Raja Raja Cholan

Just had to share this wonderful song.

I know I am diluting the value of 'DO NOT MISS THIS' by saying it too often. But then, YOU JUST CAN'T MISS THIS!!!

I'll post the lyrics with meanings (courtesy a friend) shortly, not knowing the lyrics should not stop you from enjoying the wonderful melody, the alliterative poetry, the rhyme and rhythm, the sensuous picturization, great singing by Yesudas and ofcourse great music by Illayaraja. Check out the free falling accelaration of the antaras as they eagerly rush to meet the mukhdas - cloud bursts of water hurtling to the earth.

This song brings back a lot of memories. It was a great favourite among the Chennai college singing bands which used to come to the IIT campus to compete during our cultural festival. I can still picture those days of January sunshine, sitting in the grass/sand and gazing up on stage at bands as they belted out one Illayaraja song after another.

While the rest of the lyrics are as amazing the opening lines go like this:

Raja Raja Cholan naan,
Enai aalum kaadal desam needaan...

(Raja Raja Cholan is me only,
The loving, beloved land that rules me, is you only)

Enjoy!

Chak De India

If you swallow some swallowable cliches and a couple of funny but ham-handed, 'that's not cricket' kind of takes at cricket, Chak De India is a great movie. Great direction, slick production, amazing casting, good acting, no unnecessary romantic angles, songs or item numbers.

At last a game that India were once undisputed champions at, gets some big-screen publicity. There's quite a good chance the movie will get a lot of people interested in playing, watching and sponsoring hockey.

The movie also scores in giving some heart-warming messages on National Integration, India's diversity and Woman power.

The movie shows the Indian women's team under Shahrukh's coach-hood win the hockey world cup (This is no spoiler, you will know as much from the trailers). This was a slightly sore point because that's a feat that the actual Indian women's team have'nt achieved yet (google search). But they have won the commonwealth hockey gold once, so I guess a bit of exaggeration is ok.

Overall the best new Hindi movie since Omkara. A definite must-see.

A 'There is a God', 'Mind over matter' kind of thing happened yesterday. I was listening to Aap Ki Farmaish on Vividh Bharati. After the presenter had, with time and effort, listed the names of all the people who had requested the first song (....Pinky, Rinky, Richa, Ravi aur unka saara parivaar...), the song finally came up. Lata Mangeshkar and Mahendra Kapoor, the presenter said (hope stirred). Badaltey Rishtey, the presenter said (could it be?). And what song should be the first song of yesterday's Aap Ki Farmaish, but,

Meri Saanson Ko Jo Meheka rahi hai,
Ye Pehale Pyaar Ki Khusbhoo,
Teri Saanson Se Shaayad Aa Rahi Hai...

And "Howzzat?" said God.

Pehale Pyaar Ki Khushboo

Meri Saanson Ko Jo Mehaka Rahi Hai,
Ye Pehale Pyaar Ki Khusbhoo,
Teri Saanson Se Shaayad Aa Rahi Hai...

I have been hunting for this song at least five years now - Music stores and countless, varied and regular google searches. Finally a good samaritan has put it on the internet here . Do download and check it out. Besides the great lyrics and music, Lata Mangeshkar's voice is like a coffee shot (or maybe something stronger) coursing a thrill from head to foot. DO NOT MISS THIS.

(note esnips.com might ask you (if you are a first time user) for a quick registration and you might have to upload something. Upload anything - lyrics of some songs, anything)

The song is in Raag Puriya Dhaneshri, which I learnt from my music teacher is a 'senior' raag. So probably I am years away from learning it :-) But I am willing to wait. Just like I waited for the song.



In my lucky day for music searches, I found two more songs I have been looking for: Sehgal's 'Main kya janu kya jadu hai' and Rafi's 'Tumhari Zulf Ke saye mein shyaam kar loonga'. These songs are also to be found on esnips. A quick search on the site should throw them up.