Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Tribute to Chote Nawab- AmarPrem - Chingari Koi


Chingari Koi - Sung by -  Kishore da, Kyrics - Anand Bhakshi. 

Gratitude – This posting is for my dear friend Satish Subramanian who wanted me to write about this album (AmarPrem) and in particular this song “Chingari”. I have done some justice and hope this will provide some new insights to the mastery exhibited by RDB.

RDB remains an enigma for the whole age group who are in their 40’s to mid-50’s. He has done some amazing work in his life time. Son of an illustrious and very successful music maker SD Burman , he did not get his cake from day 1. He had to work hard. He had to learn Classical Hindustani music. Learn to play instruments and also be an assistant to his dad on number of movies. 

He broke his way through Chote Nawab through his good friend (Mehmood)’s production house. Later he tasted immense success through Teesri Manzil. For Teesri Manzil he had to prove to Shammi Kapoor about his expertise and talent. 

He was recommended to Shammi by a fellow music director Jaikishen of the SJ fame. You wonder where are those folks now who could recommend a new comer to be successful fully knowing that this individual could take their work. That shows they were so secure.
This posting has one of the amazing compositions of RDB.

Most critics and music wizards quote this as his best creation.  Salil Chowdary has also mentioned this in an interview. Pandit Ajoy Chakravarthy loves this song. I wanted to start my thread on RDB from this magic song.

The thirst in a man’s voice is depicted in these lines. Every line conveys the inner meaning where he searches for peace of mind.

Lyrical wonders


What does this song convey?  For a generation of Music lovers this song was the typical example that laments the loss everyone faces. This song remains a puzzle of the deepest and most passionate romance. This song sequence with dusk setting in and the lead pair enjoying a boat ride on the Ganges under the Howdah Bridge, in an escape from the confines of the separate world they inhabit.  Shakti Samanta filmed the entire song in a studio and projected the same on the backdrop of the softly lit Calcutta Skyline as seen from the banks of its twin city, Howdah.

This is more of paradox lyrics as every statement has a counter question. Like lines below

chingaaree koee bhadake, to saawan use bujhaaye 
saawan jo agan lagaaye, use kaun bujhaaye  -
patajhad jo baag ujaade, wo baag bahaar khilaaye 
jo baag bahaar mein ujade, use kaun khilaaye?
koee dushman thhais lagaaye, to meet jiyaa bahalaaye 
manameet jo ghaav lagaaye, use kaun mitaye? 
duniyaa jo pyaasaa rakhe, to madiraa pyaas bujhaaye 
madiraa jo pyaas lagaaye, use kaun bujhaaye? 
majadhaar mein naiyyaa doobe, to majhee paar lagaaye 
maajhee jo naaw duboye use kaun bachaaye? 

Lines which explain what his current state is.

hum se mat poochho kaise, mandir tootaa sapanon kaa 
logon kee baat naheen hai, ye kissaa hain apanon kaa 
maanaa toofaan ke aage, naheen chaltaa zor kisee kaa 
maujon kaa dosh naheen hai, ye dosh hai aur kisee kaa 
naa jaane kyaa ho jaataa, jaane hum kyaa kar jaate 
peete hain to zindaa hain, naa peete to mar jaate 

Orchestration wonders!

Song starts with Guitar fretting playing an F minor chord – An interesting note here is this was played by a musician as a fault note and when folks started laughing RD wanted to play it again and this ended up using it as the main course of the song.
I tried playing this note on my keyboard and it did sound weird though. But RD came up with a GEM. Along with the Guitar strumming which is the rhythmic pulse of the whole song we hear the flute by none other than Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia. This flows as the guitar is strummed with the river Ganges.

When Kishore da hums please hear the flute mildly played, As you hear Kishore da sing “Chingari koi” and leaves it in thin air, only to be completed by Hariprasadji’s flute shows the mastery of RDB. Second time when he sings Chingari koi” the tabla also joins the rhythm section.

Additionally the rhythm section is supported by Maracas, and kabashe. Mild violins section in the background keeps playing throughout. RK with a drink in his hand and the evergreen Sharmila with a beautiful Blue sari adds to the song’s glory.


Let us see how we call RDB a genius wizard of improvisation.

In interlude 1 he has used an instrument called Tar Shehnai which takes off with bongos and tabla section and the guitar strumming. One more instrument that is used is qanun (Arabic instrument) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qanun_(instrument) . Flute and the guitar strumming take us to the Antra portion of the song.


Listen to the lines “Humse math” – Guitar strumming, Rhythm section flute, violins support so beautifully. When he says “logon ki baath” listen to Hariji’s flute WOW mesmerizing.


During the second BGM the Arabic instrument Qanun starts the proceedings followed by roaring of Cellos  with counterpoint Violins respond and Flute again comes to the rescue along with the guitar strumming and Xylophone


Second Antra- Sharmila’s reaction is just mute and mild – She is just awesome. Of course RK makes this phenomenal song. Flute is just mind blowing. Violins just play in the background.

Roaring Cellos, violins respond and Tar Shenai, Qanun form a counterpoint melody in this interlude. Just a classical bliss!!


1 comment:

  1. Veera – Thank you for dedicating this to me – Yes Amar Prem happens to be right on the top of my favorite songs. Simply Superb capture of one of the classics. I am impressed by your attention to details. You have taken as much pain to capture the Magic of this song, as RD took to create the magic! Only someone who is extremely passionate can pen such intricate details. I love the way you have broken down the instrument used for each interlude and thrown light on its origins. The tidbits about the movie, song & lyrics make it that much more fun. I felt very nostalgic and touched by this review. Continue with your excellent coverage of classics. I look forward to many more from you in the future. I have nothing but AMAR PREM for your creativity! Good Luck & break a leg!
    Satish Subramanian

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