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Music

Pancham Fan Club Delhi Musical Show

To celebrate RD Burman’s 84th birth anniversary, Pancham Fan Club Delhi showcased a bouquet of songs composed by the legendary composer, a man who was way ahead of his times. Titled Beeti Na Beetai Raina — Hits & Misses of RD Burman, the musical event included presentation of a mix of both popular hits and also some hidden gems which did not become so popular. Surajit Roy, who scripted and anchored the event, recounts the experience.

A Timeless Symphony of Love and Longing: Agamani and Bijoya Songs of Sachin Dev Burman
A Timeless Symphony of Love and Longing: Agamani and Bijoya Songs of Sachin Dev Burman
In the musical heritage of Bengal, a vibrant canvas of human emotions unfolds. Age-old melodies of Agamani and Bijoya evoke the bittersweet essence of love and loss, whispering secrets of the soul. Sounak Gupta delves into this symphony of joy and sorrow, exploring its emotional depths, through Agamani and Bijoya songs by Sachin Dev Burman. As the festive season culminates with Deepavali, and the haunting melodies of Bijoya slowly dissipate, let us cherish the timeless musical legacy of Agamani and Bijoya, intricately woven into the fabric of our autumnal celebrations. What secrets of the soul do these melodies whisper to us?
Pancham Fan Club Delhi's Musical Show 'Hits & Misses of RD Burman'
Pancham Fan Club Delhi’s Musical Show ‘Hits & Misses of RD Burman’
To celebrate RD Burman’s 84th birth anniversary, Pancham Fan Club Delhi showcased a bouquet of songs composed by the legendary composer, a man who was way ahead of his times. Titled Beeti Na Beetai Raina — Hits & Misses of RD Burman, the musical event included presentation of a mix of both popular hits and also some hidden gems which did not become so popular. Surajit Roy, who scripted and anchored the event, recounts the experience.
Jyoti Kalash Chhalke - An Ode to Dawn
Jyoti Kalash Chhalke – An Ode to Dawn
Jyoti kalash chhalke, an immortal ode to dawn, eminently qualifies as a chhayavadi poem – it has romanticism, spiritualism, universalism and humanism in near perfect balance. Impressed by the VM created by 17-year-old Anshula on this ethereal song, Vijay Kumar pens a short deconstruction of its lyrics and draws connections with other immortal songs.
Main Dekhoon To Sahi Duniya Tumhe Kaise Sataati Hai
Main Dekhoon To Sahi Duniya Tumhe Kaise Sataati Hai
Tum apna ranj-o-gham is a song that breaks the mould, creating a defining moment in the portrayal of women in our films. Shirish Waghmode explores the immortal song written by Sahir from a woman's perspective.
Songs of My Life: Meri Bhains Ko Danda Kyun Maara
Songs of My Life: Meri Bhains Ko Danda Kyun Maara
Some songs stay on with us as golden memories of childhood. Rachna Rajesh recalls the madcap song Meri bhains ko danda kyun maara and how it resonated with her early schooling days.
Lata Ji: Making An Everyday Difference to My Life
Lata Ji: Making An Everyday Difference to My Life
Srinjoy Banerjee reminiscences about how Lata Mangeshkar's music became a guiding factor in every step of his life, right from his toddler days.
Songs of My Life - Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara
Songs of My Life – Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara
There are songs we love. And then there are songs that impact. And then there are songs that stay on as an integral part of life and memories that we love to revisit time and again to relive those cherished moments. Rachna Rajesh writes about one such song, Jewel Thief's Yeh dil na hota bechara.
Tasveer Teri Dil Mera Behla Na Sakegi
Tasveer Teri Dil Mera Behla Na Sakegi
Shirish Waghmode analyses the romance and beauty of the famous ghazal Tasveer teri dil mera behla na sakegi, written by Faiyyaz Hashmi, composed by Kamal Dasgupta and sung by Talat Mahmood in 1944. Shirish also pens an ode to Talat, the silken voiced singer.
Peerless Lata
Peerless Lata
Lata Mangeshkar's matchless music impacted countless souls over 70 years and her passing away into eternity led to the entire nation mourning the loss. Ganapathy Subramanian, who likes to call himself an "acolyte of Lata Mangeshkar" pens an emotional piece as a photo feature tribute to his idol.
Dylan Crosses the Rubicon
Dylan Crosses the Rubicon
This new album Rough and Rowdy Ways can be seen as the fourth in Dylan's gospel series, though some may not agree, and has to be played after listening to Slow Train Coming, Saved, Shot of Love, to make up a quartet.
Ai Mohabbat Tere Anjaam Pe: A Ballad of Failed Love
Ai Mohabbat Tere Anjaam Pe: A Ballad of Failed Love
Ai mohabbat tere anjaam pe rona aayaa - a Shakeel ghazal is one of the best on the point of failed love, rendered timeless by Begum Akhtar's gaayaki. Vijay Kumar translates it into English.
Mehdi Hassan: Touching the Finer Chords of Emotion in Music
Mehdi Hassan: Touching the Finer Chords of Emotion in Music
Mehdi Hassan was a thinking singer. Undaunted with the decline of film music, he used his moorings in classical music and experiences with film composers to develop his music that had nothing to do with films. It is this dimension that separates him from his contemporaries.
Mujhe Le Chalo: An Ode to the Lost World by Rajinder Krishan
Mujhe Le Chalo: An Ode to the Lost World by Rajinder Krishan
Rajinder Krishan could pen songs for all seasons, his repertoire was huge and varied. Born on 6th June 1919, he was not only a song writer but also a successful story and screenplay writer and dialogue writer. In a tribute to one of the greatest lyricists in Hindi film songs, I pick one song that has stayed nearest to my heart forever.
Those Songs Were Made from the Soul: A Musical Cab Ride
Those Songs Were Made from the Soul: A Musical Cab Ride
A cab ride on a wintry morning left me smiling at the cab driver's passion for music and his deep understanding of the essence of "music made from the soul".
Kehte Hain Ki Ghalib Ka Hai Andaz-e-Bayaan Aur: The Unique Appeal of Mirza Ghalib’s Poetry
Kehte Hain Ki Ghalib Ka Hai Andaz-e-Bayaan Aur: The Unique Appeal of Mirza Ghalib’s Poetry
One of the most quoted poets in Urdu, the legendary Mirza Ghalib’s poetry was mostly in the form of ghazals. Ghazal enthusiast Niraj Shah takes you through a mesmerizing journey of not only Ghalib's poetry but also shades of his life, his sorrows, his famous wit and his muse, stringing along a garland of oft-quoted shers, lesser known ghazals and misquoted shers as well.
Over 1 Lakh Rare Records in Discs & Machines - Sunny's Gramophone Museum
Over 1 Lakh Rare Records in Discs & Machines – Sunny’s Gramophone Museum
The remarkable collector Sunny Mathew has over 1 lakh (100,000) rare records, including records in their earliest form and about 260 gramophones/record players/phonographs of different varieties in his self-built Discs and Machines Museum, in Kottayam, Kerala. It is a shrine for music lovers and students of history of sound recording. M Dharma Kirthi, Sundeep Pahwa and Rocky Abraham find themselves transported into a mesmerising world of discs, gramophones and record players, painstakingly collected, archived and preserved by an unassuming, retired Forest Officer, Sunny Mathew. Dharma Kirthi chronicles this amazing journey of discovery as Sunny Mathew takes the visitors through his collections and creations with passion, energy and enthusiasm.
(L to R) Anil Biswas with Lata Mangeshkar, Madan Mohan and Talat Mahmood
Lata Mangeshkar Special: Those Early Days with Anil Biswas
Peeyush Sharma recounts an anecdote music maestro Anil Biswas had shared about Lata Mangeshkar's early days of practice with him as a special feature on The Nightingale's birthday.
Sangeeta Bedi and Obaid Azam Azmi anchoring Rooh-e-Majrooh evening
Rooh-e-Majrooh: The Everlasting Poetry of Majrooh Sultanpuri
Majrooh Sultanpuri's immortal songs came to life along with an eclectic selection of his literary ghazals at the Rooh-e-Majrooh evening presented by Ibaadat Foundation.
Sound Recording In India: Rabindranath, Rabindrasangeet (1904-1941)
Sound Recording In India: Rabindranath, Rabindrasangeet (1904-1941)
Rabindranath Tagore’s association with the recording industry began in 1904. An exploration of the sound recordings of Tagore and Rabindra Sangeet by Sounak Gupta.
Geeta Dutt recording a song in 1961
The Queen of Bhaav Gayaki – Geeta Dutt
The instinctive singer Geeta Dutt, who sang from her heart and soul, left an indelible mark in her swan song, the film Anubhav. Piano-accordionist Sammy Reuben recounts some cherished moments with the legendary singer in a conversation with Pakanati Lakshmi Priya.
Mohammed Rafi: For The Record
Mohammed Rafi: For The Record
Much more than a musical genius, Mohammed Rafi is a name that became synonymous with the very art of playback singing. A voice that slipped into any mould, flawlessly rendered every conceivable nuance and transformed many ordinary tunes into memorable masterpieces.
Eternal Wait: The Story Of The Dark Girl By The Meghna (Geeta Dutt)
Eternal Wait: The Story Of The Dark Girl By The Meghna (Geeta Dutt)
"A dark girl sits by the river – she misses the tunes of the boatmen. The birds don’t give her accompaniment. Yet she sits. Hums – tunes of an era she wishes to visit – tunes that stir her soul, the rhythm that arouses her nerves." Geeta Dutt's matchless melodies in her native Bangla have never ceased to move listeners. Sounak Gupta lyrically traces the rise of the skylark from the banks of the Meghna, who continues to enthrall music lovers with her dulcet voice, long after dusk has settled and the river has broken its banks.
A thoughtful Geeta Roy
Geeta Dutt – The Singer with the Golden Heart
Geeta Dutt (Roy's) niece Tapati Dutta recounts her fond memories of her 'Geetu Pishi' in a heartfelt tribute to the Queen of Bhaav Gayaki.
Two Tagore Songs of 'Puja' Parjaay in Translation
Two Tagore Songs of ‘Puja’ Parjaay in Translation
On the auspicious day of the bard's birth anniversary celebrations, my humble homage to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and his mystical melodies.
The Music of Silence: Kanika Bandyopadhyay
The Music of Silence: Kanika Bandyopadhyay
On Rabindra Jayanti today, Learning and Creativity brings you a glimpse into how Rabindranath Tagore and his creations impacted the life of Kanika Bandyopadhyay, his best known prodigy and a singer par excellence.
Geeta Dutt and SD Burman (Pic courtesy: Internet)
The Incomparable Music Of S D Burman Transcends Generations
S D Burman used his solid grounding in classical music and his wide exposure to folk music most effectively to create compositions that broke traditions and became hugely popular with the mass audience. His style of singing and quality of voice was his own, unique and unmatched. “Such is the youthfulness of his tunes that he seems a live presence even today. Age-wise, he may have belonged to the first generation composers but his tunes have a contemporariness that puts him ahead of the fourth generation."
Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai: The Inspiring Life Of Anand Bakshi
Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai: The Inspiring Life Of Anand Bakshi
Anand Bakshi, the most prolific lyricist of Hindi cinema lived a life which in itself is an inspiring journey of faith, dreams, success and humanity.
35 Holi Songs of Bollywood - the most comprehensive list
Rang Barse… Evergreen Holi Songs Of Bollywood Over 6 Decades (1940-2014)
From Aurat in 1940 to Ram Leela in 2014, Holi songs of Bollywood have added colour, energy, music and dance to films through the decades. From the mellow and richly classical Holi songs in the 50s to the fun songs in the 70s, the flirtatious songs of the 80s to the power-packed, rigorous dance sequences in the new millennium, Holi songs have seen a gradual but marked change in style of music and picturisation.
Enjoy the songs.... and have a Happy and Safe Holi!
Mhaaro Pranam - A Tribute To Queen Of Thumri Vidushi Shobha Gurtu
Mhaaro Pranam – A Tribute To Queen Of Thumri Vidushi Shobha Gurtu
What indeed puts the Queen of Thumri Shobha Gurtu in a class by herself are not merely the unique qualities of her warm sensuous voice which blends strength with suppleness and vigour with grace but also the associated aesthetic delight. She constantly communicated through music, by creating a joyful identity with nature and with the cosmos itself. Samina De (Urmi), a noted classical thumri singer and a devoted disciple of Shobha Gurtu pays a heartfelt tribute to her 'Guruma' on the occasion of the legendary thumri exponent's birth anniversary today.
The Hummingbird, Lingering, Living
The Hummingbird, Lingering, Living
My poetic rambling and humble tribute to my favorite singer, Geeta Dutt on the auspicious occasion of her birthday, November 23
Geeta Dutt at the harmonium and with maestro flutist Pt Pannalal Ghosh
Geeta Dutt – The Skylark Who Sang From The Heart
Was there ever a playback singer who conveyed feelings better? On her death anniversary today 20th July, we pay a humble tribute to this ethereal singer who had a short lived career but left an indelible mark in the world of music.
Bahu Manorathe Saju Abhisare
Bahu Manorathe Saju Abhisare
The song is marvelously penned down in a broken dialect (of Sanskrit, Hindi, Maithili, Brajabuli and Bangla) and allows one to find resemblances with Bhanusingher Padabali.
Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Voh Kahaan Hain: Songs of Sahir
Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Voh Kahaan Hain: Songs of Sahir
Sahir Ludhianvi was one of those rare talents who not just maintained the vulnerability of Urdu in his lyrics but also perfectly captured the essence of the situation.
Sahir Ludhianvi: The People's Poet
Sahir Ludhianvi: The People’s Poet
Sahir Ludhianvi is probably the only songwriter in Hindi films whose poetry was accepted in its purest form. So great was his stature as an Urdu poet that he never had to mould his poetry to suit the demands of film songwriting; instead producers and composers adapted their requirements to his poetry.
Majrooh Sultanpuri: Film Poet Of The Millennium
Majrooh Sultanpuri: Film Poet Of The Millennium
Majrooh could write any kind of lyrics tailor-made for the situation in the film.
Music Director Khayyam presenting a book titled “Khayyam: The man, His Music’ to Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on July 7, 2006
(Pic courtesy: PIB)
Khayyam: Making Poetry Come Alive With Melody
On master melody maker Khayyam's birthday, L&C presents some of his memorable creations.
'Baho men chale aao' makes the grade purely because of its mischievous sweetness and smart handling.
10 Most Romantic Songs in Hindi Cinema – Part II
If 'abhi na jao'… is an argument about the value of being together, 'accha ji main haari'… is equally sensuous argument about how difficult life can be without your partner.
Bollywood Melodies : A History of the Hindi Film Song
Manna Dey’s Favourite Hindi Film Songs
Out of his large repertoire, Manna Dey's had his own favorite Hindi film songs and for particular reasons.
Manna Dey
Manna Dey: A Rare Voice That Excelled In All Music Genres
Manna Dey, the last of the male golden voices of the 50s, 60s and 70s took classical and popular playback music and modern “adhunik” songs to great heights.
Aandhi - starring Suchitra Sen, Sanjeev Kumar
10 Most Romantic Songs in Hindi Cinema – Part I
Film songs perhaps have been the best vehicle of conveying romance and passion in a society where on-screen permissiveness was taboo till recently.
Lata Mangeshkar in Her Own Voice
The Nightingale’s Everlasting Melodies
It is amazing how Lata Mangeshkar has for more than 70 years maintained her tremendous musical capabilities, right from 1942 till today
'Ek Pyaar Ka Naghma' Lives On...
‘Ek Pyaar Ka Naghma’ Lives On…
Kalyanji-Anandji’s music had a distinct flavor of its own. It stayed away from the so-called “inspired” takeoffs on western hits, and lent a delectable folk flavor to the songs.