The Gravitas of Sitar in Songs

7 August 2021

SitarSitar makes a very conspicuous presence on the screen due to its size. But it conveys an entirely different image from the piano or the harmonium. If piano is aristocracy, harmonium is plebeian. And what about the sitar? It is elegant classicism; it is not about the social, but musical status. There is gravitas in the sitar on the screen – either it is a classical raga-based song, or a song full of pathos. None of the frivolity you might see with the harmonium, such as in the film Padosan. Even piano has been a venue of some romantic love-play between the lovers.

Ravi Shankar’s international appeal made it the most familiar stringed instrument, associated with the Indian (Hindustani) classical music, in the outside world. Yet despite its such close association with our classical music, there is no unanimity among the musicologists about its origin. I tried to get some clarity about its history from Arvind Parikh’s series on Vividh Bharati’s ‘Sangeet Sarita’. There is a fair degree of agreement that attributing its invention to the 13th century well-known Sufi poet Amir Khusro is erroneous. One school of thought attributes the sitar’s evolution to Muslim influence from the Persian stringed instrument ‘sehtar’ (three strings), acquiring its present form in the 18th-19th century. One text mentions a later ‘Amir Khusro’ of the 18th century, said to be the 15th descendant of Naubat Khan, son-in-law of Tansen, who developed this instrument from the Persian sehtar. This source also gives the names of his descendants who carried forward further evolution of the instrument and playing styles.

There is another school which ascribes to the sitar a very ancient origin from Tritantri Vadya (a musical instrument of three strigs), or Veena/Rudra Veena/Saraswati Veena, long before any Muslim influence. In popular iconography, Goddess Saraswati is depicted as holding Veena in her hands (this is derived from Saraswati Vandana, या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला…/ या वीणावरदण्डमण्डित्करा या श्वेतपद्मासना). This association would give sitar almost a celestial origin at par with veena. Veena is a common instrument in Carnatic music.

For lay persons both generally look similar, with a long hollow neck, a big gourd which is a resonating chamber, and a smaller gourd at the end of the neck. Some sitars have only the big gourd. Both are plucked, stringed instrument. The tonal quality of the two, though, is very different. This is due to the difference in their construction, number of strings and how they are placed and tied, frets, pegs and bridges. Another common stringed-instrument with a gourd and a long neck, in the ensemble in a classical concert, is tanpura, which is not meant to provide melody, but to support the soloist. It has no frets, it has only 4-5 strings (as opposed to 18-21 strings in sitar). It just plays two notes, the tonic of the performer (सा) and the fifth (प). The two notes are played, one after the other in a loop, creating a continuous drone throughout the performance. Anything more about these instruments I have to leave for the experts. For this post I would include veena and tanpura songs too, because visually they create the same impact of serious classical music.

Despite such gravitas associated with the sitar, I was witness to some awkward levity long ago at a jugalbandi between Pt. Ravi Shankar and Ustad Bismillah Khan. The Ustad had a child-like simplicity and he must not have heard of the term ‘political correctness’. At the introduction he smilingly made a remark about Ravi Shankar that he was so romantic of heart that wherever he went, he married a female there, Main inko kahta hun ki ab bas kijiye, ab aur shaadi mat kijiye. I don’t think Pt. Ravi Shankar was amused, but he gave a faint smile; Khan Saheb was obviously innocent that the other person might have been offended.

Now let us enjoy some songs in which the sitar is conspicuous on the screen.

1. Dhal chuki shaam-e-gham by Rafi from Kohinoor (1960), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad

Any mention of sitar and the film Kohinoor instantly reminds you of Madhuban mein Radhika naache re in Raga Hameer. This song has acquired a legendary status, with stories of how Dilip Kumar took intensive lessons in sitar so that he could play like a real sitarist on the screen (I understand the sitar was played by Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan). This song has featured in the last post, DP Rangan’s tribute to Kumkum on her first death anniversary. The film had another superb sitar song, Dhal chuki shaam-e-gham, with equally superb dance by Kumkum. Rafi’s voice modulation in this song is out of this world, and the music by the Great Naushad is equally delightful.

2. Chandrama ja unse kah de by Mahendra Kapoor and Lata Mangeshkar from Bharat Milap (1965), lyrics Bharat Vyas, Vasant Desai

This is a beautiful classical-based virah song, composed by Vasant Desai, who is associated with classical music more than any other music director. A long-distance duet of separation, are the characters Ram-Sita or Lakshman-Urmila? But the subtle point to note is Vasant Desai has shown the lady with veena, instead of the more common sitar. This I believe is the care he and the director have shown for authenticity. Treta Yug would have veena, the eternal music instrument, and not the sitar. Please recall the film Ram Rajya (1943) had the immortal Beena madhur madhur kachhu bol.

3. Meri veena tum bin roye by Lata Mangeshkar from Dekh Kabira Roya (1958), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Madan Mohan

Ameeta is so drained out in virah that she can’t even get her fingers to play the veena which is her partner in her sadness. She involuntarily rests her head on the veena. Madan Mohan creates three great melodies, one following the other seamlessly, as three lovers pine for their respective love partners – Meri veena tum bin roye segues into Ashqon se teri humne tasveer banayi hai, which in turn telescopes into Tu pyar kare ya thukara de hum to hain tere deewanon mein.

4. Hum tere pyar mein sara aalam kho baithe hain by Lata Mangeshkar from Dil Ek Mandir (1963), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Shankar-Jaikishan

Menna Kumari, once she is married, is the epitome of a sacrificing pativtrata naari. But once the worm of suspicion entered the husband’s head, it was impossible to shake it off. In hospital afflicted with a serious ailment, Raj Kumar takes the moral high ground to ask Meena Kumari to forget him and go back to her former lover. Pained beyond words, she sings this poignant song while playing the sitar.

5. Manmohana bade jhoothe by Lata Mangeshkar from Seema (1955), lyrics Shailendra, music Shankar-Jaikishan

After her parent’s death, Nutan was under the care of her harsh uncle and aunt, who treated her worse than a servant. The ill-treatment and a false theft charge made her run away; her past made her completely wild and untamed in the shelter home, despite the extremely patient and sympathetic manager, Balraj Sahni. Once in a very foul mood, she was breaking windows, while humming Manmohana bade jhoothe in anger. While her act caused terror in the hearts of other inmates and staff, Balraj Sahni noticed her talent for music. He calmed her and made her sing. And how beautifully she sings Manmohana bade jhoothe with tanpura in hand. You can see a sitar in a corner at the back. This has become the leading film song based on Jaijaiwanti. (KL Pandeyji identifies traces of Rageshree too in the song. Over to the experts. – AK)

6. Ka se kahun man ki baat by Sudha Malhotra from Dhool Ka Phool (1959), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi, music N Datta

N Datta was one of the unlucky geniuses. Here Purnima ‘plays’ beautiful sitar and lip-synchs Sudha Malhotra’s Kafi-based song.

7. Baat chalat nayi cunari rang daari by Rafi and Krishnaro Chonkar from Rani Rupmati (1959), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi

A man of many parts, SN Tripathi was another high class composer who, in the commercial pecking order, was not counted among the top bracket. The Sultan’s son, music-loving Baaz Bahadur is doing Riyaz with his Ustad, both holding tanpura (though horizontally, rather than straight up reclining on the shoulder). They sing the traditional Bhairavi bandish in the voices of Rafi and the classical singer Krishnarao Chonkar. Geeta Dutt had, some years ago, sung this bandish in the film Ladki (1953), composed by R Sudarshanam-Dhaniram. In the link below the uploader has also included Geeta Dutt’s version. The instrument now is veena in the hands of the lady (Anjali). After sometime, she hands over the veena to her lover Bharat Bhushan who plays the instrument, and she dances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3ji_fIosso

8. Manmohan man mein ho tumhin by Rafi, SD Batish and Suman Klayanpur from Kaise Kahun (1964), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music SD Burman

This song would figure in any compilation of the best classical raga-based songs. Naturally so; there is a music Guruji Manmohan Krishna, teaching his daughter Nanda, when his talented disciple Biswajit (strange casting!) joins in. They sing in unison, tanpura being the prominent instrument in their hands.

9. Man ki been matwari baaje by Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar from Shabab (1955), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad

Naushad created a sensation for his classical raga-based songs in Baiju Bawra (1952). But I love the score of Shabab, another music-based film. The two lovers sing this Raga Bahar-based song, while playing the veena.

10. Mohabbat hi no ja samjhe wo zalim pyar kya jaane by Talat Mahmood from Parchhain (1952), lyrics Noor Lakahanavi, music C Ramchandra

Since I have titled this post on ‘sitar’, let me post this beautiful song, sung by the blind lover Shantaram, and unaware yet, Jayshree playing the sitar. A fellow blogger and SOY regular Anita Rupavataram in one of her posts drew attention to the odd use of the synonyms ‘mohabbat’ and ‘pyar’ as if they mean different things. What does it mean – One who doesn’t understand even love, how would that heartless lady know what is love? But the song is so good, I had not noticed any oddity until I read her post.

11. Ye kaisa aya zamana by Mukesh, Kishore Kumar and Mehmood from Humjoli (1970), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Laxmikant-Pyarelal

Every rule has exception. One Mehmood can be mad enough, if you have three Mehmoods mimicking the three generations of Kapoor family (Papaji with sitar, the Tramp with duff and Dabboo with guitar), you can be sure the reverence for sitar will be a casualty.

Note: I have not embedded the video of Song #7. You can click the link to play it on the YT.

Acknowledgment and Disclaimer
1. David Courtney’s article on Chandrakanta.com gives an excellent summary of the history of sitar.
2. The song links have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog claims no copyright over these songs which vests with the respective owners.

{ 137 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Subodh Agrawal August 7, 2021 at 10:53 am

Very good theme, and presented very well.

Apart from songs that show sitar on the screen, there are those where the sitar is an integral part of the song. The one that comes to my mind is ‘O sajna barkha bahar aayee’ from Parakh. Take the sitar away, and the song loses half its appeal. Such songs are best described as a duet between voice and instrument. Other examples would be accordion in ‘Awara hoon’ and ‘Ae mere dil kahin aur chal’; flute in ‘Main piya teri, tu mane ya na maane’; tabla in ‘Nache man mora magan tig da dhigi dhigi’ and many more.

2 AK August 7, 2021 at 11:44 am

Subodh,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. You are very right many sings are closely identified with some instrument, though that instrument is not visible. Accordion also in ‘Har dil jo pyar karega’, flute in so many songs composed by Roshan. The whole field is open for the experts. I feel very awkward to venture in their domain. My open invitation still stands.

3 Pramod Godbole August 7, 2021 at 11:44 am

AK ,
Nice theme nd equally nice is the narration nd selection of songs .

आपने हमें सितार की बहनोंसे (वीणा , रुद्रवीणा , सरस्वती वीणा ) सें भी मिलवाया !!!
सितार , तानपुरा आदि की तकनीकी जानकारी भी पढनेलायक हैं ।
रविशंकर और बिस्मिल्ला खाँ साहब का किस्सा बहोतही मजेदार लगा ।
गानें बडे ही अच्छे चुने आपने ।

I wud like 2 add 2 songs here .

बेदर्दी दगाबाज जा – ब्लफ मास्टर
https://youtu.be/iKpjV7DWnPU

मन रे तूही बता क्या गाऊँ – हमराही

https://youtu.be/xKJefA9bfWs

सुबोध जी एकदम सहीं फर्माते हैं .. कुछ गानोंमें सितार पर्देपर ना होने के बावजूद पूरे गानेंमें अपनें सूरोंका जाल बिछाए हुए हैं .. जैसे की

आज सोचा तो आँसू भर आए – हँसते जख्म

https://youtu.be/bfnRD6y-JbU

AK , thnx for this post .

– Pramod Godbole .

4 S Joseph August 7, 2021 at 12:00 pm

Congratulations for a great writeup on a very popular musical instrument used in HFM . A great song selection out of which I could not recollect 2 songs. About the origins of sitar we may never be able to pinpoint. As observed at #1 , there are numerous mesmerising HFM songs where the sitar is used but not shown on screen and this could be a topic for another writeup .

‘ Jab dil ko…’ / 1950 / SARGAM / P L Santoshi / CR / Lata , Saraswati Abdul Rane & chorus.

https://youtu.be/LPjnd4lE0Vo

5 dustedoff August 7, 2021 at 12:13 pm

Superb post, AK. Very informative introduction and an excellent set of songs. Thank you!

Among other sitar/tanpura/veena songs that I like are:

Ajhun na aaye baalma (Saanjh aur Savera):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CChT3Om2xAQ

This one, a particular favourite, from Chashm-e-Buddoor, Kahaan se aaye badraa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XfEmN4xN7c

And the same film had Kaali ghodi dwaar khadi:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJAW8aWAyw4

6 D P Rangan August 7, 2021 at 12:17 pm

An excellent treatise on “sitar” as presented in Hindi films. Your writeup is superb as is always the case running like a jungle brook immediately after a cloud burst. Choice of songs could not be better suited to the theme. You have done such deep research on the origin of the instrument, I abandoned my endeavour to add something. Veena and Sitar would sound different, one of the reasons being the wood out of which they are carved. Veena is mostly made from around Thanjavur in Tamilnadu from a particular tree which is native to that locality.
Serendipity has deserted me and songs on the theme elude me for the nonce.

7 D P Rangan August 7, 2021 at 12:41 pm

Veena has also been mentioned in the post. There are very many songs in Tamil/Telugu featuring veena. Am posting a well known song from the film “Sampurna Ramanayam”. The film does not run on usual lines. Ravanan has been shown in his good avatar. He is considered a superb veena player and this song sequence takes place in raj darbar and Ravanan gives a dissertation on the various carnatic ragas. I know it may sound Greek and Latin to many of the followers but would request them to enjoy the song.

Veenai kodi udaya vendane (Ravanan’s flag has the symbol of veena in it).
https://youtu.be/0W46Q0sQ1XQ?t=278

8 Sangeeta Gupta August 7, 2021 at 12:56 pm

Namaste AK ji,
A fabulous piece of writing for this most elegant and graceful instrument.
The songs that are selected are beautiful pieces composed by various composers who have used the sitar very well.

There are a few songs that I could remember and would like to add here. Madan Mohan ji was known to have a soft corner for the sitar, made good use of it in the following songs.

1. Naino mein badra chaaye from Mera Saaya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU8pYP9Udws

2. Meri ankhon se koi neend liye jaata hai from Pooja ke Phool. Rais Khan made his debut with this song. This song initially recorded had santoor as the major instrument, but later it was shelved and rerecorded with sitar, Beautifull pieces, like the sitar is singing with the lead singer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgRvsTAxy30

3. Rasm-e-ulfat ko nibhayein toh nibhayein kaise from Dil ki Rahein
The film did not do well at all, but this has been very well appreciated by audiences, especially for the use of the sitar. The end has a long spell of fantastic sitar playing by Rais Khan. Worth a listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTXd3PWYKOA

4. Baiyan na Dharo from the film Dastak.
The National Award winning song for the year sung by Lata Mangeshkar and sitar played by Rais Khan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKky-_T85XU

O.P. Nayyar too made very good use of the sitar in quite a few of his songs.
Sharing a beauty from the film Kashmir ki kali
Deewana hua badal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-gqCrEdpK8

9 Shekhar August 7, 2021 at 3:19 pm

After the aalap in Part-1 of Ye Zindagi Usii Kii Hai (Anarkali), comes the lovely interlude of Ustad Halim Zaffar Khan’s sitar. https://youtu.be/03E3xgf8Jpg

10 AK August 7, 2021 at 3:36 pm

Pramod @3,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. The experts would scoff at me for mentioning the sitar, veena, tanpura in the same post. But for a lay person, all the three are about 4′ long with a gourd and a long neck. Once you are used to seeing and hearing them, you start noticing the difference. It is interesting, Bedardi dagabaaz ja was also in my list, but I rationed between the three instruments.

11 AK August 7, 2021 at 3:41 pm

Mr S Joseph @4,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Jab dil ko saate gham is one of my post favorite songs. Sitar is very prominent, the ladies in the film belonged to a musical family, and they were also accomplished. Many songs have very prominent sitar strains, as also some other instruments, though not visible on the screen. In fact, the experts on the forum should write on this theme.

12 AK August 7, 2021 at 3:44 pm

Madhu,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. There are so many songs to choose from, I had to limit it to ten. They are not the best for sure, not even my most favourites, but I wanted to give a variety of flavour. All the three songs are excellent, the last two my special favourites.

13 AK August 7, 2021 at 3:53 pm

Mr DP Rangan @6, 7,
Thanks a lot for effusive praise, as always. Sitar songs are too many in Hindi films; I mean those in which the sitar is visible. I have only skimmed the surface. Many songs would soon come to your lips. With your explanation I enjoyed the Tamil song a lot. And thanks a lot for the information about Ravan’s musical talents. Nice addition to the theme. I have to explain the tonal difference between sitar and veena, sitar gives clear metallic sound, while veena’s sounds full and thick.

14 AK August 7, 2021 at 4:05 pm

Sangeetaji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. If I were to name one music director who comes to mind for sitar songs, it is Madan Mohanji. Dekh Kabira Roya itself had Kaun aya mene man ke dware, a superb song (veena?). Who can forget the sitar notes in Nanino mein badra chhaye, bijli se chamke haye. I am very fond of Meri aankhon se koi neend liye jata hai too. His two other songs also have ver prominent sitar notes. Sitar is very prominent in Deewana hua baadal too, but OP Nayyar has become so associated with ghoda-gadi beat that his name would not occur to me for sitar. Thanks a lot again.

15 AK August 7, 2021 at 4:09 pm

Shekhar @9,
Thanks for adding Ye zindagi usi ki hai. It has unforgettable sitar interlude. Ustad Halim Jaffer Khan was associated with best of the sitar songs. We have to be thankful for such artists who did not hesitate to traverse both the classical and film music. I have seen him in classical concerts too.

16 Arunkumar Deshmukh August 7, 2021 at 7:16 pm

AK ji,
Very good post.
Here is my favourite..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFm7g6wQ3yc&t=126s

Ye hawa ye raat ye chandni
Talat
Sangdil-52
Sajjad Hussain

-AD

17 S Joseph August 7, 2021 at 8:59 pm

A very famous song sequence with the Veena . Vyjayantimala does not really play on this instrument. The string instrument that we hear alongwith the song I thought sounded like a Sitar . Only those familiar with such instruments can distinguish the sounds .

‘ Tumhen yaad karte…’/ 1965 / AAMRAPALI / Shailendra / SJ / Lata

https://youtu.be/yIlCqg__Nvg

18 Mehfil Mein Meri August 7, 2021 at 9:00 pm

Excellent post AKji. You are correct, fir a lay person (like me), all the three instruments form a part of a same spectrum of instruments.
Let me think about the songs,
Chanda chamke neel Gagan Mein

https://youtu.be/2qyUOlmU4fU

Balmwa bolo na bolo na

https://youtu.be/3NvO13T_LTw

And,
Songs with sitar as a important part,
I think,
Maine chand aur sitaron ki tamanna ki thi
And,
Sajan sang kahe neha lagaye
Should fit the bill.

Anup
🙂

19 Mehfil Mein Meri August 7, 2021 at 9:02 pm

One more,
Tora man darpan kehlaye

https://youtu.be/c44Ah24hr9M

20 Ashok Kumar Tyagi August 7, 2021 at 9:05 pm

AK ji
Lovely post on an excellent topic.
Lot of MDs during the golden era of Bollywood songs used sitar beautifully. Certain MDs, when they sat down to compose a song, would take sitar and play it as a tune came to mind – not always but quite often. Vasant Desai and Shankar of SJ duo were well known for this tendency.
I read somewhere that in late sixties, Shankar had to regretfully do away with this habit. The reason was that he got the dreaded disease of diabetes and was advised that bruising caused to the fingers would take long time for healing because of extra blood glucose.

Regards

21 S Joseph August 7, 2021 at 9:25 pm

A classical song where Lata , Asha come together. To me the Tanpura here is hardly audible. This movie was adapted from a south Indian movie and the Hindi version was said to be a success perhaps more due to the music .

‘ Sakhi ri sun…’ / 1957 / MISS MARY / Rajinder Kishan / Hemant / Lata, Asha

https://youtu.be/zS4b3WlymvE

22 AK August 7, 2021 at 10:11 pm

Arunji @16,
I am happy that you liked the post.
Ye hawa ye raat is a beautiful song. The lady plays the sitar and the man sings. Too good.

23 AK August 7, 2021 at 10:15 pm

Mr S Joseph @17,
The instrument is indeed veena, the sound too is that of veena. I distinguish by the clarity and the metallic sharpness of the tonal quality. Sitar is sharper.

@21,
Showing the tanpura is more important. It establishes what you are going to experience is classical music.

24 AK August 7, 2021 at 10:30 pm

Anup @18,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Since I am also a lay person, I saw the instruments belonging to the same family. I am happy that I did that way. Chanda chamke neel gagan mein is a beautiful song based on Bhimpalasi, which is one of my top favourite ragas. Here the instrument is veena. Balamwa bolo na has tanpura. Sajan sang neha lagaye by Mala Sinha with tanpura perfectly fits the bill. Sad song, the saajan Raj Kapoor for whom she is pining, is inebriated in the night club and staggers to dance with whoever he can hold. Maine chaand aur sitaaron ki tamanna ki thi is another immortal song in Bimpalasi, but is sitar visible in the video?

@19,
Yes, Tora man darpan kahlaye, too.

25 AK August 7, 2021 at 10:35 pm

Tyagiji @20,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I think every good music director used sitar a lot. C Ramchandra and Madan Mohan have to be mentioned prominently. I thought Shankar was a percussionist. But he didn’t have to play any instrument. SJ’s orchestra had many talented musicians. I think Jayram Acharya also played the sitar in many of their famous songs.

26 Mehfil Mein Meri August 7, 2021 at 11:38 pm

Akji @24
Sitar won’t be there in video. It was there in orchestration. Hence I thought of adding it.

27 Gaddeswarup August 8, 2021 at 7:20 am

AK Ji, May be this is off topic. But I have been listening to this for a long time and used snatches of it as lullabies for children and grandchildren https://youtu.be/UwrJzb3Y-WE

28 AK August 8, 2021 at 8:22 am

Gaddeswarupji,
Sitar by Pt. Ravi Shankar in Pather Panchali is unforgettable. You don’t see the sitar on the screen though. But thanks for adding it. Satyajit Ray’s Jalsaghar shows many instruments on the screen in its songs, sitar and tanpura included. The film’s English title was The Music Room.

29 S Joseph August 8, 2021 at 10:13 am

‘ Tere naina talash…’ / 1969 / TALASH / Majrooh / SDB / Manna Dey

https://youtu.be/GlJET8jm0_g

30 AK August 8, 2021 at 11:00 am

Mr S Joseph,
Tere naina talash karein jise, what a feast of tanpura and sitar, and of course, several other instruments too.

31 Anita August 8, 2021 at 11:22 am

AKji, a wonderful post on this majestic string instrument and its variants. I wanted to add a song from Laal Patthar. Sooni Sooni Saans Ki Sitar Par.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aq3T0a4I0o
This song is a very special one. One, there is the mention of the Sitar and both the Sitar and the Tanpura along with many other instruments are being played.
Two, this is a song in Raag Jaijaiwanti, which is also the raag of the song Manmohana Bade Jhoothe, which you have mentioned. The latter is sung by Lata and the former by Asha. But it shows how they both have full control over the notes. Both are masterpieces. The music directors of both songs are Shankar Jaikishan.

32 S Joseph August 8, 2021 at 11:40 am

Tanpuras , sitars and … The camera work could perhaps have been much better.

‘ Laaga chunri mein…’/ 1963 / DIL HI TOH HAI / Sahir Ludhyanvi / Roshan / Manna Dey

https://youtu.be/uD5Pe4k3myI

33 AK August 8, 2021 at 12:00 pm

Anita,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I was looking for a sitar song with sitar on the screen and in the lyrics. And you have found the Holy Grail. You have discovered several interesting connections, same MD, same raga, and siblings. If it is a concert setting then sitar normally would have tanpura too.

34 AK August 8, 2021 at 12:01 pm

Mr Joseph,
Thanks for posting this song terrific song with a variety of string instruments.

35 S Joseph August 8, 2021 at 12:08 pm

‘ Chham chham baaje…’/ 1971 / JAANE ANJAANE / SH Bihari / SJ / Manna Dey

https://youtu.be/pTuavNrww-I

36 S Joseph August 8, 2021 at 1:06 pm

‘Jogan ban jaoongi…’/ 1954 / SHABAB / Shakeel Badayuni / Naushad / Lata

https://youtu.be/Fvus5bDOuOs

37 Arunkumar Deshmukh August 8, 2021 at 5:06 pm

S Joseph @4 and AK ji,

Name of Saraswati Rane was NEVER Saraswati Abdul Rane.
She was daughter of Abdul Kareem Khan, but after her mother separated from Khan sahab, her name was Saraswati Mane. In the early 40’s she got married to Sunder Rao Rane and her name became Saraswati Rane. So, in any case she can not become Saraswati Abdul Rane.
Her name was Mane before marriage and after marriage it was Saraswati (Sunder Rao ) Rane, but NOT Sarswati Abdul Rane.
-AD

38 AK August 8, 2021 at 5:07 pm

Mr S Joseph @35,
If there is classical dance-song, you are going to see sitar and tanpuras. Chham chham baaje re payaliya is a very nice song.

@36,
The musical Shabab had all songs classical raga-based, and a good deal of string instruments.

39 Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli August 8, 2021 at 5:17 pm

AK ji
To say that it is a superlative article is to State the obvious.
As you have said in a comment there are innumerable songs on the theme and precisely that is the reason which makes the article superlative. The choice of the songs is exceptional and so is the write up.
I begin with a ‘gazab’ gazal rendered by Rafi.
Here sitar is matching with his delicate voice making the gazal ever so beautiful.
Gajab Kiya Tere waade pe- Daag Dehlavi – Khayyam
https://youtu.be/ZkQYUh9RLr8

40 KB August 8, 2021 at 6:58 pm

A rare and interesting theme. May be later we can consider the other musical instruments also like piano or guitar!

41 S Joseph August 8, 2021 at 7:47 pm

‘ Teer-e-nazar dekhenge…’/ 1972 / PAKIZAAH / Kaif Bhopali / Ghulam Mohammad / Lata

https://youtu.be/LMIe7SgSXPA

42 S Joseph August 8, 2021 at 9:16 pm

We see a Sitar here though it is not normally used in a qawwali . I hear the sound of sarangi also .

‘ Na toh karavan , ye ishq ishq …’/ 1960 / BARSAAT KI RAAT / Sahir Ludhyanvi / Roshan / Manna Dey , SD Baatish , Asha , Sudha Malhotra , Rafi

https://youtu.be/NaebUivrdiY

43 S Joseph August 8, 2021 at 9:32 pm

‘ Madhuban mei Raadhika…’/ 1960 / KOHINOOR / Shakeel Badayuni / Naushad / Rafi , Ustad Amir

https://youtu.be/krDhXUtL7Zg

44 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 8, 2021 at 10:27 pm

AKji,

A brilliant post on a wonderful theme,
It is not easy for an ordinary person like me to distinguish between these 3 classic instruments – Sitar, Tanpura and Veena.
Your informative write-up has definitely helped to understand the basics.

Beginning with couple of tanpura songs:

Meri Surat Teri Ankhen 1963
Manna – SDB – Shailendra
Poochho na kaise maine rain bitayi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0XXy00dEvU

Basant Bahar 1956
SJ – Shailendra – Rafi
Duniya na bhaye mohe ab to bulale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQHUzQ7QwmU

45 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 8, 2021 at 11:02 pm

A Sitar song….

Aap Ki Kasam 1974
RDB – AB – Lata
Chori chori chupke chupke palkon ke peechhe se

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVx3LrjxzEc

46 AK August 8, 2021 at 11:09 pm

Mr Muli @39,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. You have cited a song with beautiful sitar music. I confined my selection to the songs in which sitar is visible on the screen. Otherwise the list becomes unwieldy. The three long-necked string instruments presented themselves as a logical choice. Even with this limitation the number of songs is huge.

47 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 8, 2021 at 11:14 pm

Tanpura with Harmonium and Tabla…

Buddha Mil Gaya 1971

RDB – Majrooh – Lata
Jiya na laage mora na ja re

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zxjUNb56ZI

RDB – Majrooh – Manna, Archana
Aayo kahan se Ghanshyam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfoaH7j3X7Q

48 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 8, 2021 at 11:17 pm

Nikaah 1982 (Sitar)
Ravi – Hasan Kamal – Mahendra, Salma Agha

Dil ki ye arzoo thi koi dilruba mile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjK5WtJZiw8

49 AK August 8, 2021 at 11:21 pm

KB @40,
It is not a rare theme. I have already written on piano and harmonium songs. I have given links to these posts at the beginning of this post. Sitar was a natural corollary. Guitar is another highly visible instrument on the screen. If I extend my metaphor of piano – aristocracy; harmonium – plebeian; then guitar is youthfulness. We have a number of experts who known something about the guitar and other instruments. I am always conscious that I am too illiterate to write on musical instruments. I have done enough गुस्ताख़ी to venture into an area which belongs to the experts. My open invitation still stands to them.

50 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 8, 2021 at 11:27 pm

Vijeta 1982
Ajit Verman – Vasant Dev – Asha, Satyasheel Deshpande

Man anand anand chhayo (Tanpura with Tabla)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPc_dyJbs1U

51 AK August 9, 2021 at 12:17 am

Mr S Joseph @41,
Teer-e-nazar dekhneg: A courtesan film would have dance-songs with these instruments. Nice addition.

@42,
Na to karwan ki talash hai: Qawwalis need harmonium, some string instrument and a predominant rhythmic clapping. This one of the best qawwalis. Roshan used sitar quite generously.

@43,
Madhuban mein Radhika naace re I have mentioned prominently in song #1. A landmark song.

52 AK August 9, 2021 at 12:29 am

Dr Deshpande @44, 45, 47, 48, 50,
Thanks a lot for your generous praise. Tanpura is the easiest to recognise. In most of the sitar songs that have been posted her, there is only one gourd at the root of the long neck, there is no balancing small gourd at the other end. Veena would invariably have two gourds and more ornamentation. You have done very well in posting absolutley befitting songs, and recognising the instruments. My list had the songs of Basant Bahar as well as Poochho na maine kaise rain bitaayi

53 S Joseph August 9, 2021 at 10:13 am

Here we see Shantaram playing the Vichitra Veena. There are so many types of Veena and only experts can say more on this . What I learn is that V Shantaram was over 60 years when he played this lead role. The song is in praise of the beauty he had never seen .

‘ Kaun ho tum…’/ 1961 / STREE / Bharat Vyas / CR / Mahendra Kapoor

The Veena can be both heard and seen around 4’ 3″ into the video sequence .

https://youtu.be/saDAJD-9kmM

54 Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli August 9, 2021 at 12:59 pm

AK ji
Anita ji has posted sitar on screen and lyrics .
Josephji has posted vichitra Veena.
Here is veena
Ye kaisa surmandir hai
– Premnagar – AB- SDB – Lata
https://youtu.be/bg2zSxyvqw0

55 Shalan Lal August 9, 2021 at 4:26 pm

This an excellent post. It is often difficult to locate which string instrument is being played in the song as the part of the song or as accompaniment or the notes based on the particular string instrument.

There are many string instruments in the Indian film music right from the beginning of the film songs.

It is due to the history of the Indian music and Saraswati is always shown as holding Veena or Bina.

Many people do not understand the name of the singer “Bina Paani Mukharjee. Bina Paani does not means without water but holding Veena in the hands means Sarswati.

Perhaps next post should be on the pipe music. Shahanai which is a dominating instrument in the early films of Hindi language.

The Tabala and western drums also needed to look at as well.

In Ravindra Sangeet a full orchestra was very popular. But this orchestra was not the Western but based on the western harmony. Ravindranath was taught to play Piano by his English residential Teacher. Ravindranth did not go the schools which were started by the English Administration in all parts of India.

I often gets the feeling when I hear Ravindra Sangeet that it is very similar to the old western music.

Once Sarojini Naidu said that one has to be a Bengali to appreciate Ravindra Sangeet fully. She further said in her funeral speech on the death of Tagore that she and all her brothers and sisters lacked the understanding of the Bengali language as she and her family were prohibited by her dear father who did experiments in education on his children. They all grew up became great humanists.

This my understanding how Music and about music makes people more rounded persons.

Well this is another great article from AK. He keeps us on the boil.

Shalan La

56 S Joseph August 9, 2021 at 4:41 pm

‘ Kaise samjhaun badi…’ / 1966 / SURAJ / Shailendra / SJ / Rafi , Asha

https://youtu.be/ZcBxEUptL34

57 S Joseph August 9, 2021 at 8:06 pm

In this song RajKumar himself starts playing the sitar @ 6′ 50″ into the video sequence

‘ Jhanak jhanak tori…’/ 1968 /MERE HUZOOR / Hasrat Jaipuri / SJ / Manna Dey

https://youtu.be/0qpIQygF-VQ

58 S Joseph August 9, 2021 at 9:05 pm

‘ Mai teri nazar…’/ 1964 / JAHANARA /Rajinder Kishan / Madan Mohan / Lata

https://youtu.be/1q61Uh1od5Y

59 S Joseph August 9, 2021 at 9:16 pm

‘ Woh chup rahen …’/ 1964 / JAHANARA /Rajinder Kishan / Madan Mohan / Lata

https://youtu.be/v5hhHRZn8Os

60 S Joseph August 9, 2021 at 9:21 pm

‘ Unko yeh shikayat…’/ 1958 / ADALAT / Rajinder Kishan / Madan Mohan / Lata

https://youtu.be/g78X1OMFcb0

61 S Joseph August 9, 2021 at 9:47 pm

This is from the first movie where LaxmiKant-Pyarelal duo composed music in Hindi Films

‘ Roshan tumhi se…’/ 1963 / PARASMANI / Indeevar /LP / Rafi

https://youtu.be/0xtlH07cylQ

62 Manoj August 10, 2021 at 1:16 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT-ZukheSmQ
Beena Madhur Madhur Kachhu bol
Ramrajya 1944

63 Manoj August 10, 2021 at 1:36 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFzQvKDFfW8
NFS Meri Veena Ro Rahi hei
Juthika Roy

64 Manoj August 10, 2021 at 2:33 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JXRdoIZXY4
Just name SITAR comes, I understand this song is not appropriate.
( same for Juthika Roy’s song above)
Kangan 1939 Film

65 AK August 10, 2021 at 7:31 am

Mr Joseph@ @53,
Kaun ho tum is a very nice song.

@56,
Kaise samjhaun badi naasamajh ho: Natural setting for classical instruments.

@57,
@Jhanak jhanak tori baaje payalia: Excellent song in Darbari. Beautiful sitar play.

@58, 59, 60,
Three great songs from Jahanara. What talent of Madan Mohan! He shows his fascination for sitar

66 AK August 10, 2021 at 7:45 am

Mr Muli @54,
Very nice song. Veena becomes a metaphor for the lady’s sadness, Veena teri meri jaise ek kahani/ Is ghar mein hum donon ki kisi ne kadar na jaane/ Tera bhi koi meet nahin/ Mera bhi koi meet nahin. And then the antara, Ye kaisa surmandir hai jismein sangeet nahin. The lyrics also contain the word ‘veena’

67 AK August 10, 2021 at 7:59 am

Shalan Lal @55,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation and a short survey of music instruments. All major instruments deserve to be covered, they have figured in our songs. I would put my request to the experts again.

68 AK August 10, 2021 at 8:09 am

Manoj @62,
Beena madhur madhur kachhu bol: Eternal veena song. I have mentioned in the write up of song #2.

@63, 64,
Meri veena ro rahi hai and Sooni padi hai sitar: Both deserve to be included. The instrument now has been personified and feels the pain in virah.

P.S
‘Meri veena’ there is no doubt, but is it ‘Sooni’ or ‘Soona pada hai sitar’?

69 Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli August 10, 2021 at 1:02 pm

AK ji
Plethora of instruments here but I think Joy tries his hand ( literally) except on Veena.
There is good fusion between impeccably dressed Joy with tie to boot and the classical tune as well as traditional outfit of Saira.
Saaj ho tum awaaj hun main – Saaj aur Awaaj – Khumar Barabankavi – Naushad – Rafi
https://youtu.be/e6szCRfApKE

70 S Joseph August 10, 2021 at 2:34 pm

‘ Kaabe mei raho…’/ 1961/ DHARAMPUTRA / Sahir Ludhyanvi / N Datta / Mahendra Kapoor, Balbir & chorus

https://youtu.be/K0MEV6fd3bA

71 AK August 10, 2021 at 4:10 pm

Mr Muli @69,
Joy Mukherji had a good dress sense. He must have forgotten he was not required to play the guitar. He starts with the piano. But he couldn’t go back to change. He could show his talent with various instruments. Had the song been long enough, he could have played veena and sitar too, sitting nearby. Nice addition.

72 AK August 10, 2021 at 4:12 pm

Mr S Joseph @70,
I can ‘see’ sitar very prominently in Kaabe mein raho.

73 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 10, 2021 at 5:41 pm

A Marathi song….

Haldi Kunku 1979
Vishwanath More – Jagdish Khebudkar – Suresh Wadkar

Jhan jhananana chhedilya tara

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l02pksUGicE

74 R Vasudevan August 10, 2021 at 6:55 pm

OP Nayar has always used Sitar as one of his prime instruments in his
orchestration. A few examples.

1, Phir milogi habi is baath ka – film YE RAATH PHIR NA AYEGI,
2. Dil ki awaaz suno – film HUMSAAYA,

3. Andhere me baite hai – film – SAMBANDH
In this song sitar is of minimum use but its effect is total unlike first two where Sitar is
My song selection without a mention of Shankar jaikishan is incomplete. So here it. The song begins with the play of sitar.
Song – Man re thu baatha re – film HUMRAAHI.

where

75 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 10, 2021 at 7:18 pm

All the instruments on stage…

Sur Sangam 1985
LP – Vasant Dev – Rajan Sajan Mishra, Kavita
Dhanya bhag seva ka avsar paaya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZn_LZtSe6o

76 AK August 10, 2021 at 9:33 pm

Dr Deshpande @73,
Jahn jhananana chhedilya tara: This is what a perfect sitar-song should look like. The sitar is prominent on the screen, the sitarist plays it and sings, and the lady dances. But he has not watched the sitarists enough, his stage mannerism is a little overdone.

@75,
Dhanya bhag seva ka avsar paya is an excellent song. The instruments are in the background though; it would not figure in my fist cut for this post.

77 AK August 10, 2021 at 9:37 pm

Mr Vasudevan @74,
Thanks for your nice song list. Most music directors used sitar very prominently in the orchestration. That is why I focussed on the songs in which the sitar created a great visual impact.

78 Manoj August 11, 2021 at 3:06 am

Sitar Tutorial Lesson 1 in Hindi
by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Chambyal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx-kvBOQfwQ
Many more lessons can be continued

79 S Joseph August 11, 2021 at 1:50 pm

@17 and one more from AMRAPALI

‘ Neel gagan ki…’/ 1966 / AMRAPALI / Hasrat Jaipuri/ SJ / Lata

https://youtu.be/55LRrp3XNA4

80 AK August 11, 2021 at 1:58 pm

Manoj @78,
Thanks for the sitar tutorial, it is very helpful in recognising the instrument and its sound.

81 AK August 11, 2021 at 2:01 pm

Mr Joseph @79,
Amrapali being based on the state courtesan, had good number of songs which, while maintaining the film-song character, had classical ensemble of instruments. Thanks for adding the song, Neel Gagan ki chhaton mein.

82 S Joseph August 11, 2021 at 6:29 pm

Though we see the string instruments , the camera has not focused enough on the musicians . In any case I would not give more than 2/10 to the director for this song recording .

‘Kahe tarsaye jiyara…’/ 1964 / CHITRALEKHA / Sahir Ludhyanvi / Roshan / Asha , Usha Mangeshkar

https://youtu.be/5hZ2SVxgBho

83 S Joseph August 11, 2021 at 6:32 pm

Here we can see the Veena very briefly.

‘Sansar se bhaage…’/ 1964 / CHITRALEKHA / Sahir Ludhyanvi / Roshan / Lata

https://youtu.be/7bDwOaa61bQ

84 AK August 11, 2021 at 11:01 pm

Mr S Joseph @82, 83,
Kaahe tarsaye jiyara happens to be one of my most favourite female duets, and among the best of Roshan songs.

85 Canasya August 12, 2021 at 12:50 am

AKji:

Thanks for this wonderfully enlightening post on sitar’s contribution to HFM. I think, we can now look forward to similar posts on mandolin and santoor, two other string instruments widely used by our MDs during the golden era.

I was somewhat surprised by your use of the term ‘gravitas’ in connection with sitar. To me, the sounds of Veena and Rudra Veena appear to have more natural association with ‘gravitas’. Here I am not talking of dignity, but the weight or the timbre of the rich sound emanating from a Veena/Rudra Veena. Perhaps for this reason, Veena has been more popular in Carnatic music. Sitar, on the other hand, gets automatically associated in my mind with a joyous, more playful (not frivolous), melody.

In Hindustani classical music, sitar has been one of the most versatile instruments. Its widespread use in HFM, not only in songs, but also in background scores, is testimony to its versatility and adaptability. Here is one song and a background score using sitar, all composed by SDB.
First, ‘Kali ghata chhaye’ (Asha in Sujata):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZMyPcef_ws

And now, the Jhamm-jhamma on sitar played by J V Acharya in background score of Kala Pani (courtesy Moti Lalwani ji’s interview which describes the context for this score in detail):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6MbVRabtes#t=6m15s

86 S Joseph August 12, 2021 at 9:15 am

‘ Ankhiyan sang ankhiyaan…’/ 1961 / BADA AADMI / Prem Dhawan / Chitragupt / Rafi

https://youtu.be/KG8cxLEKAAk

87 AK August 12, 2021 at 10:29 am

Canasya @85,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation and substantive comments. When I used the word ‘gravitas’ I had in mind the visual impact of sitar on the screen in our songs. Whichever song came to my mind were all in a serious or classical setting.

Between Carnatic and Hindustani music there is no question the former maintains its ancient roots and their kritis are generally devotional as prayer to the popular deities in our pantheon. TM Krishna has tried to experiment, I believe due to his political beliefs, but the form remains deeply devotional and traditional. I like his singing. Hindustani classical music evolved with Persian/Islamic influence and became a distinct style. Its dominant form ‘khayal‘ could be translated as ‘romantic musings’. Lighter forms like thumri and dadra became playful. The two titans of sitar, Pt. Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan, both had a romantic style pf playing. A friend of mine who prefers Ravi Shankar says, he had लास्य about him from his dance background under Uday Shankar’s school at Almora. That reflected in his his sitar playing too. As a lay listener I preferred Vilayat Khan, possibly because of his gayaki ang. I found his style too very romantic. Our music directors have ‘shown’ both the sitar and veena with some reverence.

Thanks a lot for the two videos.

88 AK August 12, 2021 at 10:32 am

Mr S Joseph @86,
Ankhiyan sang ankhiyan laagi aaj is such a nice song visually for various string instruments.

89 Pramod Godbole August 12, 2021 at 1:24 pm

Ak ,
Let me add some more marathi flavor .

The लंकापति रावण is seen playing वीणा .
The handsome marathi superstar चंद्रकांत singing in भीमसेन जोशी’s voice .

Movie is स्वयंवर झाले सीतेचे

रम्य ही स्वर्गाहून लंका

https://youtu.be/juq16lSm6KA

90 Pramod Godbole August 12, 2021 at 1:34 pm

AK ,

One more on तानपुरा .

Sweetly sung by मधुबाला झवेरी.

Actress नीलम

Movie अवघाचि संसार

आज मी आळविते केदार

https://youtu.be/LV_h6Y8JJro

91 Ashok M Vaishnav August 12, 2021 at 3:47 pm

Like most of the music instruments, Sitar is a very difficult instrument to handle even at the basic of right sitting posture.

However, our great Hindi films have made playing Sitar as a common play. Of course, so is the case with piano or guitar too.

Barring a few instances, the actor/ actress supposed to be playing the instrument literally murders the instrument. The instrument would possibly live for the next day only by the way it has been used in the song by the music director.

SoY has done great service to Sitar by this informative and interesting article.

92 AK August 12, 2021 at 5:26 pm

Pramod @90,
Thanks a lot for Ravan’s veena song. Mr Rangan too had mentioned a Tamil song of Ravan playing the veena. I didn’t know about Ravan’s veena talent.

@91,
Nice song.

93 AK August 12, 2021 at 5:27 pm

Ashokji @91,
In this context Dilip Kumar’s effort to learn the sitar is admirable. Thanks a lot for our appreciation.

94 Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli August 12, 2021 at 10:48 pm

AK ji , Rajesh ji , Pramod ji
A poignant Marathi song from Gharkul on sitar. In fact it is an iconic poem ” Jogiya ” by Ga Di Madgulkar. Composed by C Ramchandra ,it is rendered by Rani Verma , daughter of Manik Verma.
Konyat Zhopali ” Satar” –
https://youtu.be/4VmqrbaqTwo

95 S Joseph August 13, 2021 at 9:24 am

‘ Poochho na kaise…’/ 1963 / MERI SOORAT TERI AANKHEN/ Shailendra /SBD / Manna Dey

https://youtu.be/0vh8_1ruoRo

96 S Joseph August 13, 2021 at 12:10 pm

Another song from the same movie @ 95 where we saw only a Tanpura. In this video we can hear as well as briefly see the sitar on screen.

‘ Naache mann mora…’/ 1963 / MERI SOORAT TERI AANKHEN/ Shailendra /SBD / Rafi

https://youtu.be/5as7b0Zz8GI

97 S Joseph August 13, 2021 at 12:40 pm

‘ Tere khayalon mein…’ / 1963 / MERI SOORAT TERI AANKHEN/ Shailendra /SBD / Lata

https://youtu.be/ckNrd9kUjDE

98 S Joseph August 13, 2021 at 2:05 pm

2 tanpuras .

Baat chalat nai…’/ 1957 / RANI ROOPMATI / Bharat Vyas / SNT / Rafi , Krishnarao Chonkar

https://youtu.be/ejt-0jMN7mM

99 S Joseph August 13, 2021 at 2:07 pm

‘ Baat chalat nai…’/ 1953 / LADKI / Rajinder Kishan / CR, Sudarsanam , Dhaniram / Geeta Dutt

https://youtu.be/vnOejYodXoM

100 Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli August 13, 2021 at 3:13 pm

Akji, Sangeeta ji
Sangeeta ji has posted 4 fabulous Madan ji’s creations one of which is from Dastak. Dastak was a veritable feast of Lata-MM combination and here is one more song from the film featuring The theme.
Hum hai mata-e-kucha – Majrooh
https://youtu.be/Jrdp3LdoiGA

101 S Joseph August 13, 2021 at 4:18 pm

‘Ik nazar kisi…’/ 1962 / RANGOLI / Hasrat Jaipuri/ SJ / Kishore , Lata

https://youtu.be/iUCuSu1xPH4

102 Ashwin Bhandarkar August 13, 2021 at 8:28 pm

Great article, AK, and great songs as well! Also, thanks for sharing the anecdote involving Ravi Shankar and Bismillah Khan 🙂

Two of my favourite songs in which the sitar plays a prominent part are:

1. ”Phaili huyi hain sapnon ki baahen by Lata/Sahir/SD Burman from ‘House No: 44’ (1955)

The sitar was played by Abdul Halim Jaffar Khan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxf-n4eMkHw

2. ”Jiya le gayo ji mora saanwariya’by Lata/Raja Mehdi Ali Khan/Madan Mohan from ‘Anpadh'(1962)

Was the sitar played by Rais Khan?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JB2tjjzfOg

103 Ashwin Bhandarkar August 13, 2021 at 8:33 pm

The relationship between The Beatles (esp. George Harrison) and Ravi Shankar is well-known, as is the use of the sitar in ‘Norwegian Wood’:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_V6y1ZCg_8

104 Ashwin Bhandarkar August 13, 2021 at 9:30 pm

Here’s a song based on a combo of Ragas Marwa and Puriyadhanashri from ‘Badaltey Rishtey'(1978). It features a tanpura and a sitar.

‘Meri saanson ko jo mehka rahi hai’ by Lata & Mahendra Kapoor/Anjaan/Laxmikant-Pyarelal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21ZazFAzynE

105 Ashwin Bhandarkar August 13, 2021 at 9:53 pm

Here’s a song in which

(a) Tina Munim does not play the tanpura most of the time, and plays it like it is an ektara when she does, but its sound is not heard

(b) the sarangi and swarmandal are shown being played but for some reason are not heard, unlike the sitar and tabla

(c) an Amitabh Bacchan look-alike plays the bansuri, and at one point, gets so carried away that he tries to stand,

(d) Lata takes the names of two of her rivals, one after the other, in the mukhda.

Nice song, though!

‘Suman sudha rajnigandha’ by Lata/Amit Khanna/Rajesh Roshan from ‘Manpasand'(1980)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdSo-AdZqcQ

106 Ashwin Bhandarkar August 13, 2021 at 10:32 pm

Another one of my favourite Lata songs. One can see a stringed instrument in the background in portions of the song-sequence, and it is featured prominently when the line ”main beena utha na saki’. It has way lesser number of pegs than a sitar, so it cannot be that instrument. The number of pegs seem to be 4, the same as in a tanpura, but their placement, at least from the silhouette (for the instrument itself cannot be seen clearly), is not like it would be in a tanpura, so the instrument cannot be a tanpura. Also, the instrument seems to have frets. So it it a veena by default?

‘Ja re, ja re ud ja re pancchi’by Lata/Majrooh/Salil Chowdhury from ‘Maya'(1961)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTMxRVtgLy4

107 Ashwin Bhandarkar August 13, 2021 at 11:04 pm

Mala Sinha makes her fingers fly up and down the stem of a veena, and successfully produce the sound of a sitar in this gem of a song that was inspired by Bade Ghulam Ali Khan’s thumri ”Ýaad piya ki aaye:

‘Balama anaadi man bhaaye’ by Lata/Sahir/C.Ramchandra from ‘Bahurani'(1963)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6doOa6A9g8

108 AK August 13, 2021 at 11:09 pm

Mr Muli @94,
The audio is of poor quality. Is sitar clearly visible on the screen?

@100,
Hum hai mata-e-koocha is such a nice song.

109 Ashwin Bhandarkar August 13, 2021 at 11:15 pm

Another one in the same vein:

Ýeh kaisa sur mandir hai jisme sangeet nahin’by Lata/Anand Bakshi/S.D.Burman from ‘Prem Nagar’ (1974)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YA4Q6FvP_c

110 AK August 13, 2021 at 11:21 pm

Mr Joseph @95,
Poocho na kaise maine rain bitayi: It was in my list. A perfect song for this post.

@96,
Naache man mora I like even more. Tabla (played by Samta Prasad, aka Godai Maharaj) is very prominent.

@97,
Tere khayalon mein tere hi khwabon mein: MSTA had such nice songs. Thanks for posting these.

@98, 99,
My favourite song. I have included at #7.

@101,
Ek nazar kisi ne dekha: SJ have created such a fun song with all the instruments in a classical music setting.

111 AK August 13, 2021 at 11:42 pm

Ashwin @102,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Phaili hui hai sapnon ki baahein: The song is highly mellifluous. And sitar is an important of its charm, though not visible on the scree. Jiya le gayo ji mora saanwariya is another delightful song. Sangeetaji can confirm, but Rais Khan seems quite plausible.

@103,
Being Geroge Harrison’s Guru was a big part of Ravi Shankar’s fame. Ravi Shankar became a Rockstar among sitarists.

@105,
(a), (b) We should be happy that no sound came, it would be much worse if they sounded like violin or piano.
(c) Sharp observation. He might be basically a qawwali singer.
(d) 🙂 . This takes me to Dil hai chhota sa chhoti si Asha. The singer Minmini (?) is extremely arrogant and discourteous. How dare she call Asha Bhosle ‘small’. She must be her mother’s age. These youngsters!

112 SSW August 13, 2021 at 11:50 pm

AK in “meri veena tum bin roye” I cannot hear the sitar or the veena. I can the sarod as the primary plucked string instrument in the beginning and in the interlude and in the background with the voice. Pity how the lyrics do not reflect the picturisation. 🙂

Ashwin @106 interesting question. I would have hazarded it’s a Veena because it seems to have a scalloped fretboard and I can see 5 pegs in the shadow on the wall , and the side of the veena that faces the player will have 5 pegs. Two for the main playing strings and 3 for the drone strings. The side facing away will have two pegs for the other two playing . I cannot see the resonator at the top but I guess one can take it away without affecting the musical functionality of the Veena.
Again no Veena in the song, but some beautiful flute and saxophone interludes and counterpoints and a very nice use of the clarinet.

113 AK August 13, 2021 at 11:51 pm

Ashwin @106,
If we eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbale, must be the truth. Not tanpura, not sitar, and she says ‘Main beena utha na saki’. It has to be veena. Elemenary.

@107,
I told you so, and you were cribbing in @105 that sound was not heard.

@109,
She is playing veena, some string sound is coming. For lay persons that is enough.

114 Ashwin Bhandarkar August 14, 2021 at 9:55 am

AK @ 111,

I agree with your observation about Minmini. What gall the gal has to give a gaali to Asha by referring to the latter as mini-Asha just because her name happens to be Minmini!

@ 113,

For a moment, it crossed my mind that the ‘beena’ in ‘Main beena utha na saki’ might have been Beena Rai, but then I dismissed the thought as ‘Maya’…

SSW @ 112,

Thanks for the confirmation! A question – was the Bengali version of the song the original or was it the Hindi song?

115 AK August 14, 2021 at 2:06 pm

SSW @112,
I have to bow to your superior judgment. But please watch 0.50 to 1.30 again. I think the instrument Ameeta is reclining on is veena. In my interaction with Ashwin, we have agreed that the presence of an instrument is no guarantee that you are also going to hear it. That depended which musicians the arranger had been able to get on the day of recording. We have heard of 50 violinists in SJ or so and so’s orchestra, but no one has heard of 2 veena players in them. You are more likely to hear any other instrument than veena.

116 Ashwin Bhandarkar August 14, 2021 at 2:17 pm

Here is one of my all-time favourites.

Padmini dancing in a style that a Bharatanatyam expert told me was typical of Bollywood in the 50s and 60s, and is a mishmash of Kathak and Bharatanatyam, to a (Chhaya Nat-laced) Gaud Sarang-based song (with jhalaks of Kedar and Jogiya/Kalingada in the prefatory alaap), in which the instrumental accompaniment sounds very Carnatic! The percussion accompaniment is provided by the mridangam to boot! Although the sequence shows a veena, the stringed instruments used in the song are the sitar and sarod, as far as I can discern. The line ‘baaje man ka sitar, piya tere liye’ is apt!

Na dir deem tana derena” by Lata/Prem Dhawan/Anil Biswas from Pardesi” (1957)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFJk-s-021I

117 SSW August 14, 2021 at 3:59 pm

AK, I only said that the veena or sitar isn’t audibly present in the song. On the screen well that’s different.
Ashwin, the Bengali version was released on a record in 1959. Maya, the film was I think 1961 though the songs could have been released earlier.

118 AK August 14, 2021 at 11:03 pm

SSW,
Thanks for pointing it out. I made a hurried comment. Sorry about that.

119 Anu Warrier August 15, 2021 at 9:00 am

Interesting theme; when I saw the title, I assumed you were talking about the use of the sitar in the music, not its presence on screen. 🙂

So the three instruments you mentioned: here’s Bharat Bhushan playing the tanpura in Baiju Bawra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95rsl4qREx8&t=158s

From a cursory glance through the comments, I didn’t see this song (apologies if anyone has already mentioned it) – Amitabh playing the tanpura in Koi gaata main so jaata from Alaap.

You can see the sitar being ‘played’ in Mehfil mein tere husn ka deewana kaun hai from a little known film called Rooplekha. The song is a duet by Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLt1STB92j0

For the actual music including the sitar, Subodh has already posted O sajna barkha bahaar aayi from Parakh.. The artist who played the sitar in that song, Jairam Acharya , is also the person who plays the sitar in Tere bina zindagi se from Aandhi, and Bol re papihara from Guddi.

There don’t seem to be many songs which feature the veena prominently either. Not in Hindi, at least.

120 Anu Warrier August 15, 2021 at 9:38 am

Completely forgot this one for the Veena – Baat chalat nayi chunri rang dari from Ladki

https://youtu.be/F3ji_fIosso?t=183

and Madhubala on the veena as well in Bahut DinChanda chamke neel gagan mein
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRIlsJWaVXE

And I don’t know how I could have forgotten this… Saira ‘playing’ the sitar
Bedardi dagabaaz from Bluffmaster
https://youtu.be/iKpjV7DWnPU

(I hope I have made up for my long absence from your blog. 🙂 )

121 arvindersharma August 15, 2021 at 12:21 pm

Excellent theme AK Ji once again. And a large number of these songs are from the post vintage era, spanning over the years, with wonderful contributions from nearly all the MDs, a special mention has to be made of Madanmohan and Salil Chowdhury amongst the MDs
Some of my favourite picks are as below and I hope I’m not repeating anything

Saanwre saanwre by Lata from Anuradha composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar

https://youtu.be/M3Bk5lpSYis

Jaane kaise sapno me by Lata from Anuradha composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar

https://youtu.be/LYH2SqwZzzQ

Hiya jarat rahat din rain by Mukesh from Godaan composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar

https://youtu.be/dQfUE4ArNkU

Rasik balma by Lata from Chori Chori composed by Shankar Jaikishan

https://youtu.be/hMk-JSGH1AE

Kar gaya re by Lata and Asha from Basant Bahar composed by Shankar Jaikishan

https://youtu.be/-T_j0GkehhQ

O basanti pawan paagal by Lata from Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hai composed by Shankar Jaikishan

https://youtu.be/ra0TqyN42xs

continued…

122 AK August 15, 2021 at 12:34 pm

Anu @119,
I couldn’t have written on the use of sitar in music, I have been quite open about my illiteracy in music. This could be only done by the experts. We know four of them on the SOY. This Gang of Four includes one whom you know very closely. I did approach them, and my open invitation still stands. 🙂

Thanks for posting Aaj gawat man mero jhoom ke. Pure classical singers, particularly Ustad Amir Khan, a singers’ singer who did aalap in Marwa for an hour, presenting Raga Desi in 6 minutes is a great feat.

@120,
Baat chalat nayi chunri daar: I have mentioned this song and a posted a later version, which I find even superior to it, at #7.

Chanda chamke neel gagan mein is a beautiful song. Anything in Bhimpalasi has to be, even Tu cheez badi hai mast mast. 🙂

Bedardi dagabaaz is also a very good song. Saira Bano does ‘play’ the sitar well.

Anu, of course, you have more than made up for your absence. More so with the bonus of one of the experts.

123 arvindersharma August 15, 2021 at 12:42 pm

Continued

Ghar tera apna ghar laage by Suraiya and Talat from Waaris composed by Anil Biswas

https://youtu.be/C1USdni17QM

Apni kaho by Lata and Talat from Parchhaain composed by C Ramchandra

https://youtu.be/REDQoD365oo

Jab dil me nahi hai khot by Manna De from Bank Manager composed by Madanmohan (this seems to be Sarod, to my untrained ears )

https://youtu.be/qa8We8RSAPM

Sitare raah takte hain chale aao by Lata from Black Cat composed by N Dutta

https://youtu.be/ZTsMOsLdBDk
Laage tose nain by Asha and Talat from Chandi Ki Deewar composed by N Dutta

https://youtu.be/6rd80gOT-HQ

Saara mora kajra by Rafi and Aarti Mukherjee from Do Dil composed by Hemant Kumar

https://youtu.be/Be_Fue6ZFOM

Itne qareeb aa ke bhi by Talat and Mubarak Begum from Shagoon composed by Khayyam

https://youtu.be/AvuCI4iJmsA

124 arvindersharma August 15, 2021 at 12:47 pm

And lastly, one very rare jugalbandi of Sitar and Sarod from a forgotten film Ferry, the real jugalbandi was played on Sitar by Pandit Nikhil Bannerjee and Sarod by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, enacted on screen by Dev Anand and Geeta Bali
Music of the film was composed by Hemant Kumar

https://youtu.be/ONscuEYwH2M

Will continue if I find some more interesting songs

125 AK August 15, 2021 at 12:51 pm

Arvinder Sharmaji @121,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Ravi Shankar’s Anuradha and Godan, both hada number of everlasting songs, sitar was an important part in the. SJ’s songs you have posted are all absolutely superb, and great sitar pieces. You have mentioned Madan Mohan and Salil Chowdhury. Several MM songs and a few Salil Chowdhury’s songs have been posted. Their use of the sitar in several songs is very prominent and it adds to the beauty of songs.

126 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 16, 2021 at 11:17 pm

Mala Sinha with the sitar though it is essentially a flute song…

Geet 1970
KA – AB – Lata

Tere naina kyon bhar aaye

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zVGbHW3eM4

127 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 16, 2021 at 11:31 pm

Two Marathi songs featuring Shubha Khote with the tanpura:

First, an evergreen song by Manik Verma, composed by Sudhir Phadke
Umaj Padel Tar 1960

घननीळा लडिवाळा झुलवु नको हिंदोळा (Ghana nila ladiwala)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL1bZn7YOcw

Chimukala Pahuna 1967
Snehal Bhatkar – Lata

Tujsathi shankara bhillin mi jhale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXaRUhmgCc8

128 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 16, 2021 at 11:36 pm

Aaj Ki Awaz 1984

Ravi – Hasan Kamaal – Mahendra Kapoor

Dil hi dil mein le liya dil meharbani aapki

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwi4NJ4r8ik

129 AK August 17, 2021 at 8:34 am

Dr Deshpande @126,
Nice flute song, but the little sitar Mala Sinha plays is quite good. I think Geet’s other songs, too, we’re flute songs.

@127,
Both are exquisite classical raga based songs. The first one the uploader describes as Pahadi. The second is Maru Bihag?

@128,
Dil hi dil mein le liya meharbani aapki: Ravi-Mahendra Kapoor recreation of their earlier successful experiment. But the sitar, both seen and heard, makes it a beautiful song.

130 arvindersharma August 17, 2021 at 9:02 am

AK Ji
A few more interesting songs
OP Nayyar’s first song, an NFS, and CH Atma singing Preetam aan milo
A subdued sitar plays throughout the song

https://youtu.be/153BNbmkf1M

Asha from Grihasthi composed by Ravi
Jeewan jyoti jale

https://youtu.be/UemDW8KonE8

And Lata from Chand Aur Suraj composed by Salil Chowdhury
Jhanana jhanan baaje

https://youtu.be/KaxWthZAgjw

131 AK August 17, 2021 at 11:37 am

Arvinder Sharmaji,
Excellent songs all. The uploader of Preetam aan milo is a geat romantic. In CH Atma’s NFS, he has put in pictures of Suraiya, Saiyra Bano, Waheeda Rahman, Madhubala, Madhubala and Nimmi!

132 S Joseph August 28, 2021 at 3:21 pm

Had it not been restricted to only songs with Sitar/Veena/Tanpura visible on screen , the number of songs covered under this post could have been at least 10 times more . AK ji had mentioned @ 6 that some experts could take up this theme .

I wish we could give credit to the person who brings the musical instrument to life by spending a lifetime with it . A foreigner Mr.Gregory D. Booth had dealt with the subject of such silent workers of the HFM industry in his book ‘ BEHIND THE CURTAINS : MAKING MUSIC IN MUMBAI’S FILM STUDIOS ‘ (336 pages).

Perhaps Saira Banu was the only star seen twice on screen playing the Sitar .

‘ Apne piya ki…’/ 1967 / AMAN / Hasrat Jaipuri / SJ / Lata

https://youtu.be/cS8_zPuTTLY

133 AK August 29, 2021 at 6:45 pm

Mr S Joseph,
That restriction was a conscious decision. Just use of sitar is in hundreds of songs. Mentioning those songs without any meaningful analysis is not very useful. Greg Booth is an academic ethnomusicologist at Auckland University and his ‘Behind The Curtains’ also has that flavour. The book is part ‘oral’ history (interview of persons familiar with the era when real musicians played instruments, music directors had singers come to their Music Room, followed by rehearsals and recordings with the orchestra). The book describes that era, and analyses the reasons for its collapse. The book would not give you at one place, main instrumentalists and the famous songs in which they played the sitar, violin, piano etc.

134 AVINASH KUMAR September 13, 2021 at 1:34 pm

Brilliant blog once again . But here again main songs are not included . Sitar Maestro Pt Ravi Shnakar composed music for Film Anuradha and all songs were Sitar based , none of the ANURADHA songs find place . Likewise ICONIC song “Pucho na kaisae maine raain bitaye ” from Meri Surat Teri Ankhen composition of S D Burman da is conspicuously absent.

135 AK September 13, 2021 at 5:21 pm

Avinash Kumar,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. My emphasis was on the sitar’s presence on the screen. I include only 10-20 songs. The readers add a large number of songs in the comments section. A reader has added Poochho na kaise maine rain bitayi, and many songs in which sitar music is prominent have been mentioned, even though the instrument is not seen on the screen.

136 Dinesh Khurana November 29, 2021 at 2:08 pm

Another beautiful song

Sancha tera naam from Movie Biwi Ho To Aisi

137 AK November 29, 2021 at 5:14 pm

Dinesh Khurana,
Welcome to SOY.

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