Raaga Based Song of the Day #13

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Bainya na dharo, O balma…
Raag Charukesi, Tal Punjabi Theka (Sitarkhani), Kaherava

We have completed twelve days of Raaga Based Songs of the Day. Our first post in the series was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #1’ and the song was a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka: Tum mujhe youn bhula na paoge. It is in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava.

Our twelfth post or the last post was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #11’ and the song was a Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1960 Bimal Roy movie Parakh: O sajana barkha bahaar aayi. It is in Raag Khammaj, Tal Kaherava.

This blog has a number of posts on Raaga based songs in Hindi movies titled similarly; for example: ‘The Best Raaga Based Songs in Hindi Movies – Raaga Jhinjhoti – Part II’.

Charukesi or Charukeshi is a raaga of Carnatic music. The raaga is called Tarangini in Muthuswami Dikshitar school; he was an early 19th century poet and composer.y

Charukesi is also very popular in Hindustani music. The mood of the raag is pathos (karuna) and devotion. Some of Hindi films most beautiful songs have been composed in it, such as Aaj dil pe koi zor chalta nahin (that was deleted from some versions of the movie Milan), Akele hain chale aao kahan ho, Bedardi balma tujhko mera man yaad karta hai, Bekhudi mein sanam, Chhod de saari duniya kisi ke liye, Ek tu jo mila, Kisi raah pe kisi mod par, Koi jab tumhaara hriday tod de, Shyam teri bansi pukaare Radha naam, Teri umeed tera intezar and karte hain.

Value added learning for today is about this new Tal we are learning:

I have told you adequately about Tal Kaherava. Today I shall cover with you Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.

Sitarkhani takes it’s name from Siddhar-Khan-e-Theka, which means a grove invented by Siddhar Khan, widely credited with invention of Tabla.

It is a Tal of 16 beats. Some consider it as a variation of Tintal in which two dhins in the middle of each vibhag have been replaced by a single dhin:
Dhaa Dhin Dhaa, Dhaa Dhin Dhaa, Dhaa Tin Naa, Naa Dhin Dhaa
Clap, 2, 3, 4, Clap 2, 3, 4, Wave, 2, 3, 4, Clap, 2, 3, 4

I feel that the best rendition of Charukesi in a Hindi films is by Lata Mangeshkar in the 1970 Rajinder Singh Bedi movie Dastak (the Knock) that starred Sanjeev Kumar and Rehana Sultan. The movie has some of the best lyrics by the only Dadasaheb Phalke Award Winner Lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri; eg, this song, Mai ri main kase kahun, and Hum hain mata-e-kuucha-o-bazaar ki tarah.

And as far as the composer Madan Mohan is concerned, what can you stay about him? I feel that he was the best in composing songs with poignancy and even melancholy.

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Bainya na dharo, O balma…

Bai.nyaa na dharo, o balamaa,

bai.nyaa na dharo, o balamaa
bai.nyaa na dharo, o balamaa
na karo mose raa… r
bai.nyaa na dharo

Dhalegii chunariyaa, tan se
Dhalegii chunariyaa, tan se … tan se …
aa aa aa…
Dhalegii chunariyaa, tan se
ha.Nse.ngii re chU.Diyaa.N chhan se
ha.Nse.ngii re chU.Diyaa.N chhan se … chhan se chhan se
ha.Nse.ngii re chU.Diyaa.N chhan se
machegii jhanakaa … r …
bai.nyaa na dharo … na dharo … na dharo, o balamaa

Mohe chho.Do hAy … sajanaa …
mohe chho.Do hAy … mohe chho.Do
mohe … chho.Do … chho.Do sajanaa …
mohe chho.Do hAy sajanaa …
diyaa siis uThaaye … sajanaa
diyaa siis uThaaye … uThaaye sajanaa …
rahaa mohe nihaa … r
bai.nyaa na dharo … na dharo … na dharo, o balamaa

Mai.n to aap bahakii bahakii
mai.n to aap bahakii bahakii bahakii, aa … aa … aa
mai.n to aap bahakii bahakii
chaluu.N jaise mahakii mahakii
chaluu.N jaise mahakii … mahakii
chaluu.N jaise mahakii

chameliyaa kii Daa … ra
bai.nyaa na dharo, o balamaa
na karo mose raa … ra
bai.nyaa na dharo … na dharo … na dharo, o balamaa

We have intended to learn about Raaga based music whilst we entertain ourselves with Raaga based songs. So, lets, once again, take stock of our collective learning so far:

1. On the first day we learnt about the Raaga system devised by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, which is the prevalent system in Hindustani Classical Music and based on ten Thaats.
2. On the second day we learnt about Tal or Taal.
3. On the third day we learnt about characteristics of Raagas that included Swar, Jati, Thaat, Arohana and Avarohana, Vadi, Samvadi and Pakad.
4. On the fourth day, we learnt about Sargam.
5. On the fifth day, we learnt about notations used in Indian classical music or simply Swar Lipi.
6. On the sixth day, we learnt about the Ras (sentiments) that Raagas evoke.
7. On the seventh day, we learnt about various types of Swar: Shuddha, Achal, Vikrut, Komal and Teevra.
8. On the eighth day, we learnt the parts of a composition in Indian Classical Music.
9. On the ninth day, we learnt the names of some of the popular instruments used in Indian Classical Music.
10. On the tenth day, we learnt about the sources of names of Raagas.
11. On the eleventh day, we learnt about why Bhairavi is the first raag to be taught to beginners and also why it is the last in a performance.
12. On the twelfth day, we learnt about Khammaj Thaat.
13. And today, on the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!