DOWN MEMORY BY LANES…
Shahnoor Wahid
When
PB Shelley said, 'Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest
thought,' he epitomized in those words a profound human experience that
is true for all ages and time. Sad songs overwhelm our state of mind.
Sad songs make us sad. And yet, sad songs in a strange way entertain us.
The long history of Bangla music amply records enviable popularity of
sad songs alongside romantic songs, patriotic songs and ballads.
While
the romantic songs of the 40s, 50s and 60s made young men and women
vulnerable to the desires of the heart, the biroho rosh in the sad songs
of that time made separation everlastingly painful. The talented
lyricists of the era wrote some time-tested songs about the torments of
the heart. Robin Majumder sings for the lonely hearts, “Ei kigo shesh daan, biroho diey gele…” and “Amaar adhar ghorer pradeep Jodi naiba joley, kontho malar bokul jodi jaigo jhorey…”. Shatinath Mukherji renders the poignant song of parting, “Je pothey niley bidai, ajo shethai biroho amai michhey potho chaoai…”. What can convey better the anguish of the young man when he sees his love for the last time on the misty winding road?
The
love-torn girl in her loneliness realizes that affairs of the heart do
not always end on sweet notes, so she sighs deep and sings, “Bhul shobi bhul, ei jiboner patai patai ja lekha shey bhul…”
Sujata Chakrabarty is the singer of this beautiful song. But the
tormented girl cannot forget the young man left behind in the distant
village and longs to see him once more. Prateema Bannerji has the song
for her, “Boro shadh jagey ekbar tomai dekhi, koto din dekhini tomai, ekbar tomai dekhi…”.
Sad songs of that time came with very rich poetic language and soul-stabbing tune to hold sway over the audience for decades together. What is noticeable is that singers of that great era could sing a sad number just as deftly as he or she could sing a romantic or even a lighter song. Take for example Manna Dey singing, “Ami shagorero bela tumi duranta dheu, barey barey shudhu aghat koria jao, ogo, barey barey shudhu aghat koria jao…” When he sings the last line, “Ogo, barey barey shudhu…”, his voice sweetly adapts to the sad mood of the words and he gives his best. But you find a different voice of Manna when he sings, “Ami sri sri bhajahari Manna…”, or “Emon bondhu aar ke ache tomar moto sister…”. Similarly, when Hemanta sings…. “Amio pother moto hariey jabo, amio nodir moto ashbona phirey aar….” Or “Shunney dana meley pakhira urey gele, nijhum chora choray tomai khuje mori…” the voice blends competently with the gloomy words and moving tune to create an ambience of melancholy all around. Then again, he sounds youthful and cheery when he sings, “Duronto ghurnir, ei legechhe paak, ei duniya ghurey bon bon, bob bon, chhondey chhondey koto rong bodlai…rong bodlai…” or “Tomar majhey pelam khujey amar porichoy, amar bhuban taito aji emon modhumoi…”. That is where the maestros differ from the rest.
Shatinath Mukherji in the early days of his career sang some sad yet beautiful numbers. Some of his emotive numbers are: “E jibone jeno ar kichhu bhalo lagena, aj tumi nei boley, o aj tumi nei boley, gaaney aar agekar shei maya jagena, aj tumi nei boley o aj tumi nei boley…”, “Moromia tumi choley geley, dorodi amaar kotha pabo, kare ami e baytha janabo…”, “Sharati jibon cheyechhi kebol karo nayaner ek phota jol…”.
Shaymal
Mitra was equally skillful in changing his vocal quality to adapt to
the mood of the song. He would sound melancholic par excellence in the
song, “Hoito shedin ager moto ashbenago phirey, tomar tori hoito shedin roibenago tirey…” or “Emono din ashtey parey jokhon tumi dekhbe ami nei…”, but then he would sound so different when he sings, “Aha oi aka baka je poth jai shudurey…” or “O shimul bon dao rangiey mon, Krishnachura dopati ar polash dilo daak…”.
Manabendra Mukherji delighted his fans with the sad numbers like, “Tumi phiraey diechho boley phirey chole jai…”, “Ghumalo raater chand meghero shoyone oi, tumio ghumao shudhu ami eka jegey roi…”.
Amal Mukherji was the younger brother of Hemanta Mukherji. Hemanta composed some beautiful songs for his brother which became quite populars in the 60s. The best was possibly, “Ei prithibitey sharati jibon ki pelam bolo hai, jetuku pabar chhilo shobitar bheshechhey akhi dharai…”. Dipak Maitra gave his immortal song, “Koto kotha holo bola, koto kotha tobu baki, tomarey tai pichhu daki…”. The antara of the song goes like this, “Chorono duti dhorey kedechhe jhora phul, tobuto choley gele holo je shobi bhul…”.
We still remember the beautiful songs of Lata Mungeshkar, full of sorrow and emptiness, “Koto je kotha chhilo, koto je chhilo gaan, koto je bedonar na bola oviman…”, “Ogo aar kichhu to noi, bidai nebar agey tai, tomari nayane paoa, tomari shurey gaoa, e gaan khani rekhe jai…”, “Prem ekbari eshey chhilo nirobey, amari e duar prantey, sheto hai mridu pai esheychhilo parinito jantey…”
Shandhay Mukherji took us to a different world with her sad numbers, “Hoito kichhui nahi pabo, tobuo tomai ami dur hotey bhalo beshey jabo….”, “Ar dekona shei modhu namey, jabaro logoney, kishoro belai jenamey dakitey keno rakho monay, jabaro logoney…”, “Ke tumi amarey dako olokhey lukaey thako, phirey phirey chai dekhi te na pai…”, “Janina phurabey kobey ei potho chaoa, chholo chholo akhi mor jol bhora meghey jeno chaoa…” and many more.
Asha Bhonsle gave us some memorable songs in Bangla. One of her all-time greats is, “Je gaan tomai ami shonatey cheyechhi baare baar, shey jenogo shathi hara birohi kuhur hahakar….”.
The writer is Special Supplements Editor,
The Daily Star
Hemanta Mukharjee
Sad songs of that time came with very rich poetic language and soul-stabbing tune to hold sway over the audience for decades together. What is noticeable is that singers of that great era could sing a sad number just as deftly as he or she could sing a romantic or even a lighter song. Take for example Manna Dey singing, “Ami shagorero bela tumi duranta dheu, barey barey shudhu aghat koria jao, ogo, barey barey shudhu aghat koria jao…” When he sings the last line, “Ogo, barey barey shudhu…”, his voice sweetly adapts to the sad mood of the words and he gives his best. But you find a different voice of Manna when he sings, “Ami sri sri bhajahari Manna…”, or “Emon bondhu aar ke ache tomar moto sister…”. Similarly, when Hemanta sings…. “Amio pother moto hariey jabo, amio nodir moto ashbona phirey aar….” Or “Shunney dana meley pakhira urey gele, nijhum chora choray tomai khuje mori…” the voice blends competently with the gloomy words and moving tune to create an ambience of melancholy all around. Then again, he sounds youthful and cheery when he sings, “Duronto ghurnir, ei legechhe paak, ei duniya ghurey bon bon, bob bon, chhondey chhondey koto rong bodlai…rong bodlai…” or “Tomar majhey pelam khujey amar porichoy, amar bhuban taito aji emon modhumoi…”. That is where the maestros differ from the rest.
Shatinath Mukherji in the early days of his career sang some sad yet beautiful numbers. Some of his emotive numbers are: “E jibone jeno ar kichhu bhalo lagena, aj tumi nei boley, o aj tumi nei boley, gaaney aar agekar shei maya jagena, aj tumi nei boley o aj tumi nei boley…”, “Moromia tumi choley geley, dorodi amaar kotha pabo, kare ami e baytha janabo…”, “Sharati jibon cheyechhi kebol karo nayaner ek phota jol…”.
Shaymol Mitra
Manabendra Mukherji delighted his fans with the sad numbers like, “Tumi phiraey diechho boley phirey chole jai…”, “Ghumalo raater chand meghero shoyone oi, tumio ghumao shudhu ami eka jegey roi…”.
Amal Mukherji was the younger brother of Hemanta Mukherji. Hemanta composed some beautiful songs for his brother which became quite populars in the 60s. The best was possibly, “Ei prithibitey sharati jibon ki pelam bolo hai, jetuku pabar chhilo shobitar bheshechhey akhi dharai…”. Dipak Maitra gave his immortal song, “Koto kotha holo bola, koto kotha tobu baki, tomarey tai pichhu daki…”. The antara of the song goes like this, “Chorono duti dhorey kedechhe jhora phul, tobuto choley gele holo je shobi bhul…”.
We still remember the beautiful songs of Lata Mungeshkar, full of sorrow and emptiness, “Koto je kotha chhilo, koto je chhilo gaan, koto je bedonar na bola oviman…”, “Ogo aar kichhu to noi, bidai nebar agey tai, tomari nayane paoa, tomari shurey gaoa, e gaan khani rekhe jai…”, “Prem ekbari eshey chhilo nirobey, amari e duar prantey, sheto hai mridu pai esheychhilo parinito jantey…”
Shandhay Mukherji took us to a different world with her sad numbers, “Hoito kichhui nahi pabo, tobuo tomai ami dur hotey bhalo beshey jabo….”, “Ar dekona shei modhu namey, jabaro logoney, kishoro belai jenamey dakitey keno rakho monay, jabaro logoney…”, “Ke tumi amarey dako olokhey lukaey thako, phirey phirey chai dekhi te na pai…”, “Janina phurabey kobey ei potho chaoa, chholo chholo akhi mor jol bhora meghey jeno chaoa…” and many more.
Asha Bhonsle gave us some memorable songs in Bangla. One of her all-time greats is, “Je gaan tomai ami shonatey cheyechhi baare baar, shey jenogo shathi hara birohi kuhur hahakar….”.
The writer is Special Supplements Editor,
The Daily Star
Published: 12:00 am Saturday, November 22, 2014
