL3RPU
Bane chaandani ka palna jhoole chandaa sa lalna….Devika Rani…Jeevan Prabhat[1937]…..Saraswati Devi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q4XZEpxg6k
: Deejo darshan mujhe bansi ke bajaane waale…..Indubala devi….Aankh ka Tara[1932]….Motilal Naik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8emUcswK9To
Dr. Shetty ji;
The MAMTA song is etched in my heart [though by passed one]. Blessed we all are for existence of such beautiful songs . Naushad, SDB, MM, Salil Da, Roshan,SJ…..and many other MDs made it possible thru their classical ragas based songs .
Here is one by Salil da…My fav. music director for class classic and modern music as well.
JHUK JHUK JHUK JHOOM GHATA CHHAYEE RE….Lata ji….Char Diwari[1961]….Salil Da
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKO-WBETdXI
ksbhatia ji,
A by-passed is as good as a new one. Aap to dildaar hain!
Giving you company in your search of our parents’ zamane ke geeth.
Lots of swings in this ZEENAT,1955 song.
Aaya aaya aaya aaya
Sakhi aaya saawan aaya..
…
Pedon ke daliyon mein ye jhoole pade hain .
….milkar jhoole jhoolen.
https:// youtu.be/ tlZoOXEIDN8
Continuing from where I left yesterday.
Bhatiaji,
Hum Gavanavaa naa Jaibe Ho bina Jhulani is one of the most memorable melodies composed by Roshan
In the video version the last part of the song is not shown, but it is available on the audio version. Through this song Suchitra Sen narrates her past life and coming up to this age, to Ashok Kumar. Here is the complete audio version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqzRkc6iLMc
It is Raag maalika based on Basant Mukhari, Khamaj Bahar, Jogia and Piloo, I understand. Ashwinji, please confirm or correct me.
PARDESI,1957.
Meena Kapoor,Prem Dhawan,Anil Biswas.
Jhoolaoon tujhe palna
So jaa re lalna…
https:// youtu.be/ 5lle3SRzFOQ
Bhatiaji@196,
Thanks for posting those fabulous vintage numbers from the 30s. I loved the Indubala song.
Here is another vintage number from the early 40s.
Chal chal chameli baagh mein jhoola jhoolaayenge by Sundar, film Khamoshi (1942), lyrics Himmar Rai Sharma, music Ghulam Ahmed Chisti
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWrvOgkstoU
Since I had posted the CHOTI BEHAN song, let me share the corresponding one from the Kannada remake ( Hindi itself,a remake of Tamil movie,ENN THANGAI.. meaning My Sister) ONDE BALLIYA HOOGALU,196
Eko eko ethako ekee bhaavane mooditho
B K Sumitra,Geethapriya,Sathyam.
https:// youtu.be/ tpdijwxoO7o
The movie is the only Kannada movie with a Mohammad Rafi song…a lovely pathos number…
Neenelli nadeve doora ellelloo lokave
Ee lokavella ghora ellelloo shokave…
Surprisingly, perfect diction!
https:// youtu.be/ q5FYoSmxD8Q
With 200 comments, the Swing is swinging steadily.
N Venkatraman ji;
Thanks for posting the complete audio track of Mamta. That adds to charm of the melody . In a way the lyrics bring forth the complete story of the movie in a nutshell. Majrooh Sultanpuri did a splendid innings in this movie…otherwise he is known for bringing out romantic charms and teaser songs.
Ksbhatia, Venkatramanji Dr. Shetty,
Antara of the song # 2
“मेरी तान से ऊंचा तेरा झूलना गोरी”
Three of you are truly doing that…. I think Ashwin will agree with me 🙂
Mumbaikar ji,
Beautiful compliment!
Dil jhoole mein jhoola.
Thank you.
Ms. Mumbaikar8;
Taan, Raag, Bol and Alap … when woven together ….are the best steps for a Journey that is never ending……the destination button is far away. Yes, such limitless infinite musical tones are much better than achieving mile stones. Bridges are the allap over the valley overlooking beautiful natural surroundings ……and valley full of flowers are what we are…… enjoying the fragrant .
Now hear this beautiful song from ….Baiju Bawara. The direction and picturisation is awesome . The scene…..Baiju on way out to kill Tansen who is lost in a deep riyaz . Baiju entering the mahal using rope and watch some paintings on the walls …one depicting swing ride by women .
Raag Darbari Sargam…..Amir Khan….Naushad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA2xq8siguY
Another song from the same movie that takes you to the journey of seasons as they pass thru vis a vis various raagas.
Pihu Pihu Karat Paphiya…..Rafi….Naushad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkI5dYCZPpE
Hats off to Naushad….no doubt he won the filmfare award for this movie ; but what matters is he was chosen as Music Director of the Millennium and that matters the most.
Pradipji @193 & 194, 197, 199 & 201
Thanks for the additions.
Neenelli nadeve doora ellelloo lokave, lovely song, seems very familiar; I think there is a Hindi song with a similar tune sung by Md.Rafi. Can’t exactly recollect.
Swinging back to some swing songs where only the swing is present in the visuals not in the lyrics.
Tera Teer Pe Teer Chalana by Mahendra Kapoor & Lata Mangeshkar, film Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye (1963), lyrics Gulshan Bawra, music Kalyanji Anandji
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x41wrf8
Bhatiaji @202
The mention of Majrooh Sultanpuri and his lyrics for Mamta inevitably makes us aware of the exceptional and sensitive lyrics in Roshan’s melodies. Chhupa lo yun dil mein pyar mera is only one such example. Chandni Chowk, Arti, Mamta, Bheegi Raat are some of the other films Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote for Roshan.
Bhatiaji @ 196
Thanks for song from Char Diwari.
Another nice song in Salil Choudhry’s style. Here too only the swing is present in the visual.
Kateli Kateli Nasheeli Nasheeli Kaise Jhoke Jaye by Suman Kalyanpur, film Zindagi aur Khwab (1961), lyrics Kavi Pradeep, music Dattaram Wadkar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYC6NuNf7Hw
Mumbaikar8 @203
Thanks for the appreciation.
Here is a song where you can find the swing both in the visual ans well as the lyric.
Tu Na Bata, Hume Sab Hai Pata, Dil Me Hai Kya Tere Dil Me Hai Kya by Asha Bhosle, film Baap Re Baap (1955), lyrics Jan Nisar Akhtar, music O P Nayyar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMPxB3uDz64
Bhatiaji @205
That was fantastic. How do you manage to remember those finer details? Both the posts made good listening.
Satyajit Ray composed a melody In the Raag Desh, Hindola jhule shyam shyam gane se ghana chalat pawan, for the film Shatranj . But he did not include it in the final cut of the film.
Hindola jhule shyam by artists of Calcutta Youth Choir, film Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977), lyrics Wajid Ali Shah, music Styajit Ray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-rHMJSIL34
https://youtu.be/RENqvXgSrf8
A song from ” अभिनेत्री ”
” सजना ओ सजना ”
Hema Malini nd Shashi Kapoor on a zhoola .
N Venkatraman ji;
Rope like structures hanging from the branches of an old banyan tree called as prop roots are often used for either dodging or reaching for the loved one . In hindi cinema many actors and villains have used this as a prop. The most scenes are of the likes of Romeo and Juliet …..reaching Balcony , verandah or roof for the lover in waiting . Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar , Sunil Dutt , Kishore Kumar , Pran …..and many other actors of even silent era used such wonder full conveyor rope …..yes dodging many coulmns of army.
To beat them all….Tarzan the wonder hero of all times……and rest Homi Wadia movies practically holding scenes in every other movie.
Here are some selections to prove my point.
Khelo rang hamare sang….Lata, Shamshad….Aan….Naushad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nScWseU2o2Q
Aaja re aaja more sajna….Lata, Manna Dey….Jwala[1971]…..SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKwAinOkbbk&t=165s
Dekho ji Aankhon mein dekho…..Lata…..Jwala….SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd9SxcKuTKs
…..to be contd.
N Venkatraman ji @208;
What to do with failing memory. Some time back Ms.Shalan lal suggested me to listen to one Hemant Kumar song and forwarded the link too. Now I remember the artist and not the song!! This I think happens to most of us. The words presented in a song are remembered for long than those presented as speech…..and so are the dynamic and static visuals …..but one has to be a good follower of art presented in its various forms. Cohesive summation of art in totality is surely a master piece .
I usually see visuals when paired with a song or beautiful background music of my liking. Similarly the inverse follows too i.e. I hear a beautiful piece of melody and start imagining visuals . My video camera becomes handy in capturing the visuals to various vacation sites and adding instrumental music to them later adds to my joy…..for repeats during leisure time.
ksbhatia ji has elaborated on two songs of BAIJU BAWRA… and,of course, jhoole mein pawan ki aayee bahaar is included prominently in the write up.
Mohe bhool gaye Saawariya also has a swing on which Meena Kumari, sitting on the ground,is seen leaning upon.
I wasn’t aware of there being a Geeta Dutt song in MISS MARY,1957.
Rajinder Kishen, Hemant Kumar.
Aayee re gir ghir ghir ke pehli pehli baadariya…
….
Saj daj ke jhoole pe baithi Suhagan..
…
Chun chun ke Kaliyan banao re palna,
Aane hi wala hai chota sa lalna.
Listen to the strange way Geeta Dutt pronounces pehli pehli! And,of course, the unease and bewilderment of Mary( Meena Kumari) at having a god bharai ( Baby shower) without being married, let alone being pregnant,is amusing.
Back to school with songs from #210 onwards…..
Badra chhaye ke mele saaj gaye…Rafi, Lata…Aya sawan jhoom ke…LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWqYAaKKyf4
Suno sajna papihe ne…Lata…Ayye din bahar ke…LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCsa5eG9oo0
….to be contd.
Ashwinji,
Primarily, I was swinging between the poles of Hindi film songs, seeking the wide horizons therein. The swing continues and it appears that the sky is the limit. And the horizons of this genre seem endless and alluring too. Thus engrossed, it took time for me to climb down and get into the swings of light classical songs.
I noticed that the song by Ghulam Mustafa Khan from Umrao Jaan posted by me and the information mentioned therein @174 had already found its due place @ #19. Sorry for the delayed response and the repeat. The other two well-known Jhulas by Girija Devi and Shobha Gurtu made excellent listening. Is it Purushottam Walawalkar, the Harmonium artist, accompanying Shobha Gurtu?
I would like to post a Jhula song by Birju Maharaj, whose ancestors shaped and popularised the nuances of Nawabi style Kathak. Birju Maharaj’s grandfather Maharaj Bindadin penned this song. Both Binda Deen and his brother Maharaj Kalka Prasad (he was Tabla wizard too) were dancers in Wajid Ali Shah’s court. While listening to the song from Shatranj Ke Khilari, this song came up in my mind, may be due to Wajid Ali Shah’s connection.
Jhulta Radhe Navalkishor by Pandit Birju Maharaj, lyrics Binda Deen
https://gaana.com/song/jhula-jhulta-radhe-navalkishor-pt-birju-maharaj
The next one is again by Girija Devi, Aaj Do Jhoola Jhoole – Raag Sindhura Barwa
Tabla – Allah Rakha, Sarangi – Sultan Khan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PeUlqLi6QA
Dr. Shetty @213;
Yes, some singers do have such problems in correct pronounciations , may be they belonging to different located states but some time we have problems with our listening too.
Your Geeta Dutt song reminds me of another of her song where one or two words are spoken differently in slices but that may be the call of music director also to suit the rhythm and beats . Rhythm should not get broken…that is I think the principle that every composer follows.
Hear this song and watch how differently the words……Kuchh bhi kaha na jaaye….are sung. Incidently the song shows the extras on swings near its ending.
Jhuk Jhuk Jaaye nazar sharmaye….Aab e hayat…Sardar Mallik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ1uAlwW-3Q
ksbhatia ji,
Very interesting kaahaa na jaaye! Of course,it is just our deep observation that brings up these things. Takes away nothing from their greatness.
Geeta Dutt again in a song with one jhoola and lots of jhoola action.
HAR HAR MAHADEV,1950.
Ramesh Shastri, Avinash Vyas.
Hululu hululu hululu haai re…
…
Pawan palne mein mere laal jhoolo jhoola..
…
….
Pawan jhoole,paani jhoole
Jhoole ban ke baati
Chota jhoole,Mota jhoole…
….
https:// youtu.be/ XHisOB7_tis
The songs under this theme I feel would go on forever.
The learned members of this group have brought out so many beautiful songs . I am grateful to each of them and Ashwin ji for this wonderful treat.
I have come across on more song that has reference.to jhoola — film ‘Bandini’ ,MD SD Burman , Lyrics Shailendra , Asha Bhosle (1963) .
Please observe at 55″ of this upload.
https://youtu.be/Uu5O_f4S7rk
Dr. Shetty ji ;
Got more of Jhoola songs with swing as back drop . With Basant ritu already knocking hearing this song is a pleasent listening.
Tum samne Aakar….Asha, Rafi…Khazanchi[1958]….MM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwBg2yT6fmo
How close this tune to Madan Mohan ji’s own tune….Hum panchhi mastane .