DAF KAHE KO BAJAYE.... /डफ काहे को बजाये -बेगम अख्तर


डफ बाज्यो है छैल मतवारे को
डफ बाज्यो है ........
Daf and the month of Faagun has a romantic and musical relationship in the Braj and its neighbouring areas. Come Faagun and the rhythmic, reverberating and beckoning beats of Daf along with the voice of Faag singers are their in the Faaguni air every evening. The Faag is sung in this area during the Faagun till the colorful festival of Holi arrives. These sessions of Faag singing are a regolar event in Krishna Temples, in Mohalla Chauks and even in the Aangans of individual homes.
'Aate hee faagun ya braj mein sahi hon lagi fauaan ki baaten......' , or ' Faagun aayo fauno ranga de rasiya .....' and 'Jasoda tero Laalaa bado utpati....' in the rasiya mode can be listened and enjoyed every where. The Rasiya, Chhailaa, Laalaa, and Bhayala in thess rasiyas is always the krishna and the songs are a kind of beckoning to the Gopis. I born in Karauli which bosts of having one or more Krishna temples in every street of the town have spent my entire Childhood and adolescent years listening to these beauties.
The most common, popular and loved Faag in these sessions always used to be ' Daf bajyo hai chhail Matwaare ko.......' and the Guonj of this daf has its impact on the one to whime it was addressed can be felt in the lyrics of this Faag which are like this:-

Daf bajyo hai chhail matwaare ko daf bajyo hai ..
Daf ke baje mero sab ghar haale
Halyo hai khambha tiwaare ko daf bajyo hai...
Daf kee dhamak mero tan man haale
Haalyo hai jhubbaa naare ko
Daf bajyo hai chhail matwaare ko.....

And this Daf and its Goonj when reached inside the recording studios those days, though in a some what modified lyrics as a beckoning call to the beloved where it became a response from the beloved as ' Daf kahe ko bajaye main to aavat rahee daf kahe ko........' ,

And when this response to the daf of The Chhail Matwaara took its shape in one of the most graceful, 'Lochdaar' and Sozful voices of our time the one and only Begum Akhtar , the effect was stunning. I have listened many live renditions of this Faag those year in Karauli and it is not possible the kind of impact it used to creat without the deep reverberating beats of daf but this rendition by Begum Akhtar is in a class of its own.

This is one of the most rarely heard Faags sung by Begum Akhtar , and i am sharing it here at this wonderful musical space SKS, for the die hard fans of music and Begum Akhtar .



-by Arun mudgal ji

(mp3 link)



A special day.. a day which adds another page of music in the book of our life.. the leap day! And for this special day, its bound that we do something special.. sitting down 'leaping with joy' while writing a post which is very close to my heart !!

I have mentioned this at a few places before, but can proudly reiterate it when I say that if there are any two voices that I have heard the most after my mother's voice they have to be of LATA MANGESHKAR and ASHA BHOSLE. I cant trace back my memory to the first day when I heard them, coz the time since when I held senses they were there to hold my hand and walk me through my life. They were there around when I was in the cradle, they had their existence embarked on my mother's lips when I was in her lap, they were my playmates when I was growing up, my adolescence was accompanied by the froth and frolic of their divine voices, the sad moments went by leaving me with soothing calmness when theses two voices came floating by. Not one moment of my life has been a non-witness of the magic of these two heavenly voices.

Today, I want to share my moments of extreme happiness and joy when these two musical oceans confluence. Its something inexplicable, beyond words of mere mortal like me to even start expressing about the innumerable twinkles of joy that flutter past me when two of the most perfect voices pitch up together. Hereby are 5 such songs, which make me go gaga over everything in life.. which make me realize the worth of my ears.. which make me feel blessed that I am honored to live in that era where two God-send voices dwell.

I faintly remember the first time I had heard Latadi and Ashatai together, it was this HMV cassette that me and my mother had bought titled 'Mann Bhavan Ke Ghar' featuring 11 of the Lata-Asha duets. (I further went on to hear 86 of the 87 songs Latadi and Ashatai have sung together and however the song, as I certainly believe that there could have been songs made which could have showcased their real talent as compared to what exists, and I have always had tears of immense joy in my eyes).. so reminiscing those days with my cassette and exploring the most loved topic for me in HFM once again.

1. जब जब तुम्हे भुलाया तुम और याद आये.. (जहाँ आरा - १९६४), राजेंद्र कृष्ण, मदन मोहन
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy4Ma4q9Ao4



This by far is the BEST Latasha song IMO. It is one of those songs which is just Perrrrrfect! Both Lata and Asha by 1964 had their own distinctive styles and they were in top gear in the best of their voices.
The adlib wherein Lata sounds like a dew drop in fresh misty air is supported by the crispy, chirpy voice of Asha. They match each other harkat for harkat.. and especially the antras when one line gives way to another in a ascending fashion and both of them making it sound as if its a cakewalk. Asha's 'Chhaye Rahe Nazar Mein..' is imprinted on our minds and hearts forever whereas Lata's evocative singing with impeccable voice modulations is heart-piercing.
Madan Mohan and his penchant Sitar is like the 'teesra ang' of this song. If the adlib is soft and precise, the interludes are clear and sharp. Rajendra Krishna as usual has made a song embedded with words that remain in memory forever. One of the only two songs, the Mangeshkar sisters recorded together as a song for Madan Mohan.. but remains my top favourite ever!!

2. क्या हुआ ये मुझे क्या हुआ.. (जिस देश में गंगा बहती हैं - १९६०), हसरत जयपुरी, शंकर-जयकिशन
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7INIgOHCb8


How much do I talk about the OUTSTANDING camaraderie between the two stupendous sisters ? This is chemistry !! This is what singing together is ! An exhibition of absolute flawless singing! No one would have enjoyed this song better than Latadi and Ashatai themselves ! They were on fire!
The way Latadi fades and Ashatai picks up and vice versa is just from some other planet! The 'murkis', 'harkats', 'nakhra' all this is so evident that you swirl and swing to the beat of this song! Latadi's subtle expressions and Ashatai's commanding taan's is a delight! The teasing, the naughtiness, the 'uchhal' in the voice is jaw-dropping! A fast-paced, rapid song yet extremely high on the expression quotient! The 'Aaye Hai', 'Oye Hoye', 'Chal Hat', 'Jhooth' is so cute that your heart melts !!!
Dont Miss Latadi's 'haye' at the end of the second stanza.. and Ashatai's lighting taan when she picks up behind Latadi in the third stanza.. uff!!
Shankar-Jaikishan were the first composers who used these sisters most prolifically in their initial days.. and what an output! The use of the Accordion, Piano and the huge orchestration makes the song delectable to the core! These two voices are the most complementing voices in the world. Gosh! I am already on a high.

3. मेहा आओ रे घिर घिर के छाओ रे.. (संगीत सम्राट तानसेन - १९६२), शैलेन्द्र, एस.एन.त्रिपाठी
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLiwzPf-Cn8


If you are looking for eternal bliss.. this is it! This is the genre of songs had these two singing sensations sung together more we would have had nothing but pearls dropping from every song. This singing is something that makes them Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle! The ease with which they fuse in each other, the fluidity in expanding Megh Malhar through the song, they ascend of the song is just picture perfect. This song literally grows on you.. it starts with Mannada's support and then at a point of time all hell breaks lose.. and then there is ecstasy, there is literally the 'barsaat of sur' from everywhere and we seamlessly get wet in the rain with drops of amrut dripping over us. The taans at the end shouldnt be expressed in words.. they should just be heard and get melted in.
S.N.Tripathi, though lost the race with time, won our hearts with many of his compositions and this one is the pinnacle of glory. A treat from to the human ear from Gods own voices!

4. मन क्यों बहका री बहका आधी रात को.. (उत्सव - १९८६), वसंत देव, लक्ष्मीकांत-प्यारेलाल
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Aysaoj8MTA

Soft.. Simple.. Serene.. Soothing.. this is one of those of songs which has no mood barriers.. you can listen to it absolutely whenever you wish to. It is one of those songs which makes you stop and take notice, and applaud! Latadi and Ashatai and the Ghatam.. that creates an ambiance which makes your face glow up with glee. Mid 80s, but the quality of music in this song is of the highest order in every note of the song. The way both Latadi and Ashatai have specifically pronounced the words in this song with an additional crispy touch to it is the spice of the song.
If they can sing intricate layakari, gayaki aang songs.. they can effortlessly merge in the soul of such soft melodious songs. The last stanza where there is no music, but just Lata.. makes you feel like listening to this song in a loop.. Asha's absolutely soft yet slightly sensuous singing gets the edge and the charm of the song.
Vasant Dev's cutesy lyrics and Laxmikant-Pyarelal's differently stylized, non-orchestral music shows their class.. a pick for any season!

5. ओ चाँद जहाँ वो जाए.. (शारदा - १९५७), राजेंद्र कृष्ण, सी.रामचंद्र
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpCl-aZ2kfs
..

and a song from THE era of music in HF! The era when absolutely nothing can go wrong in any form of music / singing / poetry.. and when we have a team of Lata-Asha-Rajendra Krishna-C.Ramachandra, things are bound to be beyond perfection. Lata in her mellifluous, melodic, mind-blowing avatar, Asha probably in her Sudhir Phadke hangover yet bang on.. this song is probably the most liked of the sister duets.. and rightly so!
Romance personified and when it is expatiated and elaborated by two most romantic voices, it is just a moment of closing your eyes and losing the trace of time, feeling nothing but a state of trance. Songs like this are made just once and then their mould is broken forever..


6. सखी री सुन बोले पपीहा उस पार.. (मिस मेरी - १९५७), राजेंद्र कृष्ण, हेमंत कुमार
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ams96ncdegY


7. मैं चली मैं चली देखो प्यार की गली.. (पड़ोसन - १९६८), राजेंद्र कृष्ण, आर.डी.बर्मन
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szFxM9KBNMA



8. अजी चले आओ तुम्हे आँखों ने दिल में बुलाया.. (हलाकू - १९५६), हसरत जयपुरी, शंकर-जयकिशन
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSd3vCeLGxc


9. थिरका बदन तो गीतों के धारे निकल गए.. (दमन और आग - १९७३), हसरत जयपुरी, शंकर-जयकिशन
http://mp3skull.com/mp3/badan_ke.html
(Third song in this link, YouTube had a nice link of it which is accidently removed)

10. लायी कहाँ ऐ ज़िंदगी.. (टैक्सी टैक्सी - १९७७), मजरूह सुल्तानपुरी, हेमंत भोसले
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMakSbL9qUI


I can go on and on on this topic forever, but as of now leaving you with the two voices who have become a part of our mere being.. an inseparable, nondetachable part affixed to the deepest crevices of our heart.. all that can be done is relished and lost in this mesmerizing storm of excellence in art and brilliance in expression.. Latadi and Ashatai.. hats off !! Thank you for making our lives, worth living !!


Lata's JHOOLA / SWING songs !!





Latadi's voice has the reverberant feel to it that we tend to swing on the sur and sway on the taal.. the 'khanak' in the voice is so prominent that each one of us drools over it.. so lets actually see the songs which have that 'swinging' effect to it..

1.  Pad gaye jhoole sawan rut aayi…
(Bahu Begam- 1966), Sahir Ludhiyanvi Roshan

 2.  Jhoole me pawanke aayi bahar…
(Baiju Bawara-1952), Shakeel Badayuni, Naushad

3.  Kuch keheta hai ye sawan…
(Mera Gaon Mera Desh-1971) Anand Bakshi, Laxmikant Pyarelal.

4.  Haye Haye ye majboori…
(Roti Kapada Aur Makan- 1974), Varma malik, Laxmikant Pyarelal.

5.  Jhula Jhulat Kanhiya….
(Daku Aur Jawan-1978), , Laxmikant Pyarelal.

6.  Aaya sawan jhoomake….
(Aaya Sawan Jhoomake-1969),Anand bakshi, Laxmikant Pyarelal.

7.  Megha re megha re…
(Lamehe-1991), Ananad Bakshi, Shiv Hari

8.  Neela aasama so gaya….
(Silsila-1981), Javed Akhtar, Shiv Hari.

9.  Sarase saraki Saraki chunariya
(Silsila-1981), Hassan Kamal, Shiv Hari.

10. Aaja re aaja more sajana…
(Jalawa- 1971), , Shankar Jaikishan

11. Suno Sajana Papihene….
(Aaye Din Baharke-1966), Anand bakshi,  Laxmikant Pyarelal.

12. Sunja aa thandi hawa…
(Hathi Mere Sathi-1971), Anand bakshi , Laxmikant Pyarelal

13. Koi batade dil hai jaha….
(Mai Chup Rahoongi-1971), Rajendra Krishan, Chitragupta.

14. Sawanki aayi bahar re….
(Anjaan-1956), Rajendra Krishan, Hemant Kumar

15. Lagi tumase lagan sthi chootene….
(Saranga-1960), Bharat Vyas, Sardar Mallik

16. Thandi thandi hawa kahe….
(Bhai Bhai-1956), Madan Mohan

17. Mere sapaneme aana re…
(Rajhat-1956), , Shankar jaikishan

18. Nadiya kinarepe…..
(Barsat Ki Ek Raat- 1981), Ananad Bakshi, R.D. Burman

19. Nain Dwar se maname wo aake….
(Sawan-1959), Hansraj Bahl, prem Dhawan

20. Soya mera pyaar aanchalme….
(Meri Bhabi-1969), Majrooh Sultanpuri, Laxmikant Pyarelal

21. Aayega aanewala….
(Mahal -1949), J. Nakshab, Khemchand Prakash.

22. Machalati aarazu khadi bahe pasare…..
(Usanae Kaha Tha-1960) Shailendra, Salil Choudhary.

23. Ye raat bheegi bheegi…
(Chori Chori-1956), Hasrat Jipuri, Shankar Jaikishan

24. Sajana O sajana…
(Abhinetri-1970), Majrooh Sultanpuri, Laxmikant Pyarelal

25. Bagome bahar hai…..
(Aradhana-1969), Anand Bakshi, S.D. Burman

26. Dukh bhare din beete re bhaiya….
(Mother India-1957), Shakeel Badayuni, Naushad Ali.

27. Ankhome rang kyu aaya…..
(Ek Phool Chaar Kante- 1960), Hasrat Jaipuri, Shankar Jaikishan

28. Ai meri aankhonke rangeen sapane
(Man Mandir-1971), Rajendra Krishan, Laxmikant Pyarelal

29. Jawani jhulaati hai……
(Naata- 1955), Tanveer Naqvi, S. Mohinder

30.Hindolna jhoolan aayi balma…..
(Senapati-1961), Rajendra Krishan ,Madan Mohan 

31. Haule Haule Jhoolaniya Jhulao ...
(Ram Rajya -1967), Bharat Vyas, Vasant Desai

32. Aaj Ki Raat Naya chaand leke Aayee hai..
( Shaadi-1961) Chitragupt

33.Sajna Sun Sun Meri Chabi Ki Chun Chun...
(Rishta Kagaaz Ka-1983) Majrooh Sultanpuri,Rajesh Roshan,

34. Ja re jaa re meri chod...
(ZIndagi Aur Hum 1962 ),Roshan

35.Na chhedo kal ke afsaane...
(Raat Aur Din-1967) Shailendra, Shankar Jaikishan. 

36. Kajare badarawa re...
(Pati Patni -1966), Anand Bakshi, R.D. Bakshi.

37.O Saathi Ree Pyar Jisko Kehte Hain...
(Himalay Se Ooncha-1975) ,indeewar, Kalyanji-Anandji

38.Meri Payal Chhanke chanak chanak...
(Jaggu-1975), S.H.Bihari, Sonik-Omi

39.AYE MERE PYAR BATA
(GHAR BASAKE DEKHO-1963), Rajendra Krishan, CHITRAGUPTA

40.  Main to Hasti reh, (Aaina-1977) Jaan Nisar Akhtar, Naushad 

41. Hariyalaa Sawan dhol Bajata aaya (Do Bigha Zameen-1953 ) 

42. Chori Chori Koi Aaye (Noori -1979)

43.bahon mein chale aao