Intoxicated by Music

It is Madan Mohan's birthday today and I wanted to write this in dedication to his craft and genius. Such was his craft, that his music made each word of the song stand out. For those who may not know him by name would still know his songs very well - the highly popular Lag ja gale or the music of Veer Zaara is a perfect example of his musical genius. The list of his songs is astonishing and many are highly popular. Lag ja gale, Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain, naina barse rimjhim, tu jahaan jahaan chalega, tum jo mil gaye ho - the mesmerizing moments are endless. I am sharing 5 of my favourites - this by no means is an easy feat considering that I love most of his songs. I have selected the ones that are not heard often. As I have found solace in them, may you enjoy their soothing company too. Betaab Dil Ki Tamanna: A masterpiece by Kaifi Azmi sahab, sung beautifully by Lata Mangeshkar, this song was released in the movie Hanste Zakhm in year 1973. All the songs of this mov...

Film Qawaalis have always been a popular medium to significantly enhance the storyline. Used in many situations to allow the main characters to express the intensity of their love or sometimes the more traditional Sufi flavour, one can experience the rising crescendo not just in the song but also with one's own state of mind. Sung by a group of singers accompanied by instrument player, most popular being the Harmonium, our film music has seen a variety of qawwalis over years. I will start with my favourite five and look forward to hear of more in the comments section. These are my Top 5 picks in no particular order. 1. Na to Carvaan ki Talaash hai and Yeh ishq ishq hai A masterpiece by the immensely talented Sahir Ludhianvi, composed by an equally talented music composer Roshan, this qawwali will remain a milestone not just for this genre of music but overall Hindi film music for times immemorial. Composed for the 1960 Barsaat ki Raat, this qawwali can take the listener to th...

Those who know me say that I can spend hours and hours just talking, walking, breathing music- especially old Hindi songs. I decided to use that as an opportunity to write about something I love with this fervor. I initially plan to focus on old Hindi film songs that have shaped my life in ways more than one. They have been my constant companion since childhood, through good days and bad days and I could not have made it till now without these gems. Hope you, the dear reader of my blog will also enjoy reading about these beautiful works of creativity.