Debut Movie of Shankar-Jaikishan BARSAAT (Review)

In-depth Review of Barsaat (Debut Movie of Shankar-Jaikishan)/ संगीतकार के रूप में शंकर-जयकिशन की पहली फिल्म, राजकपूर द्वारा निर्मित 'बरसात' का रिव्यू
Title Music
Barsaat, as all RK Films, starts with Prithviraj Kapoor performing Shiv poojan & chanting the mantras.
Before appearance of titles, there is a brief shot of rain clouds with gentle beat of drum (dhol) and violins. The titles start scrolling on screen with the immortal tune & interlude of the song ‘Barsaat mein hamse mile tum…’ based on raag Bhairavi.
Is the title music just there for the sake of being there? Well! It speaks volumes. In the same tune, one gets to listen to various shades of the raga Bhairavi. Initially it transforms the audience into a mood of celebration but as the violins suddenly take a U-turn, the audience’s mood is transformed to that of pathos.
And with this introductory MAGIC (music), among others, history is written - as two names appear on the screen for the first time as Music Directors - SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN (S-J).
The title music itself raises one’s expectations from S-J. And did S-J fulfill them!? Well! No point in elaborating it! The HFM lovers across the globe still don’t miss any opportunity to listen to the score even if they have already done so thousands of times.

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Similarity of Songs in context of Shankar-Jaikishan

Jayaishwer Man Pradhan

In Indian Classical Music the great Bhathkahenda ji has divided ten parents of raga i.e. Bhiravi, Bhirav, Todi, Asavari, Khamaj, Marwa, Poriya, Kafi, Kalyanet.. All the ragas are based on the one of the above Thatथाट. So if any songs are composed in Bhiravi That it will sound like same melody.

However point to be noted that the team of Shankar-Jaikishen has composed hundreds of song in Bhairavi, that based, surprisingly they are not much similar when one listens same time. I think SJ could compose with permutation and combination of Bhiravi That थाट may infinite numbers of tunes. When I read in this site that "Tu Pyaar ka sagar hai.." is based on Darbaari(Asawari) I checked the notation by using instrument , yes it is theoretically based on Asawari. I was surprised how they created such tune based on Asavari which are very difficult to identify very much different to their darbari based song like Jhan ka Jhanaka Baje.., Radhikey tune bansi.... . So they are really genius of this century.

I think Vasanta Desai, also one of the ntemporary, who composed songs based on classical ragas. But I find his composition dull when I listen to them as a common/oridinary music lover. His two songs one from Guddi "Ham ko man ki shakti.." and one another ""Dara san dey ... by Mannadey and Asha are exactly are similar. If I listen as a student of classical music, they are really basically beautiful Bandish based on the Raga kedar.

I respect Naushad saheb as a great musician of India. I agree the version of some of the fans that his man tarapat .. is based on old bandish of Raga Malkaush. I have heard lot of Bhazan, songs ... in similar to malkaush.

SJ composed several songs based on Shiva ranjani like Baharon phool, Aáwaj de key, dil ke zharonkey....., Jane kaha gaye ... But when I listen top these songs, I find lot of changes they have made in and I don't feel that the songs are exactly similar. The rhythm of Dil key zharon key is quite typical, I think no music director has yet tried to compose with such type of rhythm. Similarly the antara part of rafi saheb has to sing in suddenly in high note then come back in low note , then comes beautiful piece of violin. I think these songs will be master pieces of Indian music history in future as Beethoven, Mozart.... composition, if media cooperates.

In Aawaj de key..... the Rhythm is Jhapa Tal 10 bits and it has combination of Saxophone (western instrument) and sitar combination. So beautifully arranged.

So I would like to conclude my views :

1. Songs are based on one of the 10 THAT (थाट)

2. If two or more songs are composed on based on same THAT (थाट) it will sound like similar.
3. It does not matter if they sound similar, but how the MD create different type of product with same That. (थाट)
4. SJ are only genious MD in India who did great job composing plenty of songs based on one THAT(थाट) which are very difficult to identify. That may be reason that though their songs are based on the classical ragas , they are great while composition of Nausad saaheb, Vasant Desai,...are some times dull for common music lover though theoretically they are of high standard.

I have heard the definition of light music from Pt. Jasraj that classical music is basically one has to perform with perfect gramme, while light songs the MD, singer has to entertain and impress common people in 3- 4 minutes given time. I think he has tried to explain that it is more difficult to create light music.

I am posting my view with elementary knowledge on classical music. Please correct me if I am wrong.

(jmpradhan51@yahoo.com)