Raaga Based Song of the Day: Jahan daa; daal par sone ki chidiyaan karti hain basera…
Raag Shuddha Kalyan, Tal Kaherava
Happy Independence Day!
This song was penned by Rajinder Krishan, composed by Hansraj Behl and sung by the god of songs: Mohammad Rafi. It is from the 1965 Kedar Kapoor movie Sikander-e-Azam with Dara Singh in the title role and Prithviraj Kapoor as Porus.
We have completed hundred and one 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 hundred and first post was titled ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #101‘ and the song was a Geeta Dutt song from the 1958 Pramod Chakravorty movie 12 O’ Clock starring Waheeda Rehman and Guru Dutt: Kaisa jaadu balam toone daara. It is in Raag Pilu, Tal Dadra.
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 Jaijaivanti’.
In the last hundred and one 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, Mand, Adana, Kafi, Rageshri, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Janasammohini, Chayanat, Shuddha Kalyan, Gaur Sarang, Jogiya, Asavari, Maru Bihag, Durga, Lalit, Puria Dhanashri, Bhinna Sahdja, Sohani, Multani, Patdeep, Jaijaiwanti, Tilak Kamod, Hemant, Basant Mukhari, Gujri Todi, Kalavati, Hamir, Bhatiyar, Gawati, Shyam Kalyan, Gorakh Kalyan, Madhamat Sarang, Manj Khammaj, Darbari Kanada, Vibhas, Shankara, Bahar, Nand, Mian Ki Malhar and Jog; making it a total of 62 raagas. The raagas that have been repeated so far are Pahadi, the raaga of my home place in the Himalayas, Maru Bihag, Raag Kirwani, Jhinjhoti, Bhairavi, Gara, Basant Mukhari, Malkauns, Bhairavi, Mand, Sohani, Madhuvanti, Shivaranjani, Adana and. Today, I am giving you a song in Raag Shuddha Kalyan for the second time.
The first time when I gave you a song in Raag Shuddha Kalyan was what is regarded by me as the best of Lata Mangeshkar: Rasil balma in ‘Raaga Based Song Of The Day #33‘.
Today, I give you a song in Raag Shuddha Kalyan, Tal Kaherava again.
However, first, lets take up the value added learning of today. Today, we shall learn about Ras:
We already know that Raaga is roughly translated into colour or hue. Raaga represents the mood of the composition. As an example, lets take Raaga Darbari Kanada. As the name suggests, it evokes majestic feelings as in a royal court. One song that comes to mind is Guzre hain aaj ishq mein hum us muqaam pe.
Mood of the Raaga is represented by Bhaav or the expression. Ras is the experience or the sentiment.
In the Bharat Natya Shastra, there were eight Ras:
- Shrigaar (Romantic or erotic).
- Veer (Heroic).
- Hasya (Comic).
- Karuna (Pathos).
- Roudra (Wrathful).
- Bhayanak (Terrifying).
- Bhibhasta (Odious).
- Adhbhut (Wondrous).
Later on, another Ras Shanti (Peaceful or calm) was added; thus making a total of nine sentiments or ras: Navras. Later on another ras called Bhakti (Devotion) became prevalent. However, many feel that Bhakti and Shanti are the same ras.
As I mentioned, today’s song is composed in Raag Shuddha Kalyan, Taal Kaherava.
Raag Shuddha Kalyan belongs to the Kalyan Thaat in Bhatkhande’s system of raagas. The raaga is to be sung during the first prahar of the night (6 PM to 9 PM); indeed, that is true for all raagas in the Kalyan Thaat. Characterised by the teevra Madhyam, the name Kalyan translates to ‘Good Luck’. It is, therefore, performed at the beginning of a concert in the evening to seek blessings. Shuddha Kalyan is one of the many variations; some of the others are Shyam Kalyan, Yaman Kalyan, Anandi Kalyan, Khem Kalyan and Savani Kalyan. The Jati of the raaga is Audhav – Sampoorna (Vakra). This raaga has notes of Raag Bhoopali in tha Aaroha and Raag Kalyan (or Yaman) in Avaroha. Because of this reason it is also referred to as Raag Bhoop Kalyan.
Some of the songs composed in Raag Shuddha Kalyan are: Chand phir niklala from 1957 movie Paying Guest, Meri mohabbat jawan rahegi from 1965 movie Jaanwar, and Ye shaam ki tanhayiyan from 1953 movie Aah.
The 1965 Kedar Kapoor film Sikander-e-Azam is set in 326 BC when Alexander the Great aka Sikander (Dara Singh) having conquered Persia and the Kabul valley descends to the Indian Border at Jhelum. King Porus (Prithviraj Kapoor) stops the advance with his troops. Sikander ignores his teacher Aristotle’s advice and falls for a Persian woman Rukhsana (Helen).Fearing for Sikander’s life she extracts a promise from Porus that he will not harm Sikander. In the battle with the Macedonian army Porus loses his son and is captured. An elaborate verbal duel follows in court when Porus is brought before Sikander. Impressed by Porus’s valor, the two kings become friends. Sikander lets Porus go and withdraws from the Jhelum.
Let me start with the Lyricist, Rajinder Krishan. Rajendra Krishan (that’s the second way his name is often written) shares his birthday with me: 6th June. He too spent his youth in Shimla. I have as many as four blog-posts on him; and not because of these coincidences or because he won Rupees 64 Lakhs as Jackpot in horse-racing (Please see: ‘The Best Songs Of Rajendra Krishan, The Richest Lyricist’, ‘Part II’, ‘Part III’ and ‘Part IV’). Some of Lata Mangeshkar’s best songs have been penned by him and composed by Madan Mohan.
The best thing about him was that he could pen both serious and sad songs such as Anarkali songs: Mohabbat aisi dhadkan hai, Ye zindagi usi ki hai, and Zindagi pyaar ki do chaar ghadi hoti hai as well as Westernised Songs, for example in Bhagwan Dada’s Albela (Shola jo bhadake, Sham dhale khidaki tale, and Dil dhadake nazar sharmaaye). His Jahan Ara songs (Main teri nazar ka saroor hoon, Teri aankh ke aansu pi jaayun, and Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhaayi hai) and Adalat Songs (Unako ye shikayat hai hai ke ham kuchh nahin kehte, Youn hasraton ke daag mohabbat mein dho liye, and Jaana tha hamase door) are in sharp contrast with his, for example, Padosan songs (Ek chatur naar and Mere saamne wali khidaki mein). Some of my other favourites of his are in Dekh Kabira Roya (Meri veena tum bin roye, Hamase aay ana gaya, Kaun aaya mere man ke dwaare), Nagin (All songs including Jaadugar sainya), Main Bhi Ladaki Hoon (Chanda se hoga wo pyara), Manmauji (Chanda ja, and Main to tum sang nain mila ke) and Nai Roshnai (Kis tarah jeete hain ye log bata do yaaro).
The composer of this song was Hansraj Behl. He was born on 19 Nov 1916 in Ambala in British Punjab. He composed music for both Hindi and Punjabi films. One of my favourites is the 1959 Jugal Kishore Punjabi movie Bhangra starring Sunder (comedian in Hindi movies but here as hero) and Nishi. It had the following beautiful songs:
- “Rabb Na Kare”
- “Batti Bal Ke”
- “Chitte Dand Hasno Nahio Rehnde”
- “Jatt Kurhian Ton Darda Maara” (Bolian)
- “Ambiaan De Booteaan Te”
- “Been Na Wajaeen Mundia”
- “Mull Wikda Sajjan Mil Jaave”
Please enjoy Mohammad Rafi sing a composition of Hansraj Behl on the lyrics of Rajinder Krishan for the 1965 Kedar Kapoor movie Sikander-e-Azam: Jahan daal daal par sone ki chidiyaan karti hain basera….
Jahaa.N Daal-Daal par
Sone kii chi.Diyaa.n karatii hai baseraa
Vo Bharat desh hai meraa
Jahaa.N satya, ahi.nsaa aur dharm kaa
Pag-pag lagataa Deraa
Vo Bharat desh hai meraa
Ye dharatii vo jahaa.N R^ishhi muni
Japate prabhu naam kii maalaa
Jahaa.N har baalak ek Mohan hai
Aur Radhaa har ek baalaa
Jahaa.N suuraj sabase pahale aa kar
Daale apanaa pheraa
Vo Bharat desh hai meraa
Alabelo.n kii is dharatii ke
Tyohaar bhii hai alabele
Kahii.n diivaalii kii jagamag hai
Kahii.n hai.n holii ke mele
Jahaa.N raag ra.ng aur ha.Nsii khushii kaa
Chaaro aur hai gheraa
vo bhaarat desh hai meraa
Jahaa.N aasamaan se baate karate
Ma.ndir aur shivaale
Jahaa.N kisii nagar me kisii dvaar par
Koii na taalaa Daale
Prem kii ba.nsii jahaa.N bajaataa
Hai ye shaam saveraa
Vo Bharat desh hai meraa …
I have selected this song today not only because today is Independence Day. But also, as you pay attention to the lyrics you come across in the era 326 BC the golden period of Indian civilization whence we ranked far ahead of the rest of the world. Gradually, later, it was ravaged by foreign conquerors: the Mughals, the British, Portuguese and the French and we became what we are. After independence, our rulers, in the name of democratic governments, ensured that we kept becoming poorer and poorer and as far from the lyrics of this song as possible.
Lets hope we shall return to the glory of India as it used to be.
