Taare Zameen Par - Title song (Kho Na Jaaye Yeh..)

Taare Zameen Par is one of my most favorite movies to date. This is one movie that gives such a distinct message for both parents and teachers on how to treat their children and students. It's a film about parents and children, about the pressures we put on our kids, about how we push them into becoming assembly-line products instead of encouraging them to find their own unique strengths. It's also about finding our heroes.

The awareness of respect, inclusion and empathy to be fostered towards children, and specifically children with any disabilities is gradually permeating amongst the educated community. However, both parents and teachers, at times are poor role models themselves for children as they expect so much from kids, and resort to labeling or identifying or classifying children with disorders in order to deal with them. This movie gives us a perspective of how we lose sight of the big picture and makes one introspect as we identify ourselves with each of its characters..

The songs in this movie, hit the spot for me, with the amazing composition and rendition by Shankar Ehsaan Loy, one of my favorite music directors.

I performed a part of the Title song "Taare Zameen Par" for my local community channel, and chose this song for its beautifully penned lyrics by prolific writer, Prasoon Joshi.
In writing the song "Taare Zameen Par," lyricist Prasoon Joshi followed the theme of "however much you talk about children, it's not enough." Every line throughout the song describes children, and only one repeats: "Kho Na Jaaye Yeh / Taare Zameen Par" ("Let us not lose these / Little stars on earth").

Sharing my complete recording here..

Taare Zameen Par - Title song Female cover by swaravanshi

Raag Miyan ki Todi

Most of you must have heard or be aware of this plaintive contemplative deep raag called Todi also called Miyan ki Todi since it was originally composed by Mian Tansen, and was a raag that he was particularly fond of.

Todi (Hindi: तोडी) is a Hindustani classical raga which gave its name to the Todi thaat, one of the ten modes of Hindustani classical music. Ragas from the Todi ‘raganga’ include Todi (a.k.a. Miya ki Todi) itself, Bilaskhani Todi, Bahaduri Todi, and Gurjari Todi.
Gurjari Todi is a commonly used derivative raag of Todi Thaat but unlike Miya ki Todi, it omits Pa both in Aaroh and Avaroh. Other Todi Thaat raags are Multani, Lilavati and Madhuvanti.

Structure : Sampoorna/Sampoorna
Aaroh: S r g M’ P d N S’
Avarah: S’ N d P M’ g r S

Vadi – Komal Dha i.e d
Samvadi – Komal Ga i.e g

r, g, d are Komal/Flat notes. M’ is Tivra Ma
Samay/Time : Todi is performed in the late morning.

Pakad/Signature: The distinctive phrase is r/g-\r\S, where r may be subtly oscillated.

The equivalent raga in Carnatic music is Shubhapantuvarali.

I really enjoyed learning this raag from my Guru, here I am sharing an alaap, and a Madhyalaya bandish in Jhaptaal