Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Ae Sakhi Raadhike / Bolo Ki Achhe

Once again it is the time of Durga Pooja. Living in Powai in these days is indeed a privilege with all the festivities around. Keeping with the festive spirit, like last year, once again I am using this as an opportunity to put across two songs of Pancham on each post - one Bangla & another Hindi; the similarity being the composition - with one inspiring the another.

Today being the birth anniversary of Hrishikesh Mukherjee, one of the most sensitive director of Hindi movies, it will be a befitting tribute to select a song from one of his movies. This one is from Jurmana, released in 1979. Sandwiched between Golmaal & Khubsoorat, Jurmana was less popular, (and hence was lucky of not having been remade in its modern, heartless, glamourised versions!) despite a stellar cast, good performances and some amazing compositions of Pancham.

In my last post, on Lata Mangeshkar's Birthday, I wrote about her singing some classical compositions under the baton of Pancham. One such gem is from Jurmana. The composition was based on Raag Kalavati, which he had earlier used successfully for the title qawwali of Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin. 

Coming back to Jurmana - or rather the song I am presenting here. It is essentially a Lata solo, though begins with a cameo vocal by Manna Dey.  Once the song is on its way, & Lata takes over, the composition has Pancham using a host of Indian instruments, including Sitar and Santoor. Lata of course rises to this difficult & delectable composition and shows her absolute mastery over the genre. Before I move on, let us hear her rendering Ae Sakhi Radhike:

Gali-gali men Gokul ki yeh naam pukaare,
Shyaam pukaare baithi hai jamunaa kinaare, 
Kabhi mere kabhi tere ghar ko gai
Shyaam ko dhundhate aap hi kho gai
Ae sakhi Raadhike baavari ho gai




Lata's perfect rendition of this Hindi song is not surprising though. What is surprising is the Bangla composition, - Bolo ki Achhe - released in 1977. Here, the composition has lesser instruments, and hence used in more pronounced manner - with emphasis on flute & Sarangi. What makes it more special is finding the singer Pancham in altogether a different avataar, modulating his voice and flowing with each of the notes of the composition

So here it is - a Durga Pooja special for the fans of Pancham:


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