Sounds of Life

 Occasional Jottings

Sounds of Life

Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose

"The song is a little soul that migrates from one heart to another, from one generation to another." – Unknown

The song of birds, splashing of waves, pitter-patter of rains, rustling of leaves in the breeze, babbling of streams, the rumble of thunder, the chirping of crickets, the cascading sound at the waterfall, are all part of our existence. 

Hindustani music, Carnatic Music, regional folk music, Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan, Kirtan, Rabindra Sangeet, Baul, Punjabi music, cinematic music, and several other genres and styles have been integral part of our lives.

There are certain buzzwords which spill over from the annals of our evolutionary history onto the mainstream of our everyday lives.   

‘Song’ is one such word!

India has a rich musical heritage.  

It is difficult to find someone who has not been swayed by a song - its melody, its lyrics, its profundity, its reflective power.  They say, there is a song for every situation in life; for your every mood; for your every stage of life; for your every thought.  There is always a song that reflects your times – happy, poignant, anxious, nostalgic and so on. 

Songs and our emotions are intertwined.  Or it can also be said that our emotions inspire songs. Songs and emotions influence and exert power over each other.  Songs have the power to express our thoughts, desires and emotions in the same way as our thoughts, desires and emotions inspire the lyrics and its accompanying melody and music.  

Even if you forget the storyline that cradled a melodious song, you would never forget the actual song and even after dust of time has settled on the pages, the song would once again rise in your heart and mind in nostalgic reminiscence. 

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"A song can change the world." - Bob Geldof

The 1950s and 1960s are regarded as the Golden Age of Hindi films and was marked by memorable melodious music that are still regarded to be the best.   Those decades transformed Hindi film music.  The sound of music from those decades still hold sway over the psyche of music afficionados across the globe. 

That was the era when celebrated poets and lyricists flourished contributing significantly to the rise of Hindi film music and cinema.   These iconic lyricists who could articulate different hues of emotions through their words, lines and poetry with reverberating impact include Shailendra, Sahir Ludhianvi,  Shakeel Badayuni, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Hasrat Jaipuri, Anand Bakshi, Kaifi Azmi and so on. 

Past that decade, a continuous stream of highly talented lyricists enriched film songs.   Gulzar with his poetic and sensitive lyrics, stands out and still accurately reflects our myriad emotions.  So does Javed Aktar and several others. 

An outstanding poetic creation has to be accompanied by an equally exceptional voice that infuses melody in it and a superlative music direction that presents it creating an emotional resonance for all times to come. 

Iconic music composers and directors who presented awe-inspiring creations and swayed our passions include S. D. Burman, Naushad Ali, Laxmikant Pyrarelal, Ravindra Jain, Salil Chaudhury, Shankar-Jaikishan, Madan Mohan, Ilaiyaraaja, R. D. Burman, O. P. Nayyar, Anu Malik, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Jatin-Lalit, Anand-Milind, A. R. Rahman, Pritam Chakraborty, and others. 

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That was the era of the Radio.

We grew up in a household that had storytelling as the primary means of entertainment, apart from sports and games.   And we had the radio and the gramophone. 

As we grew up, we had a ‘radio time’ when news and other presentations were broadcast.  

The elders in my family also listened to Radio Ceylon.  In those days – the 1950s and 1960s – Radio Ceylon became a popular platform for music, entertainment, and news, broadcasting to a vast audience across South Asia.   Radio Ceylon played a crucial role in popularising Hindi film music and catalyzed the advent of modernity and its outreach among audiences across India and the world.   Iconic creations of top artists were broadcast and the radio station had immense diehard fan-following. 

In my early teens I was drawn to the legendary Ameen Sayani’s presentation of Binaca Geetmala that was broadcast over Radio Ceylon.  The Geetmala was perhaps the first such countdown of the most popular Hindi film songs.  During the 1980s, the programme shifted to Vividh Bharati of All India Radio, and its impact among the people continued to rise.  Ameen Sayani’s distinctive voice and lucid style of presentation had its own charm and captivated audiences and in fact pioneered radio show hosting.   Indeed, the show is a nostalgic reminder of the golden era of Indian radio and music and evokes memories of a bygone era.

There is an interesting story behind Hindi film music’s broadcasting aspect.

The then Information and Broadcasting Minister, B.V. Keskar, felt that the Hindi film songs could be detrimental to cultural growth and cultural identity.  Perhaps he felt that a nation that had just achieved Independence should promote classical and traditional Indian music.  Hindi film songs were banned from All India Radio in 1952.  

But, by then Hindi film music had already captured the imagination of the masses and were gaining popularity through the All India Radio, gramophone and other channels. 

The 1952 ban on Hindi film songs to be broadcast on AIR led people to tune into Radio Ceylon for listening to their favourite singers.  The ban did not and could not affect this highly popular art. 

People enjoyed Hindi film songs.  They chose their best singers from a wide spectrum of highly talented and versatile players. These singers stood apart and continue to be the benchmark even today and for all times to come. 

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"The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between." - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Kundal Lal Saigal was a singer of venerable proportions and the biggest name during the pre-independence era.  His songs occupied a pride of place in the hearts of his listeners.  Saigal’s rendition of ‘Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya’, composed by Naushad and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri in the 1945 film Shahjehan, is considered to be among the ultimate sad songs.  

Top music directors like Rai Chand Boral, Timir Baran, Pankaj Mullick churned out all-time hits during those decades.

Noorjehan, Suraiya, Shamshad Begum, Begum Akhtar (Ghazal Queen), Meena Kapoor, Gauhar Jaan, Malka Jaan, Janki Bai, Zohra Bai Agrewali, Husna Jaan, Devika Rani, among others made their mark and imprinted their style on the collective psyche of their audiences. 

Gauhar Jaan, originally an Armenian named Angelina Yeoward (often described as the 'Gramophone Girl'), was the most prolific singer till her death in 1930, recording over 600 songs. Most of these were later released by the then Gramophone Company of India on 78 rpm vinyl records.  In our teens and beyond, Noorjehan’s hits ‘Awaaz De Kahan Hai’ with Surendra and ‘Jawaan Hai Mohabbat’ remained highly popular.

Just before Independence and soon after that, a crop of young talented singers rose to the fore as playback singers.  They became legends as time progressed carrying them to eternity. 

When a melodious voice rises above the din, Creation pauses to listen; leaves don’t rustle; birds pause their singing; the breeze steadies itself.  And then they welcome the euphonious voice.  An era of singers with mesmerizing voices began; easily within the grasp of the common man. 

The era of S. D. Burman, Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Talat Mehmood, Mohammed Rafi, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Manna Dey, Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhosle, Kavita Krishnamurthi, R.D. Burman, Kishore Kumar, Bhupen Hazarika, commenced and the lineage continued through Kumar Sanu, S. P. Balasubramanyam, Yesudas, Sonu Nigam, Arijit Singh, the late KK, Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan, and so on.  The list is endless; each a top-class singer.

Each of these outstanding singers excelled with their unique blend of style, charisma and authenticity that connected their talent with fans globally.  They could transmit powerful musical and melodious messages across the spectrum.  They were simply divine.   

Several of these singers were regarded as the ‘voice’ of legendary actors of that era, such as Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, then Rajendra Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, and others. 

A ‘hit’ song can be distinctive due to several reasons, including its poetic lyrics, fluent storytelling, instrumentation, and vocalisation that sets it apart from others.  

Similarly, a singer can touch a chord with the audience with his unique melodious voice, expression of memorable musical phrases that can stick in listeners' minds, emotional expression and authenticity. 

And when these elements come together a masterpiece is born that leaves a lasting impression on listeners.

The poetry, the music, its composition and the voice reach out and touch our psyche.  

A wide array of musical instruments – with increasing sophistication and modernity – were employed as decades passed by. 

No other musical instrument, I felt, can lend emotional depth to music in the manner that Violin does; it has been my personal favourite.   When played, Violin has the power to symbolise elegance, refinement and give expression to soulful melodies, romantic ballads and poignant situations.  That famous score from the film Shor depicting the song ‘Ek Pyar Ka Naghma Hai’ or the iconic Raj Kapoor film songs that feature violins effectively include "Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan" from Mera Naam Joker, "Awara Hoon" from Awaara and so on. 

Music has a profound impact on our lives, influencing our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.  Songs can relax an overstretched brain, boost our mood, can improve concentration, be relaxing at the gym, boost productivity, and enhance cognitive function.  Experts believe that songs and music have therapeutic impact too. Music therapy is used to treat various conditions, including anxiety, depression, and neurological disorders and can also be effectively used in pain management. 

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"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo

Songs carry messages in different situations; they guide us on our journey of life; they explain to us the meaning of life; they teach us love, respect and compassion; they inspire and motivate us to be decent and responsible human beings.  That is the power of melody – of a song well composed and well presented.

Powerful music and songs have swayed people to a cause of the time.  Songs created for a particular purpose moved masses and urged them to come forward for the cause.  Songs and music formed integral part of movements and revolutions. These songs were sung to promote patriotism, brotherhood, camaraderie and were clarion call to all to come and be part of the rising.

Who would not remember or still be swayed by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar’s ‘Ae Mere Watan ke Logon’?

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s "Vande Mataram" was a symbol of resistance against British rule and became a national anthem of sorts.

"Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja", is a motivational song and depicted the the regimental quick march of Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army and became a patriotic anthem.

"Ekla Chalo Re", written by Rabindranath Tagore, encouraged individuals to continue their fight for freedom, even if they had to do it alone.

"Mera Rang De Basanti Chola" from the film 'Shaheed' channels the fearless energy of India's freedom fighters.

"Maa Tujhe Salaam", A.R. Rahman's iconic tribute to India, this song transcends age and era, blending classical roots with global rhythms.

"Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon" is a soldier's eternal pledge, sung by Mohammed Rafi.

“Insaaf ki dagar pe, Bachchon dikhaao chalake, Yeh desh hai tumhaara, Neta tumhi ho kal ke” sung by Hemant Kumar carries a message for all to abide by justice, equality and patriotism. 

The poem can become a Nation’s anthem. "Jana Gana Mana," written by Rabindranath Tagore was originally composed in Bengali and later adopted in its Hindi version by the Constituent Assembly as the national anthem on January 24, 1950.

That is the power of poetry, of music, of songs.

Today access to music and songs is a simple and casual affair. We can access these anywhere and at any time.  Music acts as a bridge between the days gone by and the present.  We may not remember what we did on a particular day say 30-40 years back, but as soon as we hear a song today that we heard decades back, nostalgic memories set in, and we remember how we were then, what we did in those days, our relatives, their affection, our school, our college, our friends, and so on.  

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The words ‘music’ and ‘songs’ are so firmly embedded in our consciousness that these have also crept into language, idioms and phrases revealing our diverse situations.  Here are some most commonly used:

‘Face the music’ – this is something not very enjoyable, unless you happen to be lost somewhere between the past, present and future while facing it.  Simply put, it means – accept the consequences.

‘March to the beat of your own drum’ – to do things your own unique way.  You should really be confident and qualified to do this.  In Bengal we say ‘Akla cholo re’. 

‘Change your tune’ – this is like a warning of sorts.  It means you have to change your opinion or attitude, since it is not in sync with your boss’s. 

‘Blow your own trumpet’ – something that most of us have done or do with elan.

‘Hit the right note’ and ‘in tune with’ – would mean to do something appropriate and in sync with the organisation or the situation.

‘Fine-tune’ – the advice received from superiors and friends to finetune play an important part of our growing up.

‘Music to my ears’ – this may not be referring to the actual melodious tunes or music.  It could mean something like hearing something pleasant – such as praise, a good news that was long delayed, and so on.

‘Strike a chord’ – When two people converge on a same plane a chord is stuck between them.  

‘Play it by ear’ – to improvise or decide as we progress.

‘In harmony’ – a perfect situation, when we all live and work in harmony.

‘Have it for a song’ – means to acquire something very cheaply, often for less than its actual value.

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As they say – the show must go on. The song continues to be sung infusing life to the show.   The universal language of music continues to rise to encompass humanity and foster understanding, friendship and emotional bonding with each other; to touch our hearts and minds.

The stage, friends, is the same; the singers are different.   Music is the same; melodies are different. 

Wish you all a melodious journey. 

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