It’s All Mixed Up!

It was raining yesterday in Gurgaon. All of us were excited, you know watching it rain outside the window and then turning your head back towards your computer gives a sudden charge to your brain which forces you to leave your seat and go outside that instant! But to my surprise, it wasn’t all breezy and cool outside. It was humid! I had frost on my glasses; my forehead and nose were layered with moisture and not even a single strand of my hair (which I untied specially) was moving!

Everything is so mixed up! Rain, humidity, heat – everything! If someone would ask how you’re feeling, nobody would be able to give a clear answer. I am mixed up and my year up till now too!

It seems I have been on some mixed emotion spree for these seven months! It all began well though, joining a new job in the beginning of the year and then leaving it in not more than two months! Wasn’t my fault, people there were quite messed up! It was good that I left the job; I finally heard the cries of my rough cut movie videos and edited the film with my almost-not-similar-to-me partner. It brought us laurels too. We were the runners up of a renowned Film Festival and a special mention for another one. Well, we didn’t get selected for the third film festival! No, no, no hopes lost! But yeah, the third one was the special one!

I had to move on. So I joined another job. Thankfully, I met some awesome cool people here so it has been going great. I had also released a TVC, but my boss usually laughs at me. She says it’s a TVC about rice, quite useless! So, I accepted the reality and am quite living with it too.

The year has been quite nice for me in terms of birthdays and all. I have been on some quite nice trips with friends. One where we had to come back from the front gate of the Neemrana Fort and the other wherein I enjoyed but was quite annoyed with a lot of other things.

Rest everything has been going good so far. The thing that I’m happy about is that I’m able to blog these days. It’s mixed up here too. When I used to blog less often, people kept on asking me write more. Now that I’m writing more, no one except for some regular ones read it. I guess karma is playing hide and seek with me!

But nevertheless, I still hope all will go well by the time I reach September. It’s my favourite month. So are February and December! I just wish for winters to come. They always seem sorted to me. Dry, cold and sunny!

P.S. Happy Eid everyone!

[Written for WordPress Daily Prompts: 365 Writing Prompts. The prompt for today was – State of Your Year - Write up a mid-year “State of My Year” post.]

Thumri: Love, rain and devotion

With the rain drops pouring and lush green leaves emerging from beneath the dust being washed away, the season of monsoon, 'saawan', resonates with the language of love, Thumri.

"Jiska piya sang beete saawan,
Us dulhan ki ren suhagan,
Jis saawan mei piya ghar nahi,
Aag lage us saawan ko,
Ab ke saawan,
Ghar aaja"

Weaved with the essence of sensual love of Radha and Krishna, Thumri borrows from the anecdotes surrounding the 'leelas' of Kanha. Based on Shringar rasa, the emotion of romantic love, Thumri also follows the path of love, art beauty and spiritual devotion.

"Deewana kiye shyam,
Kya jaado dala"

Thumri gained prominence in the 19th century Lucknow, amidst the court of Mughal ruler Wajid Shah Ali. He ascended the throne in 1847 and was enormously skilled in several performing arts. Lucknow, known to have a 'Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb', was profusely filled with many of the finest musicians, dancers and other performing artists. Wajid Ali Shah's proficiency in art and it's magnitude was huge enough to bring people from far off lands to become his disciples. He was a learned dancer and a gifted composer. Both Kathak and Thumri attained new heights of popularity and glory during his regime. His composition; babul mora naihar chooto jae has been sung by various singers and is considered a classic even today.

Krishna is celebrated as the lord of love. His stories fascinate us and tells us that he contains the essence of sensuality and passion. Having as many as 1600 lovers his indulgence in love play with other girls often made Radha criticize him.

"Saachi kaho mose batiyan,
Kahan gavaai saari ratiya"

Intimate and profound, divine engagement of the senses, Thumri focuses on love songs dealing with the songs of separation or 'viraha'. Lyrics follow in ornamented enunciation as the singer imagines the' nayika', or the Brij girl calling out for her 'nayak', Krishna.

"Kya maza baar baar milta hai,
Aji tumko humse rooth jane mei,
Roothne mei lagengi do ghadiyan,
Umr kat jayegi manane mei,
Humri atariya pe aaja re saawariya
Dekha dekhi tanik hui jaye re"

Other renowned figures who contributed in the evolution of Thumri were Sadiq Ali Khan, the tutor of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and the Kathak maestro Bindadin Maharaj. He is credited for associating Thumri with 'Abhinaya' or the art of expression. It was the art, 'kala', of 'Bhaav batana' or expressing the sentiments of the song through dance. Etymologized from the word 'thumakna', Thumri thus has a deep connection with the kala of Kathak. Thumri was also performed at par excellence by the courtesans. The 'tawaifs' contributed significantly towards universalizing Thumri.

As the art expanded its wings to other parts of the country so did the diverse influences. The different approaches gave rise to 'bol-banao thumri' which incorporated the folk forms of music 'dadra', 'kajri' and 'jhoola'. The bol-banao thumri moved to Banaras, whereas the 'bol-baant thumri' which marked the influences of Kathak, gazhals and 'tappa' remained intact to Lucknow.

Thumri as a form of music was always confronted by prejudices. Other than being associated with courtesans, it was termed as the semi classical genre, and never got the importance or prestige worth Hindustani classical music. Falling under the social structures of Hindustani Music, such has been the destiny for Thumri. However, it is the only Hindustani musical form with such a multidisciplinary identity of being associated with folk repertoires and dance.

From the courts of Nawabs of Lucknow to the huge musical concerts, Thumri with its affinity for shades of feeling, emotion and mood has transcended over time and space continuously intriguing the feelings of amorousness and sensuality.

Story telling has been an inevitable part of our lives. We have believed in the stories, living and learning through them. Thumri revolves around the stories of love and passion between a man and a woman. It is celebrated and lived through the lyrical enchantment of these stories.

"Sajanwa
Saawan beeta jae
Preet Kari aur Karahun na Jani,
Murakh Leek Lagaye,
Sawan Beeta Jaye"


Copyrights: The Creative Project