With a tribute to Juthika Roy
I have often said I started blogging स्वान्तः सुखाय. As Songs of Yore completes four years today, I find I have become a little less selfish. Now I do a lot of things that are suggested and driven by the readers. And, you don’t need a preacher to tell you that nothing pleases a person more than knowing that what he does also pleases a lot of other people. So, I have to thank all the readers for making the journey of Songs of Yore so delightful.
Many have mentioned the knowledgeable readers and the high quality of their comments. I am often pleasantly surprised when I meet people who are regular, but silent admirers of SoY. And, what do they tell me? Invariably, that what they especially like about SoY is its readers’ comments. When they say that they don’t care for the delicacy that I also do something in SoY. So, when I praise the readers, I am not being nice, I do it with a tinge of envy.
About the comments section, Anuradha Warrier once mentioned that what she likes about SoY is its adda-like atmosphere. Adda is a very Bengali thing. Coincidentally, SoY has seen a lot of Bengal last year. I covered SD Burman in myriad colours: his own songs and songs composed by him for all the great singers. When I thought I had ‘closed’ SD Burman, a number of readers observed there are some more major singers in his repertoire. Therefore, SDB had a resurrection, and we are going to have a good deal more of him. What distinguishes him from other composers is his enormous variety, and we can never have enough of him.
SoY year straddles two calendar years almost midway; therefore, referring to a ‘year’ may at times be confusing, and you need to distinguish it in the context. Anil Biswas’s Centenary falls this year, and the Bhishm Pitamah had a worthy tribute, by his daughter, Shikha Biswas Vohra. The other guest authors who adorned SoY are Arunkumar Deshmukh, Ashok M Vaishnav, N Venkataraman and Subodh Agrawal – they all deserve our thanks for their outstanding articles, enhancing the quality of SoY.
Talking of Centenaries, 2014 happens to be the centenary of two more great artistes, Begum Akhtar and Khursheed. We had a brief glimpse of their songs earlier, but they deserve full posts, and hopefully I should be able to present them later.
Year-wise review has become an SoY specialty. The comprehensive review of 1953 drew intense participation, even when it was regarded as one of the tepid years. This has been followed by equally intense discussion of the best songs of 1951. We had some usual miscellany, but with more of Anil Biswas, and another of my great favourites, KC Dey, and Venkataramanji’s article on Rabindra Sangeet-Pankaj Mullick, the Rise of the Planet of Bengalis continued on SoY.
Talking of Bengal, we lost Juthika Roy this year (5 February, 2014) in Kolkata. A most charming singer, and one of my greatest favourites, she belongs to what I call the class of singers who did not have a single song which was less than absolutely delightful.
Born in April 1920 to music-loving parents, Education Inspector, Satyendranath Roy and Snehlata Roy, at Shenhati village in Howrah district, Juthika Roy (real name ‘Renu’) was a child prodigy. She sang her first song on the radio at the age of 7, which was a Rabindra Sangeet, Aar dekhona, andhaare aamaay dekhate daao.
With the transfer of her father, the family moved to Calcutta, when her music training started in right earnest from stalwarts like Gyanranjan Sen and Bhishshadeb Chattopadhyay. Gyanranjan Sen helped her get in touch with Kazi Nazrul Isam and Kamal Dasgupta, who were in high positions in HMV. Her first HMV record was of two Bengali songs, which was followed by two Meera bhajans in Hindi in 1935-36. Soon her fame spread and she became a most sought after artiste in music conferences all over the country. She became synonymous with Meera bhajans and achieved enormous popularity during the 40s through 50s. Kamal Dasgupta composed most of her songs, with whom she also sang a number of duets, including some naats and qawwalis.
Naturally, Bombay film world sought her for playback singing, but she steadfastly refused fearing that this would compromise the purity of her bhajan singing. She relented for producer-director Debki Bose to sing in Ratnadeep (1952). Thereafter, she sang only for one more film, Lalkaar (1956). She has also sung in a Bengali film, Dhooli (1954). (This film had a beautiful bhajan in Hindi by Juthika Roy, Prabhuji more jevan jyot jagaao, but YT has removed its link.)
Her bhajans charmed the greatest public figures of the time. Gandhiji started his evening prayer meetings with her bhajans. Sarojini Naidu was one of her big admirers, and she facilitated her meeting with Bapu and singing for him in Calcutta. On the 15th August 1947, when Panditji was driving to the Red Fort to unfurl the National Flag, Juthika Roy was singing at the AIR, Delhi. Her programme ended when Panditji was still on way to the venue. A frantic message was sent to the AIR that Panditji wanted her to continue singing.
A true legend, she delighted millions of music lovers for a number of years with her sweet voice. Let me present some of my most favourite Juthika Roy songs as a tribute to her.
1. Baadal dekhi jhari Shyam main, Meera bhajan
Among my top favourites I find it impossible to rank any song as no.1 or no. 2, when anything she sang sounds no less than mesmerizing. I start with this Meera bhajan, by no means her best known, but deeply moving.
2. Bairan ho gayi raat piya bin
Nothing can be more heart-wrenching than saawan ki barsaat if the beloved is away. ‘Bairan ho gayi raat’ on the harmonium following Juthika Roy’s plaintive singing creates a magical effect.
3. Prabhuji daras bina dukhan laagey nain, Meera bhajan
Another Meera bhajan in a melancholic mood.
4. Main Kanhaiya pe tan man lutaaney chali
From plaintive let us move to the joyous when the devotee is on way to surrender her everything to the Lord. The Sufi saints felt the same joy in similar words: Main to piya se naina lada aayi re/ Main to tan man ki sudh budh ganwa aayi re.
5. Tan man pe Manhar ne rang diyo daar
When the devotee went to surrender his tan man to the Lord, He drenched the body and soul with His colour. Sufi saints again had similar blissful experience of getting drenched in the clolour of the Divine Lover, Aaj rang hai....mere mehboob ke ghar rang hai ri, or Laali dekhan main gayi main bhi ho gayi laal.
6. Ghunghat ka pat khol re tohe piya milenge, Kabir bhajan
Now I come to one of the most famous bhajans, sung by many singers. There is a common misperception and I, too, erroneously believed until very recently that it was a Meera bhajan, but it is by Kabir. If you carefully listen to the words, Kabir’s style of conveying deeply philosophical message by everyday metaphors is unmistakable – Lift your veil of ignorance and illusion, and you will get your Divine. Expressions like शून्य महल and अनहद बोल are quintessential Kabir. A very well-known version is sung by Geeta Dutt in Jogan (1950). Juthika Roy gives it her distinct touch of emotion.
7. Jogi mat ja mat ja, Meera bhajan
Now I come to what should arguably be the best known Meera bhajan, which is a favourite of singers from films to light classical to classical. Pt Omkarnath Thakur became identified with this bhajan in Bhairavi.
8. Chupke chupke bol maina
No list of Juthika Roy songs can be complete without this teasing romantic song in which the lady asks the maina to tell her when her lover would come. She also beseechs her not to disclose this secret to others. A signature song of Juthika Roy.
9. Ghar aao preetam pyara, Meera bhajan
Prem and bhakti merge at some point. A lovely Meera bhajan pleading with the Lord to come to her home. No one could do it better than Juthika Roy.
10. Piya itani binati sunat mori, Meera bhajan
I said in the beginning that it is impossible to rank her songs. Whether you take song no. 1 or 9 or 10, each will be of matchless beauty.
11. Main to Ram rattan dhan payo from Ratnadeep (1952), Meera bhjan, music Robin Banerjee
In her first and rare film singing on the insistence of Debki Bose she maintains the same purity as she had in non-film bhajans.
12. Rasoolon ke raja, Naat by Juthika Roy and Kamal Dasgupta
This bonus song is my discovery in the Internet era. I was not aware until very recently that the ‘Living Meera’ also sang naats with Kamal Dasgupta. Kamal Dasgupta’s name may not be very familiar to the later generation, but he is among the great legends of the gramophone era. He is the composer of most of the iconic non-film songs of Pankaj Mullick, Jagmohan, Talat Mahmood, Hemant Kumar, and of course Juthika Roy. He migrated to Dacca in the mid-60s where he embraced Islam, taking the name of Kamal Islam, and married the singer Firoza Begum, whom he always loved.
Acknowledgements:
1. Swaron Ki Yatra by Anil Bhargav
2. Transcript of her interview for Vividh Bharati on Anmol Fankaar
{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
AK Ji,
congratulations from a new addict. Anu Ji has very correctly described SoY as an ‘adda’ where people habitually meet and varied discussions like politics, weather and so many other off hand topics are dealt with.
And for me, SoY is special as it’s birthday coincides with the birthday of my first child, my daughter, who is happily married now.
My heartfelt good wishes to all the other contributors, readers and everybody and anybody else associated with SoY.
The time has an uncanny knack of flying very fast when your in the company that you like. I have been an active reader of SoY for a good three years now, and that sounds like it happened just yesterday.
Heartiest congratulation to SoY, its Adda members and of course AKji – far journey that has been not only very engaging and rewarding, but rejuvenating as well.
Personally, I most gratefully record SoY’s contribution in taking me to the path of ‘writing’ in my Second Innings.
SoY’s tilt towards pre-1950 era, in the current year in particular, shall also create a much needed contribution to refresh the memories of Vintage Era of HFM. On behalf of all those who love HFM of 1930s till 1960s, I thank SoY for its great contribution.
Congratulations to AK ji and all his contributors and fans. Thanks for all your time and devotion in sharing your knowledge with all Hindi music lovers.
AK ji, I am not the regular visitor, but do check on your blog when get time. I was lucky enough to spend some time with Shri Sudhir Kapur ji when he came to my house last year. I was really amazed when he told me your passion about Hindi Cinema.
Choosing twelve songs of this great singer, Juthika Roy must have been a challenge for you as all her songs/bhajans are truly gems. I may mention few more songs of hers which are my favorites.
Aaj Mere Ghar Preetam Aaye…., Ghari ek Na Suhawe Tum Bin Piya….., Koi Kahiyo Re Prabhu Aawan Ki….., Main Haari O Girdhari…., Main To Girdhar Ke Aage Nachungi…., Main To Prem Deewani….., Meera Lago Rang Hari…., Prabhu Leejo Mera Parnam….., Tulsi Meera Sur Kabir…… List can go on and on.
Thank you again for giving us the pleasure.
Congrats on completion of four years of Songs of Yore … and thanks for the collection of Juthika Roy’s Best.
Re: “Prabhuji more jeevan jyot jagaao” – YT has removed it but it is available at http://gaana.com/song/prabhuji-jeevan-jyot-jagao.
Also, the movie Dhooli (1954) itself is now on YT at http://youtu.be/t1W5cguWJnE – albeit not having watched it myself, I cannot say when this number is included in the uploaded version.
Khyatiji,
Thanks a lot. I am aware of your good wishes for SoY even though you may not be a regular visitor. As I said any song of Juthika Roy is above a very high benchmark. Thanks for adding your favourites.
Shekhar Gupta,
Thanks a lot for your good wishes, and the link of the song and the film Dhooli. Without sub-title I may not be able to watch it. But I had heard the bhajan from the film on YT. It was outstanding.
Sharmaji,
It has been a pleasure to have you with SoY. A new convert usually has greater passion than the old faithfuls. In a short while you have added a great deal to SoY. My old posts are seeing a major revival because of you. Thanks a lot for your kind words and support.
Congratulations and many happy returns of the day to your daughter too.
Ashokji,
Your association has been most rewarding for me and SoY too. You you have added enormous number of songs, and a structured way to look at Multiple Version Songs.
I am reminded of Subodh who said that SoY has made him a writer. I am gratified that this forum has uncovered hidden talents of members.
AK ji,
One Thousand and One congratulations on your completion of 4 years.
In these 4 years,you have provided us a feast of articles on MDs,Singers and many other topics,serving us a very memorable presentation of melody and music history.
Thanks for all that you did.
Looking forward to many more years of melodious togetherness !
-Arunkumar Deshmukh.
AK,
Congratulations (from a chronic addict of this adda) to you and all the SOY members, I want to thank all in general and you in particular for always being there to answer, discuss and debate my queries about music. Hope to cut the roads:) of rest of my life like this
In this celebration I am not neglecting Juthika Roy’s blog. I have some fond memories of my mom singing Juthika Roy’s bhajans while doing her chores, I will come back after giving this blog the quality time and attention it deserves.
Arunji,
Thanks a lot for your kind words. One blessing of doing SoY has been to know some great people like you.
Mumbaikar8,
Thanks a lot. I like addicted people like you. Looking forward to your return.
I have to simpley thank
ashok ji to share such a treasure and gems for music lovers like us who enjoys at the fag end of our life. God bless him.
I am not only addicted but am intoxicated and ecstatic too with this unique blog-unique in the sense that it quenches the thirst and satiates the appetite of starved music lovers and connoisseurs.Wish to get more and more intoxication with newer posts.
Congratulations on the four-year-journey, AK. May the blog and the adda continue to flourish.
Thanks for the collection of Juthika Roy songs – she is a singer I haven’t heard much before this. So this was a good introduction.
Mayur,
Thanks a lot. I have mentioned that I also do something on this blog. Ashokji and all other visitors do contribute a lot.
Rakesh Srivastava,
It is a pleasure to have you here. In a short association you have made a mark with your passion.
AK ji,
I came across SoY by accident a few weeks back and since then it has has become a passion for me. I keep on going through all earlier posts and add my comments wherever apt.
Best wishes to you on the 4th Anniversary of SoY.
Congratulations, AK, on SoY’s completing four years! Here’s wishing your blog a happy birthday, and many more to come. 🙂
Wish u all the best. a great site,great work. Thanks a lot.
Anil Kane,
Thanks a lot for your kind words.
Markand Dave,
Thanks a lot.
Madhu,
Thanks a lot.
Anu,
Thanks a lot for your good wishes. Juthika Roy is a most melodious singer. There are at least ten more songs which are as good as I have presented here. Some have been mentioned by Khyati Bhatt.
AK ji,
MANY CONGRATULATIONS.
Apart from the well-researched posts, the USP of this blog is the very active interactions in the comments sections and the almost prompt replies from your end. I have learnt a lot from this site on one of my favorite interests of old film songs.
Thanks a lot.
Mahesh,
Thanks a lot for your good wishes.
Congratulations on the anniversary AK. It will always be a pleasure to read and re-read, both old and new articles on your site.
SSW,
Thanks a lot for your compliments. You have added a lot to SoY with your participation.
AK (note the absence of ji 🙂 )
As you rightly pointed out SoY has been enhanced tremendously by the comments of your readers. But that cannot detract from the fact you have created something that we enjoy a lot and keep coming back for more. So hats off (without any envy) and hope to be posting comments here in many more years to come.
I never found Juthika Roy very easy on the ears but a very nice piece all the same.
Soumya,
I am grateful that you acknowledged I also do something on SoY. I thought Juthika Roy’s charm was that you fell for her the first time you heard her.
Akji, Congratulations on completion of four years of SoY. My association with SoY is few months less than two years. But I feel I was with SoY right from its inception.
I am in an indulgent mood and let me put forward few of my observations.
Over the years SoY has grown from strength to strength and we had been privy to many excellent posts and songs. In the first year (2010-11) we had 3 posts in every two months. In 2011-12 it doubled to 3 posts per month. The trend was maintained in 2012-13 and last year (2013-14) it touched its peak, 4 posts per month.
We have some of the best participants in the comments section too. Good/excellent posts attract quality participants and hence quality comments. Some of the participants’ suggestions and AKji’s balanced approach and inclusive attitude paved the way for some excellent series. Thus in 2011-12 we saw the introduction of three series in SoY. “Forgotten composers, unforgettable melodies”, by AKji was first of the series. Introduced in 2011-12, we had 7th, 8th and 9th installments appearing this year, Ashokji chipping in with his contribution on Avinash Vyas. Subodhji’s series on classical ragas also launched in 2011-12, belongs to a different class altogether. We had the 6th and 7th episodes on Desh & Tilak Kamod and Darbari this year. Actually there were 8 episodes. Akji has kept the one on Raag Durga by himself out of this series. Those who have come in late or missed out this post should visit this post. Mr. Vaishampayan’s and AM’s suggestions resulted in the most popular series of SoY, “The Best songs of ….”. In 2012-13 Ashok Vaishnavji not only initiated but richly contributed to the “Multiple version songs” series which is still going strong with 17 episodes and more to come. Besides Akji and Ashokji, thanks to Arunji, Anuji for their valuable contributions. Although not declared as a series, we had the pleasure of enjoying a dozen posts last year on S D Burman and his songs for various singers. Similarly we had a short sequence of posts on songs of river, naiyya etc in 2012-13.
“When they say that they don’t care for the delicacy that I also do something in SoY. So, when I praise the readers, I am not being nice, I do it with a tinge of envy.”
What do we make out of this? While I do appreciate his inclusive and balanced approach, I am not with him on this. He is too modest. He is following the norms, whereas I am stating the fact. He may be nice and praise the readers with “a tinge of envy”, but I look up to him with wonder. Akji believes in the saying that Simplicity is zenith of a long, arduous journey and not the starting point. But I follow the twaddle tendency, using reams of words. Jabber disguises ignorance.
I should personally thank Akji for providing me an opportunity with few episodes. I would like to complete the two committed posts and like to retire to the stands and enjoy the proceedings. Let me be clear, I am not fishing for any compliments. I find many of the new participants visiting and enjoying the older posts. Initially I too had started visiting the older posts, but the role of guest writer and other pressing personal commitments had robbed me of this pleasure.
Thanks too for the delightful dozen vintage songs of Jhuthika Roy.
Thank you Akji for this treasure trove called SONGS OF YORE. Wishing and hoping for many more years of fruitful association with SoY and its participants.
Venkataramanji,
I can’t thank you enough for your very kind words. You have written a very salient overview of SoY’s 4 years journey. I could not have done it better. Of course, you are not looking for compliments, but your contribution as a reader and as a guest author is tremendous.
AK, I was travelling and came home to a malfunctioning internet connection(sigh!). It is only this morning that I have been able to sample the delectable fare you have served. Congratulations on the fourth anniversary to you, and to all of us – the members of the SoY ‘adda’.
It is a measure of your confidence in yourself that you have liberally shared this platform with others. I wouldn’t have discovered my ability to write but for you. SoY has also been the forum through which I discovered ‘Conversations Over Chai’, Harveypam and ‘Dustedoff’; and got to know Mr Venkataraman, Mr Ashok Vaishnav, Mr Deshmukh, SSW, Gaddeswarupji, and so many others.
Juthika Roy was synonymous with Meera for our parents’ generation. My knowledge of her music was restricted to only a few well-known bhajans like ‘Jogi mat ja’ and ‘Ghunghat ke pat khol’ (I didn’t know it was Kabir!). It has been a soulful experience to listen to such a wide choice of her songs depicting a whole gamut of moods. For me the most pleasant discovery is ‘Tan man pe rang’. I love its light playful mood.
Thanks for celebrating the fourth anniversary with such a wonderful post. Look forward to a lot more from you.
Subodh,
Thanks a lot for your kind words. You have been one of the earliest members, and your series on classical music has greatly enhanced SoY’s standard.
Songs of Yore is Four,
We wish more and more.
The site is one of the best, because of the variety and also the contributions of the readers as acknowledged by AK. But, the main role is of AK who promotes every opinion and is ready to hear criticism, though he has strong likes and dislikes as all of us have.
In this anniversary issue he has given us another instalment of the great Bengali music tradition. Juthika Roy is a treasure house for bhajan lovers. But, her other songs are also of top quality. ‘jogi mat ja’ and ‘chupke chupke bol maina’ are real gems.
Hans,
Thanks a lot.
AK’ji, Congratulations to you and SOY family members for stepping into 5th year and hope the coming year would be as lively and glorious as previous years . To me SOY is a Discovery channel of gold mine of vintage and old classic music where every one is rich in knowledge and every one is sharing their booty. Passing thru’ the sreets of TIME one touch upon his childhood, his youth and his old days. From ” Bachpan ke din bhula na dena ……to ……Yeh zindagi ke meley duniya mein kam na honge……to …….Babul mora naher chooto jaye ” ; music conveys all the facts of life and make us enjoy all the phases of life . Bhajans are the soothers and treasure of life. Kabir ji’s and Meera bai bhajan’s conveys all. Thanks to Venkatramanji for summing up the years gone by so nicely.
Bhatiaji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. It is the support of music lovers like you that is the driving force behind SoY.
Down the memory lane with ‘Anil Da’ is a well researched collection of old songs by Anil Da. I like Seene mein sulagte hain armaan from movie Tarana very much, Please keep up the good work.
Sharmaji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I would convey it to Sharadji.
I was entranced by the bhajans of Madame Roy. Used to hear it in AIR. I think her songs were a fixture of AIR, Calcutta. I have heard only a few from out of the music flood you had let loose. Here is another delightful song from the same film. – Preet kiye dukh hoye. Very apt lyric and applicable in many of the Bollywood love triangles explained in a brilliant but witty manner by you in your earlier post on Sangam. I would love to be a Watson to you AK, the Sherlock.
https://youtu.be/nunJ5Wfb_Ds
Meera was released in 1945 in Tamil and subsequently in Hindi. Late M.S. Subbalakshmi, veteran karnatic music vidishi, played her role as Bhaktha Meera to perfection. Each and every song was a hit. It was widely known at that time one of the finest songs – ‘kaatrinile varum geetham’ from the film was taken from Juthika Roy’s song. I now see one more song from the film is also based on one of the songs posted by you. Now to details :
02 – Bairan ho gayi raat piya bin
Meera (1945) tamil version – ‘kaatrinile varum geetham’
https://youtu.be/PCiqqFVY4Xw
04 – Main Kanhaiya pe tan man lutaaney chali
Meera (1945) Aranga unadu mahimai
https://youtu.be/l_8NnMrw_fc
MSS excelled. Not surprising considering her eruition and training she had from infancy onwards. She acted in just two or three films and went to her main field – carnatic music.
Another first. Only one link at 08 failed to open after more than a year of the posting. From experience I do two thing every time I read a blog now. I open a spare window for youtube.com so as to locate a failed link. A music software to record the audio part of the link in.mp3 format is also opened in tandem so that I can save the song for posterity. I have a huge storing capacity for videos. Such videos have to be played through internet and there is every chance of it vanishing. Songs downloaded as audio remain outside the internet net.
DP Rangan,
Does it remind you of Jogiya se preet kiye dukh hoye from Garam Coat?
MSS became known as Meera incarnate for her Meera bhajans both in the Tamil film and its Hindi version. A great singer. However, we have got very conditioned to listening to the above two bhajans in Juthika Roy’s voice.
DP Rangan,
So you have reached up to four years! I must thank you for your endorsement of SoY with your keyboard and congratulate you.
Did you listen to the Tamil version I posted and how it is based on Madame Roy’s original piece. That is all I wanted to state. I saw Garam Coat three years ago when I spent six months in Canada by borrowing CD from local library. I was amazed to see the volume of Hindi CDs. in Canadian libraries. There is a huge population of people from Punjab in Canada. I saw Punjabi movie CDs. too including Sassi Pannu. That is not all. I saw at least 40 English movies from 30s onwards which I thought I was never destined to view in my life. Thank you for giving me a fresh lease of life through your blog.
AK, many thanks for this quick-response gift.
Respected Sirs,
I think, I have come to the right place to get the information needed. (D.P.Rangan).. and the blog author. I need info about the ragam of the last and climax song of Meera ( tamil-1945). (my site at sites.google.com/site/meera1945tamil…. ) More importantly, I want the blog author to devote an entire blog for all the 17 songs in Hindi Meera (1947). Though it made MS a household name in north india, surprisingly, the hindi version is not available anywhere. Niveditha Ramakrishnana ( alaknanda) has uploaded about ten songs to youtube. But recently, saregama is muting or blocking many such uploads on copyright issues.
Kindly give the ragam of the following great songs in that film.
1) nandabala ..muralimohana ( kafi?) 2) hari aavan ki avaz 3) baso mere nainan me 4) ghan shyam aya re 5) giridhara gopala (mohanam?) 6) brundhaavana kunja bavana 7) chakar rakoji 8) hey hare dhayala 8) pag gungru re 9) maiyn hari charan ki dasi 10) hum ne suno hari 11) mete tho giridhara gopala 12) daras bina ( bagesree, desh, paraj ?) 13) yaadh aavae (sindhu bairavi) 14) kunjana vana chadi 15) ganga jamuna 16) suno meri manvyaadh . All the songs and videos are available in my site except one or two.
.. youtube gives access to many rare songs and video clips from the past. ( 1940-1960)… 1) we can use on-line software youtube2mp3 to extract the audio only. …(http://convert2mp3.net/en/). I have used it very often and it works very nicely. 2) The same software gives the option of saving the youtube as mp4. That is excellent. We can save it in our drive as mp4. ( video plus audio). 3) If we want to share in our blog or google site, we can first upload to our own folder in googledrive ( on line-cloud). and get the URL . Now we can embed the video (mp4) in our blog or google site easily. I think, this is the best solution to get freedom from whimsical blocking of masterpieces of upload by people like Niveditha.
RSR,
Welcome to SoY and thanks a lot for sharing the valuable link and other information. There are several readers who would be able to answer your query. I am sure someone would respond to it.
RSR
Are you talking of the song – Janardhana Jagannada, sung before Krishnan sannadi in Dwarka and Meera’s union with him. Your query regarding ragas of Hindi Meera songs can be answered only by Mr. Subodh Agarwal, Hindustani music expert. He would require to listen to them before answering. Contact him from this site.
Respected D.P.Rangan Sir, Thank you for your kind reply. Yes, I am referring to the climax song in Tamil Meera ( 1945). If possible, I would need the lyrics of the song too ( Kalki). …..Here is the link to not only the songs but a number of Vadhya sangeeth interludes by S.V.VENKATARAMAN… a genius. The list is by Sri.HEMA CHANDRA JAIN. ( unfortunately I dont have contact information). ( http://hindi-films-songs.com/realmeera47.html)
I have created a website for almost all the songs from Hindi MEERA (1947). ( https://sites.google.com/site/meera1947film )
I will try to locate the mail-id of Sri.Subodh Agarwal and request his help. .. In the meantime, any help regarding the tamil song will be most welcome ( lyrics and ragam). Some in rasikas.org have suggested Madhyamavathi.. That ragam is considered to be very auspicious and tranquil. and so usually the concluding part of concerts. but the last scene in Meera is surcharged with plaintive pleading and emotion. Hence my misgivings. Keep writing Sir.
I am now in USA and will return to India in mid November. If you have an mp3. link of the song Janardhana Jagannadha, send it to me at dprangan@mail.com. I will do the rest. I will contact Subodhji for Hindi Meera.
Dear RSR, your query has stumped me. I went through the songs, and I must thank you for introducing me to this collection of absolute gems. I don’t know how I was unaware of this film and its songs all this while.
As for ragas, most songs appear to be a mix of many. Only in a few I have been able to identify at least one prominent raga around which the song has been developed. ‘Baso more nainan mein’ clearly begins as Hameer. ‘Ghanshyam aya ri’ and ‘Vrindavan ke kunj bhavan’ both evoke Bahar. ‘Girdhar gopala’ is Bhupali, and ‘Daras bin dukhan laage nain’ is Desh. ‘Suno meri manovyatha’ gives glimpses of Malkauns.
I wish I could have been more helpful.
Subhodji
Surprised you have not heard about the only Hindi film in which vidushi M S Subbalakshmi acted as Meera. The tamil version came in 1945 and the Hindi in 1947. Please listen to tamil Meera songs. They are also timeless. The director was the famous Hollywood gentleman Ellis R. Duncan. He spent many years in former Madras Presidency and was closely involved with the Tamil film industry. RSR wanted ragams identified with each song. My cousin sister, karnataka music artist opined like you. One of the songs was a copy of a famous AIR song by Jutika Roy.
I recently got interested in Juthika Roy came across and listened to two bhajans from Ratandeep,1952. Ram ratan dhan and Neha lagake pachtana kya.MD was Robin Chatterjee,a legend in Bengal. I am still mesmerized and intoxicated by the renderings, listen to them many times in the day and feel no regrets.