Happy 75th Birthday Pancham
Pancham,
Today is that day of the year when most of us stop for a while and close our eyes and remember you. Your contribution to music has been stupendous. People like us got introduced to Jazz after you effortlessly mixed it with Hindi film music. Jazz pieces get created at the spur of the moment. Just the way you did with your music. Start with a germ of an idea and nurture like a child it till it becomes something significant. The use of Sax, Bass guitar, Trumpet, Brass, Horns, Cymbals, Trombone and yet keeping the melody intact.
Music mixing was something that you did so effortlessly. The way you used Rabindra Sangeet (Rangilo Rangilo) on flute as a start to Kuchh Na Kaho from 1942-A Love Story and then as the violins join in the melody suddenly we enter Waltz! Next we almost get a Jugalbandi of the Violins in the background with the vocals. The violins briefly go into symphony before returning back in to familiar Hindi film music area. It’s amazing! Such experiments are unheard of today.
Speaking of Waltz do you remember how you broke its standard rhythm pattern in Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata from Aa Gale Lag Jaa? It was more in the form of Musette than Waltz with 6/8 pattern.
Coming back to 1942 – A Love Story, there’s another top class composition - Pyar Hua chupke se. Its a pleasure to see how the song progresses – It starts with Kyu Naye Lag Rahe Hai …. The “Sam” is at Ye Kya Hua Chupke se. This is the point for the pickup. ….. Now pickup in music terms is said to be that point where the music … mostly Taal …. starts. In this case the sound that you hear is of stick that falls and bounces and falls repeatedly. The way you created this sound by a drumstick hitting the Tabla in a controlled manner to create the effect of “Tarrrr”. Boss, you are like Super Chef who can mix and use almost anything in the kitchen and come out with fantastic dish.
The use of Des Raag makes it even better. The situation that the girl has fallen in love for the first time. Her father is a freedom fighter and till that point her life is shorn of such feelings. She feels happy and contented being in love and then towards the end of the song she realizes the futility of it all. She starts with Pyar hua chupke se and the chorus (intentionally all male) joins in Turuna Turuna. The use of these matured male voices brings out that feeling of ground reality that love and other personal emotions have to take a backseat during the struggle for independence. Picturised equally beautifully by VVC.
I continue to get fascinated by your ability for mixing Raaga’s. In this song the mukhda is in Des raag. The antara – Bagh Mein Thi Ek Kali continues in Des raag , then moves away in Sharmili Unchhooi. The fun is when you touche notes of other Raagas and still are able to merge the last phrase "…. O Bhavra Aa gaya" with the tonic Saa of Des.
This was stuff you did all your life - playing around gleefully with Raagas and willfully moving in and out of them with your own stamp of sheer genius. It’s also like a small child playing around the house inventing new games and enjoying it and then eventually coming back where it started.
...... Miss you buddy. Thanks for giving us immense joy through your creations. Happy Birthday to You.
Today is that day of the year when most of us stop for a while and close our eyes and remember you. Your contribution to music has been stupendous. People like us got introduced to Jazz after you effortlessly mixed it with Hindi film music. Jazz pieces get created at the spur of the moment. Just the way you did with your music. Start with a germ of an idea and nurture like a child it till it becomes something significant. The use of Sax, Bass guitar, Trumpet, Brass, Horns, Cymbals, Trombone and yet keeping the melody intact.
Music mixing was something that you did so effortlessly. The way you used Rabindra Sangeet (Rangilo Rangilo) on flute as a start to Kuchh Na Kaho from 1942-A Love Story and then as the violins join in the melody suddenly we enter Waltz! Next we almost get a Jugalbandi of the Violins in the background with the vocals. The violins briefly go into symphony before returning back in to familiar Hindi film music area. It’s amazing! Such experiments are unheard of today.
Speaking of Waltz do you remember how you broke its standard rhythm pattern in Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata from Aa Gale Lag Jaa? It was more in the form of Musette than Waltz with 6/8 pattern.
Coming back to 1942 – A Love Story, there’s another top class composition - Pyar Hua chupke se. Its a pleasure to see how the song progresses – It starts with Kyu Naye Lag Rahe Hai …. The “Sam” is at Ye Kya Hua Chupke se. This is the point for the pickup. ….. Now pickup in music terms is said to be that point where the music … mostly Taal …. starts. In this case the sound that you hear is of stick that falls and bounces and falls repeatedly. The way you created this sound by a drumstick hitting the Tabla in a controlled manner to create the effect of “Tarrrr”. Boss, you are like Super Chef who can mix and use almost anything in the kitchen and come out with fantastic dish.
The use of Des Raag makes it even better. The situation that the girl has fallen in love for the first time. Her father is a freedom fighter and till that point her life is shorn of such feelings. She feels happy and contented being in love and then towards the end of the song she realizes the futility of it all. She starts with Pyar hua chupke se and the chorus (intentionally all male) joins in Turuna Turuna. The use of these matured male voices brings out that feeling of ground reality that love and other personal emotions have to take a backseat during the struggle for independence. Picturised equally beautifully by VVC.
I continue to get fascinated by your ability for mixing Raaga’s. In this song the mukhda is in Des raag. The antara – Bagh Mein Thi Ek Kali continues in Des raag , then moves away in Sharmili Unchhooi. The fun is when you touche notes of other Raagas and still are able to merge the last phrase "…. O Bhavra Aa gaya" with the tonic Saa of Des.
This was stuff you did all your life - playing around gleefully with Raagas and willfully moving in and out of them with your own stamp of sheer genius. It’s also like a small child playing around the house inventing new games and enjoying it and then eventually coming back where it started.
...... Miss you buddy. Thanks for giving us immense joy through your creations. Happy Birthday to You.
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