A query about 2 famous bengali songs of Sachin-karta
Archisman
A few months ago, I had the chance to browse through a biography of
Sachin Dev Burman in bengali titled 'bhaati gaang baaiya' (a phrase
from the line of his bengali song 'ke jaash re....bhaati....'; the
bengali version of lata-bai's 'sun ri pawan..pawan purvaiya'). I do not
remember the author's name (Shyamal ...... ?). The author hails from
Tripura and hence the book has a lot of details about Karta's early
life.
The author also mentions about a few of his talented friends of the
district of Kumilla (Coomilla) like Ajay Bhattacharyya (lyricist of
songs like 'aami chhinu ekaa.....' & 'tumi je giyaachho bakulo
bichhaano pathe') & the talented music director Himangshu Datta
('Shur-shaagor' (ocean of music)).
The author states that the famous 78 rpm release of Karta containing is
2 'raag-pradhan' songs 'aalo chhaya dola' (in bahar) & 'jodi dokhina
pobono' (in devgandhar) were composed by Himangshu Datta. Can someone
clarify please?
(For my non-bengali friends, 'aalo chhaya dola' is the bengali original
of Lata-bai's 'pawan diwani' from Dr. Vidya.)
Regards-Archisman.
Sambit Basu
Archisman wrote:
> The author states that the famous 78 rpm release of Karta containing is
> 2 'raag-pradhan' songs 'aalo chhaya dola' (in bahar) & 'jodi dokhina
> pobono' (in devgandhar) were composed by Himangshu Datta. Can someone
> clarify please?
I am not sure what you wanted to clarify? Do you
want somebody to confirm the p-stats looking at
the 78?
As far as my recollection goes, 'aalo chhaya' is
indeed a Himangshu Datta composition. I think
Poschimbongo Sangeet Academy published
'Ajoy Bhattacharya-r gaan' - a collection of
the scores of AB's songs (sworolipi
by V. Balsara). If my memory serves right, there
also 'alo chhaya' has been attributed to Himangshu
Datta. I can double check when I go home. Coming
to think of it 'alo chhaya' and 'dokhina pobono'
both have Himangshu Datta signature. Although I don't
recall seeing 'dokhina pobono' attributed to
Himangshu Datta. BTW, what raga is 'Dokhina pobono'?
Jaunpuri?
Another HD-SDB gem is 'premer somadhi teere'. This
song, to me, is the epitome of a popular song made
out of a raga (Darbari, in this case) but stripped
of any taankaari or any other harkat to give huge
prominence to the lyrics, yet did not water down
the mood of the Raga.
- Sambit
Archisman
Sambit Basu wrote:
> As far as my recollection goes, 'aalo chhaya' is
> indeed a Himangshu Datta composition. I think
> Poschimbongo Sangeet Academy published
> 'Ajoy Bhattacharya-r gaan' - a collection of
> the scores of AB's songs (sworolipi
> by V. Balsara). If my memory serves right, there
> also 'alo chhaya' has been attributed to Himangshu
> Datta. I can double check when I go home. Coming
> to think of it 'alo chhaya' and 'dokhina pobono'
> both have Himangshu Datta signature. Although I don't
> recall seeing 'dokhina pobono' attributed to
> Himangshu Datta. BTW, what raga is 'Dokhina pobono'?
> Jaunpuri?
Thanks, Sambit. Yes, my query was about the composer of these two
songs. It's interesting because most bengalis know them as Karta's
songs & hence think that the composition must be his as well (barring a
few Nazrul-geetis). In fact, while extolling the virtues of his
(Karta's) composing skills in HFM, there are frequent references of
'pawan diwani'.
'Jodi dokhina pobono' is based on raag 'devgandhar' (quite similar to
jaunpuri as it is based on the 'asavari thaat'. Remember K L Saigal's
'jhulana jhulaao'?). Since this song was on the flip side of 'aalo
chhaya dola', the composer, in all probability, should be Himangshu
Datta.
>
> Another HD-SDB gem is 'premer somadhi teere'. This
> song, to me, is the epitome of a popular song made
> out of a raga (Darbari, in this case) but stripped
> of any taankaari or any other harkat to give huge
> prominence to the lyrics, yet did not water down
> the mood of the Raga.
Very true. Another composition of Himangshu Datta that I like is the
raag kaamod based 'aakasher chand' by Uma Bose.
>
>
> - Sambit
Thanks again for your response.
Regards-Archisman.
Sambit Basu
Archisman wrote:
> Very true. Another composition of Himangshu Datta that I like is the
> raag kaamod based 'aakasher chand' by Uma Bose.
Are you talking about '... maaTir phulete holo jobe
porichoy akaasher chNaad'? Yes, that's a great song.
One of my other favourites is Tilak Kamod based 'Nishithe
chole Himelo baay'. Originally by Sabitri Ghosh (not
sure), but I have heard Nirmala Misra's version.
If one showcases Himangshu Datta's
compositions like 'Tomaari pothopaane chahi',
'akasher chNaad', 'premer somaadhi teere',
'Nishthe chole himelo baay', 'Birohini chiro
birohini', 'tumi je giyachho bokul-bichhano
pothe' - one can see why Salil Chaowdhury termed
Himangshu Datta as the father of Bangla modern songs.
- Sambit
Prithviraj Dasgupta
I was waiting for a long time (~5 years) for HD's name to
pop-up on RMIM. Sambit, Archisman, FWIW, flip side of 78 of
"premer samaadhi tiire" is 'aami chhinu ekaa' - another HD
composition for SDB. 78 record only mentions "sursagar"
under the song's title. Hindustan chose to omit lyricist
and MD info on CS/CD (They put the info on the 45 rpm release of
this pair of songs that uses simulated stereo effect - sounds
bad).
Couple of queries related to topics in this thread:
1) What was the lifespan (which years I mean) of HD? HMV released
his commemmorative LP titled "Tribute to HD" in 1966. Was that
his year of demise?
2) Besides the LP in 1), LP titled "Down Memory Lane, vol 1"
and Super-7 (circa 1972 release) of HD songs by ShyamalM/AratiM,
has there been any release of an HD album by HMV?
3) Has the self-titled LP of Uma Bose (the LP released in 1978)
with 12(or 14?) songs by her been reissued on CS/CD?
Interestingly, I found that quite a few rare film songs of SDB
from the 1930's are available as cell-phone ringtones(!) on
indiatimes-dot-com.
-Prithviraj
Sambit Basu
Prithviraj Dasgupta wrote:
> I was waiting for a long time (~5 years) for HD's name to
> pop-up on RMIM. Sambit, Archisman, FWIW, flip side of 78 of
> "premer samaadhi tiire" is 'aami chhinu ekaa' - another HD
> composition for SDB. 78 record only mentions "sursagar"
> under the song's title. Hindustan chose to omit lyricist
> and MD info on CS/CD (They put the info on the 45 rpm release of
> this pair of songs that uses simulated stereo effect - sounds
> bad).
As I was digging, I found a lot more SDB songs
are HD compositions - starting from 'notun phagun
jobe'.
> Couple of queries related to topics in this thread:
> 1) What was the lifespan (which years I mean) of HD? HMV released
> his commemmorative LP titled "Tribute to HD" in 1966. Was that
> his year of demise?
I could not find his year of demise, but I am certain
it's much earlier than 1966 - probably around early-to-mid
40's. His debut was around 1933. His creative life
was very short - no more 10-12 years.
> 2) Besides the LP in 1), LP titled "Down Memory Lane, vol 1"
> and Super-7 (circa 1972 release) of HD songs by ShyamalM/AratiM,
> has there been any release of an HD album by HMV?
A few years back Suman Chatterjee released an album of
Himangshu Datta's songs (bad, IMO). After that HMV issued
a compilation titled 'Sursagar Himangshu Dattar Gaan'
- which had a few songs from the 1966 LP.
Sometimes I wonder, had HD lived longer how the Bangla
music's landscape would have changed! Salil Chowdhury's
pioneering work may have its root in the process that
HD started. SC himself offered glowing tributes to
HD.
Unfortunately, we, collectively are so callous about
HD that it's difficult to even find out his year of
demise, let alone an anthology of his songs - which
can still suprise a listener by their musical value.
- Sambit
Archisman
Thanks a lot for the informative posts. It's a learning for me. Please
do continue to post more about Himangshu Datta (maybe in a new thread).
Now that you tell me, I do remember that 'aami chhinu eka' was HD's
composition. (for non-bengali friends, this is the bengali original of
'tere bin soone nain hamare' of 'meri surat teri ankhen'. The tune was
later smartly adapted by Pancham as 'khali haath shaam aayi thi' in
Ijaazat). So here is another song for which I used to virtually deify
Sachin-karta as a composer (not that it is any less now).
Craving for more information on Shuroshaagor Himanghshu Datta!
Regards-Archisman.
Sambit Basu
Archisman wrote:
> Now that you tell me, I do remember that 'aami chhinu eka' was HD's
> composition. (for non-bengali friends, this is the bengali original of
> 'tere bin soone nain hamare' of 'meri surat teri ankhen'. The tune was
> later smartly adapted by Pancham as 'khali haath shaam aayi thi' in
> Ijaazat). So here is another song for which I used to virtually deify
> Sachin-karta as a composer (not that it is any less now).
I thought 'khali haat shaam' has its root closer to SDB's
own composition 'malaakhani chhilo haaate' - which might
have been influenced by 'aami chhinu eka'.
- Sambit
Ashok
>
>Dear friends,
>
>remember the author's name (Shyamal ...... ?). The author hails from
>Tripura and hence the book has a lot of details about Karta's early
>life.
>
What is this "karta" thing?
Ashok
naniwadekar
"Ashok" wrote :
>
> What is this "karta" thing?
>
Looks like a Bong device to shield their heroes from
outsiders' scrutiny.
- dn
Sambit Basu
SDB was known to Bengali population by 'Sachin-karta'.
This 'Karta' is the same as the sanskrit Karta
(== one who does; in a narrower sense the head of a
group or household). I guess this is a respectful yet
friendly salutation used mostly in East Bengal/Tripura.
Later, 'Sachin-karta' became just 'Karta' when used
in the right context.
- Sambit
Archisman
Would your response be in the same vein if someone wanted to know the
meaning of 'anna' or 'bhau'?
Please cut out these regional barbs. Grow up. Either contribute
healthily or refrain from posting. Your knowledge on Indian music is
very impressive (& surely more than mine). A look into RMIM/RMIC
history will reveal that you have made a lot of very erudite postings
in these fora. I understand that with the huge volume of discussion
that has taken place in RMIM/RMIC, a lot of topics are repititive &
old-timers may find it difficult to avoid boredom. But that should not
be any excuse for snide & rude remarks.
Regards-Archisman.
Archisman
Ashok wrote:
> What is this "karta" thing?
>
>
> Ashok
Dear Ashok,
Apologies for not responding earlier. However, Sambit has responded to
your query & I have nothing else to add.
Sambit, yes, 'khaali haath shaam aayi' sounds more like 'maalakhaani
chhilo haathey'. Thanks!
Regards-Archisman.
Srinivas Ganti
Archisman wrote:
> Prithviraj-babu, Sambit,
>
> Thanks a lot for the informative posts. It's a learning for me. Please
> do continue to post more about Himangshu Datta (maybe in a new thread).
>
> Now that you tell me, I do remember that 'aami chhinu eka' was HD's
> composition. (for non-bengali friends, this is the bengali original of
> 'tere bin soone nain hamare' of 'meri surat teri ankhen'. The tune was
> later smartly adapted by Pancham as 'khali haath shaam aayi thi' in
> Ijaazat). So here is another song for which I used to virtually deify
> Sachin-karta as a composer (not that it is any less now).
Checkout
http://www.sdburman.net/website/Burmana_ka_Pitara/Soundtracks/film_MeriSuratTeriAakhen.htm
where Dr.HQ Chowdhury has clarified that both "puucho na kaise" and
"tere bin suuni" are inspired by traditional bandishes and not
by Nazrul Geeti & HD's compositions.
Also listen to what SD has to say abt "puucho na kaise".
Prithviraj Dasgupta
>
> Checkout
>
> http://www.sdburman.net/website/Burmana_ka_Pitara/Soundtracks/film_MeriSuratTeriAakhen.htm
>
> where Dr.HQ Chowdhury has clarified that both "puucho na kaise" and
> "tere bin suuni" are inspired by traditional bandishes and not
> by Nazrul Geeti & HD's compositions.
>
Actually, the Web page you pointed to
mentions that 'tere bin suunii' was indeed
adapted from a Himangshu Datta Bengali
composition, and, NOT inspired from a
traditional bandish.
-Prithviraj
Srinivas Ganti
aah...looks like there is some version control problem ;)
Anyways I updated that piece with input from Dr.HQC.
tere bin suuni / ami chinu eka are based on a Khamaj thumri. Saigal
first recorded in his voice "kaun bujhaye rama, tapat more man kii. SD
probably recorded it in 1940 in his
own Bangla style.