Swaravanshi - Music for the heart from the soul

Further to my classical post on Raag Bhoop, I would like to share a lovely light composition on Raag Bhoop, by Late Bhupen Hazarikaji.  This is a beautiful song called "Dil Hoom Hoom Kare" from the 1993 Hindi movie, Rudaali. Its a very dark movie, about "Rudaali",  a custom in certain areas of Rajasthan where women of a lower caste are hired as professional mourners upon the death of upper-caste males. These women are referred to as a "rudaali" (roo-dah-lee), literally translated as "female weeper" or "weeping woman".   Their job is to publicly express grief of family members who are not permitted to display emotion due to social status.  The film is set in a small village in Rajasthan, India.  It tells the story of a woman named Shanichari, who was abandoned by her mother shortly after her father's death. Bad fortune follows as she marries an alcoholic, who leaves her with little hope of a brighter future for herself and her m...

Meera Bhajan - Mharo Pranaam, Banke Bihari ji This is a very pristine composition in Raag Yaman Kalyan, based on Meerabai's beautiful poetry in Braj bhasha.  I was mesmerized when I heard the soulful rendition of Gaansaraswati Smt. Kishori Amonkar. Truly an amazing composition in praise of Mohan, and a clean rendition that lingers in the heart for days on. Please check out my humble attempt. I performed this for a Diwali party and it was very well received. Bhajan: Mharo Pranaam Poet: Mirabai    Language: Braj bhasha Based on performance by: Kishori Amonkar Raag: Yaman Kalyan     Taal : Keherwa, Madhyalaya Translator: Animesh Kumar (from Internet) Words and interpretation: Mharo pranaam Banke Bihari ji Mharo pranaam Mor mukut mathya tilak biraja Kundal alaka kari ji Mharo pranaam Banke Bihari ji Adhar madhur dhar bansi bajav Ri jhiri jhawa braj nari ji Mharo pranaam Banke Bihari ji Ya chhab dekhya mohya Meera Mohan giriwar...

Raag Bhimpalasi  I have to admit, like many a music lover, I have also fallen in love with this naturally sweet raag. As Rajan ParrikarJi quotes in his music site, "The ati-madhur and ati-priya Raga Bhimpalasi has the penetrating power to infect the human mind and control it for days and weeks on end. There is as yet no known antidote to the Bhimpalasi contagion." It is a raag we have been quite attuned to, Thanks to the many light music compositions extensively employed in Indian cinema. I first learnt the simpler Drut composition, Jaa Ja re Apne Mandirwa, but it was an absolute pleasure to learn a beautiful khayal - Akhiyan Mori laag rahi, in Vilambit ektaal from my Guru. I have a long way to go mastering this raaga, but I can say learning it made me immensely happy, and helped shape my vocal skills as well. This raaga sounds very similar to Abheri ragam of Carnatic (derived, janya of Karaharapriya) The structure of Raag Bhimpalasi is as follows: Aroha: n' S g M P...