Raaga Based Song Of The Day #47

Raaga Based Song of the Day: Manmohana bade jhuthe…
Raag Jaijaiwanti, Tal Ektal

We have completed forty-six 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 forty-sixth post was titled Raaga Based Song Of The Day #46 and the song was a Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar song from the 1967 Adurthi Subba Rao movie Milan: Sawan ka mahina pawan kare sor It is in Raag Pahadi, Tal Kherava.

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 Yaman – Part III‘.

In the last forty-six days of sharing Raaga based songs of the day, I have given you songs based on Raag Jhinjhoti, Gara, Bhimpalasi, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Bihag, Pahadi, Sarang, Pilu, Bhairavi, Khammaj, Charukesi, Kalyan or Yaman, Desh, Malgunji, Kirwani, Kedar, Bageshri, Megh Malhar, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav, Malkaush, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani and Patdeep. The only two raag that has been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, and Maru Bihag.

Today, I give you a song in Raag Jaijaiwanti, Tal Ektal.

However, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. Today, we shall learn about two things: firstly, since this is the first song that we are taking up with Ektal, I shall tell you a little more about Ektal; secondly, the accompanying musical instrument with this song pictured on Nutan is Tanpura. So, I shall tell you about Tanpura.

Ektal, a popular tal in Indian classical music, is commonly used in classical music style such as Khayal and semi-classical style such as Rabindra Sangeet. Ektal has 12 matras divided into six vibhags:

clap, 2, wave, 2, clap, 2, wave, 2, clap, 2, clap, 2

Now, you are bound to ask me: “That makes it four claps; then why is it called Ektal?” Guess what? I have studied varied literature and couldn’t find an answer to it. If you have the answer, please educate all of us in the comments below.

It has a characteristic pattern of bols (theka) which goes as follows:

The Theka for Ektal
Dhin Dhin | DhaGe TiRaKiTa |
x 0
Tun Na | Kat Ta |
2 0
DhaGe TiRaKiTa | Dhin Na |
3 4

Some of the popular Hindi movies songs in Ektal are: Ja re beimaan tujhe jaan liya (Raag Bageshri), Jago re jago prabhat aaya (Raag Todi), Ketaki, gulab, juhi, champak bana phule (Raag Basant Bahar from the movie Basant Bahar, song sung by Bhimsen Joshi on composition by Shankar Jaikishan, on the lyrics of Shailendra), and Tori jai jai kartaar (a song sung by Ustad Amir Khan for the 1952 movie Baiju Bawra, a composition of Naushad on Shakeel Badayuni’s lyrics).

That brings us to Tanpura. Tanpura is called a drone because this musical instrument doesn’t provide melody but supports the melody of another instrument or a singer by constantly providing a continuous harmonic bourdon or drone. It is therefore easy to guess that it doen’t change throughout the performance. Watch the accompanying song and you will know.

The meaning of the name Tanpura is contained in two words: Tan or Taan (that is, a musical phrase); and Pura, that is complete. Carnatic musicians refer to Tanpura as Tambura or Tanpuri. Tanpuras come in different sizes and pitches: larger ‘males’, smaller ‘females’ for vocalists, and a yet smaller version is used for accompanying sitar or sarod, called tamburi.

It is not an ancient instrument like Bansuri and has no mention of it before the early seventeenth century. Its construction is similar to Sitar except that it has no frets. Its strings (four or five) are always plucked at full length in a continuous unchanging pattern.

Tanpuras are designed in three different styles:

  • Miraj style: the favourite form of tanpura for Hindustani performers.
  • Tanjore style: this is a south Indian style of tambura, used widely by Carnatic music performers.
  • Tanpuri: small-scale instruments, used for accompanying instrumental soloists such as with Sitar, Sarod and Sarangi.
(Pic courtesy: tosslevy.nl)

As I mentioned, today’s song is composed in Raag Jaijaiwanti, Tal Ektal.

Jaijaiwanti is a complex Raaga devised by the ninth Guru of the Sikhs: Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. His son, the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh, introduced this Raaga in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. Surprisingly though, it is not mentioned in the Raagmala on the last two pages of SGGS.

It is a combination of two other Raagas in SGGS: Raag Bilawal and Raag Sorath. It belongs to Kafi Thaat. Its Jati is Audhav Sampurna (Vakra). Gandhar & Dhaivat are Varjya in Aaroh, Both Gandhars & Both Nishads. Rest all Shuddha Swaras.

The Raaga is meant to be sung during the second prahar of the night, ie, between 6 to 9 pm.

Some of the popular songs composed in this raaga are:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Man Mohana Bade Jhoote
Jab Raat Ho Aisi
Bairan Ho Gayi Raen
Tere Mere Sapne
Mohabbat Ki Raahon Mein
Pyare Darshan Dijo
Baandh Preet Phool Dor
More Mandir Ajahoon
Mare Gaye Gulfam
Zindagi Aaj Mere
Meri Aankhon Se
Badle4 Badle Mere
Mere Jeevan Mein Kiran
Ae Ri Aali Piya
Chandi Ka Badan
Tere Mere Khayalon
Dhal Chuki Shaame Gam
Dil Shaam Se
Ankhein Keh Gayeen
Seema
Mughal-E-Azam
Dekh Kabira Roya
Guide
Udankhatola
Meera
Malti Madhav
Mahatma Kabir
Teesri Kasam
Son Of India
Pooja Ke Phool
Chaudhavi Ka Chand
Talaaq
Raagrang
Tajmahal
Barsaat Ki Raat
Kohinoor
Sanskaar
Bhai Sahab
Lata
Lata
Manna Dey
Rafi
Rafi
Vani Jayram
Lata
Asha
Lata
Rafi
Lata
Lata
Asha, Manna Dey
Lata
Manna Dey, Sudha
Rafi
Rafi
Asha
Batish

Today’s song is from the 1955 Amiya Chakravarty movie Seema starring Nutan and Balraj Sahni. The story centres around Gauri played by Nutan who is ill treated by her paternal uncle and his wife who undertake to look after her after her parents pass away. She has to work as a maid-servant and her uncle and aunt use her money. She is framed of theft and she beats up the person accusing her and runs away. She finally lands up with Shree Satyanand Anathalaya, an orphanage run by a compassionate Manager, Ashok, played by Balraj Sahni. He tries to get justice for her and she doesn’t run away anymore.

The famous scene from the 1957 movie Seema: Tu pyar ka sagar hai.

Nutan, the great actress she was, received the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her role in this movie too. Shankar Jaikishan used both their lyricists: Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri to create the following songs:

1 Tu Pyar Ka Sagar Hai Manna Dey Shailendra 05:22
2 Kahaan Jaa Raha Hain Mohammed Rafi Shailendra 04:26
3 Man Mohana Bade Jhoothe Lata Mangeshkar Shailendra 04:09
4 Ye Duniya Gam Ka Mela Hai (Hame Bhi De Do Sahara, Ke Besahare Hain) Mohammed Rafi Hasrat Jaipuri 04:19
5 Baat Baat Me Rutho Na Lata Mangeshkar Hasrat Jaipuri 04:08
6 Suno Chhoti Si Gudiya(Happy) Lata Mangeshkar Hasrat Jaipuri 02:40
7 Suno Chhoti Si Gudiya(Sad) Lata Mangeshkar Hasrat Jaipuri 05:45

Please enjoy Lata Mangehskar a song composed by Shankar Jaikishan in Raag Jaijaiwanti, Tal Ektal, on the lyrics of Shailendra: Man mohana bade jhoothe….

Manamohanaa ba.De jhuuThe
Haar ke haar nahii.n maane
Manamohanaa …

Bane the khilaa.Dii piyaa
Nikale anaa.Dii piyaa
Mose beimaanii kare
Mujhase hii ruuThe
Manamohanaa …

Tumharii ye baa.Nsii kaanhaa
Banii galaa phaa.Nsii
Taan sunaake meraa
Tan man luuTe
Manamohanaa …

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. On the thirteenth day, we learnt about Tal Punjabi Theka or Sitarkhani.
  14. On the fourteenth day, we learnt about Alap.
  15. On the fifteenth day, we learnt about List of Raagas (Raagmala) in my favourite book: Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
  16. On the sixteenth day, we learnt about tips for raaga identification.
  17. On the seventeenth day, we learnt the basics of Gharana system.
  18. On the eighteenth day, we learnt about Filmi Sangeet.
  19. On the nineteenth day, we learnt about the commonest Tal in Raagas: Tintal.
  20. On the twentieth day, we learnt about the Kafi Thaat.
  21. On the twenty-first day, we learnt a little more in detail about the classification of Raagas.
  22. On the twenty-second day, we learnt the essential differences between Bhairavi and Bhairav.
  23. On the twenty-third day, we learnt a little more in detail about the Jati or Jaati of a raaga.
  24. On the twenty-fourth day, we learnt details of Thaat Bilawal, the most basic thaat in the Bhatkhande’s system of raagas.
  25. On the twenty-fifth day, we learnt about Tintal.
  26. On the twenty-sixth day, we learnt in detail about the Raaga – Samay linkage.
  27. On the twenty-seventh day, we learnt about Lehar.
  28. On the twenty-eighth day, we learnt about the history of the Hindustani Music.
  29. On the twenty-ninth day, we learnt about Dhrupad.
  30. On the thirtieth day, we learnt about Rupaktal that I was introduced to, a few months back, by my friend Anand Desai.
  31. On the thirty-first day, we learnt about Khayal.
  32. On the thirty-second day, we learnt about Thumri.
  33. On the thirty-third day, we learnt about Tappa.
  34. On the thirty-fourth day, we learnt about Tarana.
  35. On the thirty-fifth day, we learnt about Tal Dipchandi (Moghali).
  36. On the thirty-sixth day, we learnt about Tabla.
  37. On the thirty-seventh day, we learnt about Kirtan.
  38. On the thirty-eighth day, we learnt about Pakhawaj.
  39. On the thirty-ninth day, we learnt about Hori.
  40. On the fortieth day, we learnt about Dadra.
  41. On the forty-first day, we learnt about Kajri.
  42. On the forty-second day, we learnt about Chaiti.
  43. On the forty-third day, we learnt about Sarangi.
  44. On the forty-fourth day, we learnt about Shehnai.
  45. On the forty-fifth day, we learnt about Sarod.
  46. On the forty-sixth day, we learnt about Bansuri.
  47. And today, on the forty-seventh day, we learnt about Ektal and Tanpura.

There is much more still to be learnt and enjoyed.

Please stay tuned!

Author: Sunbyanyname

I have done a long stint in the Indian Navy that lasted for nearly thirty seven years; I rose as far as my somewhat rebellious and irreverent nature allowed me to. On retirement, in Feb 2010, the first thing that occurred to me, and those around me, was that I Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (you will find an article with this title in this blog) and hadn't lost all my noodles and hence thought of a blog titled 'This 'n That'. I later realised that every third blog is called 'This 'n That' and changed the name to 'Sunbyanyname'. I detest treading the beaten track. This blog offers me to air 'another way' of looking at things. The idea is not just to entertain but also to bring about a change. Should you feel differently, you are free to leave your comments. You can leave comments even when you agree and want to share your own experience about the topic of the blog post. Impudent or otherwise, I have never been insousciant and I am always concerned about the betterment of community, nation and the world. I hope the visitors of this blog would be able to discern it.

One thought on “Raaga Based Song Of The Day #47”

  1. Exactly. Tanpura is constant throughout the song and assisting here singing of the song .

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