Party .... Sahela re

The Party - 1984 Classic by Govind Nihalani , is one of the most realistic films. An instant classic with high caliber actors, the movie has that subtle satire , sarcasm and realism. Based on a novel by Mahesh Elkunjwar "Party" , the movie has a gripping story that revolves around the characters that are part of an evening Party hosted by a Bombay high society socialite. Truth , realism and stories of characters told in subtle realistic fashion by Director and Producer Govind Nihalani.
The actors are all veterans .. Deepa Sahi , Om Puri , Amrish Puri , Rohini Hattangadi , Manohar Singh, Naseerudin Shah , Vijaya Mehta , Soni Razdan , Mohan Bhandari , Shafi Inamdar and many more ! An ensemble of cast typical of an "Art Cinema"

One more reason that makes this movie memorable is the Kishori Amonkar khyaal in Bhoop .. "Sahela Re" used as a background score (starting around 1:16:00) .. here is the complete film.

सहेला रे , आ मिल गाये..
सप्तसुरन की भेद सुनाये
जनम-जनम को संग न भुले
अब के मिले सो बिछूड ना जाये !

चश्म - ए - बद्दूर

For me , nostalgia means watching "Chashm-e-Baddur" .. simplicity of life, its pace and the art of movie making !  Sai Paranjape , Farooq Sheikh , Dipti Naval , Rakesh Bedi ,Ravi Vasvani, Sayeed Jaffrrey !
I can never get tired of watching movies of Sai Paranjpe and her cast ..

Chashm-e-baddur simply means touchwood , बुरी नजर दूर रहे .. किसीकी नजर ना लग जाए !

कहाँ से आये बदरा.... मेघ

Raag Sarang and Raag Megh are very close to each other ... this beautiful song from "Chashm-e-baddur" is one of the classics in Raag Megh , in the voice of Yesudas and Hemanti Shukla. Lyrics by Indu Jain and music composition by Raj Kamal.
One of my favorites from the favorite movie , along with "Kali ghodi dwar khadi" ( Raag Kaafi )

कहाँ से आये बदरा, खुलता जाये कजरा
पलकों के सतरंगे दीपक, बन बैठे आँसू की झालर
मोती का अनमोलक हीरा, मिट्टी में जा फिसला
कहाँ से आये बदरा ...
नींद पिया के संग सिधारी, सपनों की सूखी फुलवारी
अमृत होठों तक आते ही, जैसे विष में बदला
कहाँ से आये बदरा ...
उतरे मेघ हिया पर छाये, निर्दय झोंके अगन बढ़ाये
बरसे हैं अँखियों से सावन, रोये , मन है पगला
कहाँ से आये बदरा ...

Sarang .. Summer Delight

Raag Sarang is a relative "unsung" raag among vocal performers in recent times. It was well in vogue 50-60 years back among veteran vocalists. The one classical Sarang we all often remember is by Ut Bismillah Khan on Shehnai , typically played during afternoon feasts for marriages and other festive occasions.
I myself too had almost forgotten this beautiful raag for some time. This raag typically misses morning concerts due to Bilawals & Todis and the evening concerts due to Bhimpalas, Dhani & Multaanis !  Also , the advent of air-conditioned auditoriums and cooled concert halls might not be inspiring and motivating the modern vocalists to sing Sarang during concerts !
One reason that made me revisit Sarang was a beautiful bandish that I happened to hear in AC room on a hot summer afternoon "Aalap" program of Akashwani Pune at 2.30pm !

विलंबित : 
तपन लागी चाहू ओर, सूरज तेज,सूखी नदिया ....

मध्यलय / द्रुत :
आवो रे आवो रे कारे बदरा, बिनती करत तोसे जल बरसाओ
तरपत फुल मुरझाए , सब बन में पशु पंछी , अकुलन तरसाए

What a perfect description of Summer in Raag Sarang , inviting Megh ! 
This is the blissful experience of Khyaal gayaki ..  A thought describing the "maahol" of a hot summer afternoon in precise manner !  It is also amazing that both the Raags, Sarang and Megh have same notes but different chalans , giving an experience of totally opposite side of "Nature's" spectrum !
Such is the power of Hindustani Classical Music !

कहीं दूर

कभी यूँहीं, जब हुईं, बोझल साँसें 
भर आई बैठे बैठे, जब यूँ ही आँखें 
तभी मचल के, प्यार से चल के
छुए कोई मुझे पर नज़र न आए, नज़र न आए

कहीं दूर जब दिन ढल जाए 
साँझ की दुल्हन बदन चुराए 
चुपके से आए
मेरे ख़यालों के आँगन में 
कोई सपनों के दीप जलाए, दीप जलाए
कहीं दूर ...

कहीं तो ये, दिल कभी, मिल नहीं पाते
कहीं से निकल आए, जनमों के नाते
घनी थी उलझन, बैरी अपना मन
अपना ही होके सहे दर्द पराये, दर्द पराये
कहीं दूर ...

दिल जाने, मेरे सारे, भेद ये गहरे
खो गए कैसे मेरे, सपने सुनहरे
ये मेरे सपने, यही तो हैं अपने
मुझसे जुदा न होंगे इनके ये साये, इनके ये साये
कहीं दूर ... 

 
 कवी : योगेश , संगीत : सलील चौधरी , फिल्म :आनंद ,स्वर : मुकेश