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…

Hey Govind, hey Gopal, Krishna hey Murari

 
Words: Soor Das Ji
Composition: Indira Devi
Voice: M S Subbulaxmi

Language: Brij Bhasha
Raag:
Taal: Rupak

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M S Subbulaxmi and Soor Das Ji are both a revelation to me presently. I knew a couple of bhajans by Soor Das Ji from school but never really thought much about them. As for M S, I had no clue who she was till a month back! Growing up, I learnt Hindustani classical music and so I was more familiar with names from this genre of classical music. I still do not know anyone else from the Carnatic tradition except M S (but I hope to get intimate with more names very soon).

So one fine night I decided to expand my horizons into Carnatic music and the first name that came up was M S Subbulaxmi and soon I realized I was listening to something special. I then heard her renditions of some of Soor Das Ji's bhajans and, for the first time, I realized how beautiful these simple songs of the blind saint were! Suddenly, I was deluged by the beauty of these pearl-like words and their immense emotional capacity. 

I am currently a captive of this particular bhajan 'Hey Govind, hey Gopal, Krishna hey Murari' and so I present their lyrics below, followed by a rather literal translation. 

Please Note: I have noted down the lyrics by listening to the song. They are mostly accurate except for a couple of lines which I couldn't understand and they are highlighted in a different colour. Please feel free to suggest corrections. I just couldn't find the lyrics to this bhajan anywhere on the net.

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"Hey Govind, hey Gopal, Krishna hey Murari

Hey dayal, Nand laal, paap-taap haari

To so badhik vachal nahi, nath kaun to so?

Mo so patit aur nahin, na najh mo so

To hi aaye sharan teri, hey hriday-haari

Hey dayal, Nand laal, paap-taap haari

Kamal nayan, madhur bayan, maal gal suhave

Chapal charan, Manmohan Yamuna tat aave

Madhur, madhur murli adhar, ang peet dhaari

Hey dayal, Nand laal, paap-taap haari

Hey Kripalu naam tero sun ke neer aaye

Beri-beri itni der Shyam kyu lagaayi?

Janam-janam baat dekhu, naath, mai tihari

Hey dayal, Nand laal, paap-taap haari

Hey Govind, hey Gopal, Krishna hey Murari

Hey dayal, Nand laal, paap-taap haari..."

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Translation:

O Govind! O Gopal! Krishna, O Murari! (All names of Krishna)
O kind lord, the son of Nand, redeemer of our sins

There is no one like you, who can be a lord like you?
No bigger sinner than me, no one else
Thus, I submit to you, O saviour of souls
O kind lord, the son of Nand, redeemer of our sins

Lotus-eyed, sweet natured, garland adorned
With swift feet, Manmohan, come near Yamuna
The sweet, sweet flute on lips, yellow attired
O kind lord, the son of Nand, redeemer of our sins

O kind lord, hearing your name I cry
Why do you delay again, Shyam?
I have been waiting for you all through my lives
O kind lord, the son of Nand, redeemer of our sins

O Govind! O Gopal! Krishna, O Murari!
O kind lord, the son of Nand, redeemer of our sins

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Source for name of composer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKPvw1YtpCg