Ras ke bhare tore nain

 
Music: Jaidev
Voice: Hira Devi Mishra

Format: Geet/Thumri
Raag: Bhairavi
Language: Hindi - Brij Bhasha
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I chanced upon this while exploring the music of Monsoon Wedding. The film uses a slightly modernized version of the original composition, the original being at least a century old. It was earlier rendered by Jaidev for the film Gaman and that's the version I really, really love. It has given me many sleepless nights.

The singing by Hira Devi Mishra is seductive and dripping with shringar ras. She doesn't dwell on technique as this is a short piece (a song or a geet) for a film. She rather tries to bring out the original essence and the very rustic flavour of the composition. The poetry romances the luscious eyes of the beloved, urging him to return and entwine the love-sick maid in a warm embrace. She yearns to be held by him, to see him, and to get lost in his enchantingly beautiful eyes.

But more than the singing, I love Jaidev's music. He has taken a traditional thumri, which must have been rendered on a simple harmonium-tabla setting, and he has created a completely original mood and melody for it.

Beginning with the sensuous sound of the sitar, accompanied with a hint of melancholic sarangi, it moves to a beautiful piece on the keyboard. The recurring keyboard piece, along with the tabla, becomes the spine of the composition. It has a certain mystique to it and it seems to be telling a story, the story of the lovers. From this central piece arise the melancholic sarangi and the yearning flute, each drawing out the poignancy of the piece.

I find the music remarkable because I feel that though it is deeply rooted in traditions it is still quite contemporary. It seamlessly blends the rustic musical sensibilities with urban receptivity, like a picture of the countryside made to be exhibitioned at the city gallery, It tones down its garishness, focuses on the pathos, and creates something soft, serene and beautiful.

I don't know who wrote it. It was most probably originally recorded by Gauhar Jaan in 1910. Information on its origins are welcome, as are any other comments and suggestions.

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Lyrics:

Arey pathik giridhari su itni kahiyo ter
Brij jhar nayi radhika ab brij bhurat pher

Aaja sawariya tohe garva laga lu
Ras ke bhare tore nain… Sawariya…
Ras ke bhare tore nain…

Jehi chitawat tehi bas kari rakhat
Naahi padey man ka chain… Sawariya…
Naahi padey man ka chain…

Aaja sawariya tohe garva laga lu
Ras ke bhare tore nain…