It’s hard to balance life with passion projects and we are here to talk about our passion, art. Art is boundless but not timeless and we want to become the voice for those who have been and always will appreciate their art. To do so, we will bring you a series of podcasts sharing stories. Sit back and enjoy the cultural hour. Stay tuned for more updates.
Episode 1
While writing his play, “Geet Govind” for Lord Krishna, poet Jaydev arrived at a state of mental block after one point. Lord Krishna himself came to his rescue and helped him complete his poetic composition. Thereafter, wherever Jaydev would go, he would sing this composition. His songs about Krishna would transform the listeners to Vrindavan no matter where they were. This form of music came to be known as “Prabhand Sangeet”.
Episode 2
After singing the “Deepak Raag”, Tansen developed blisters all over his body. To heal from them he ventured out to Vrindavan in search of Guru Maharaj. After returning, Lord Banke Bihari was consistently in his thoughts and he began to dedicate all his songs to the Lord. Eventually, he started portraying his thoughts in his songs. This attention to thought played a pivotal role in the origination of “Khyal Sangeet”
Episode 3
This is a love story between Ustaad Bandeh Ali Khan and Chunna Bai who were united by music. On one unfortunate day, Chunna Bai passed away due to some illness. With Chunna Bai gone, even Ustaad Bandeh Ali Khan and his music were nowhere to be found. Both found each other through music and stayed together in a world of music.
Episode 4
Meer Munshi Ghananand was part of the Durbar of Mughal Badshah Muhammad Shah and had extensive knowledge about music. Due to some indifferences, Badshah banished Munshi Ghananand from Delhi, however, his lover Sujan refused to accompany him. Henceforth, he started singing and wandering about in different temples of Vrindavan and came to be known as ‘Pagla Baba’
Episode 5
Rishi Swati wanted to make an instrument that could be played when Lord Shiva performed his Tandav dance. There was no instrument in this world that could match his unlimited speed. So one day he called Vishvakarma, who was a great artist for the Gods, to build an instrument which whenever played would enthrall the audience. Vishvakarma then picked up some mud from the tulsi plant of the ashram and made a round longish musical instrument that had 'animal hide' at both ends, which he named ‘Pushkar’. He also said that as the instrument was made from the ashram's Mrida (Mitti) so it will be known as ‘Mridangam’ in the world of music.
Episode 6
Haideri Khan, otherwise known as Siri Nawab, was an excellent singer who used to sing outside a shop in Golaganj. The Nawab of Awadh invited him to his darbar for musical performance. Siri Nawab realized that for him, performing at his regular spot in front of the shop at Golaganj was more rewarding than performing at the majestic darbar.
Episode 7
Niyamat Khan wanted Indians to adopt a modern outlook on Indian classical music instead of the old school “Dhrupad Sangeet”. He wanted Indian musicians and listeners to tap into their imagination and was instrumental in forming a new style of music composition known as ‘Khayal’ gayan.
Episode 8
After being struck by a financial crisis, Ustaad Ramzan was left with no choice but to mortgage his “Todi Raagini” and stop singing it in musical gatherings. On hearing about this incident, the Maharaja of Tanjore freed “Todi Raagini” from the moneylender thus allowing Ustaad Ramzaan to start singing it again.
Episode 9
Ustaad Faiaaz Khan was an esteemed and big singer and had an even bigger heart. He used music as an instrument to spread happiness.
Episode 10
Janaki Bai Allahabad was seldom known by her real name. Her voice was as melodious as a nightingale and she was known by the name “Chappan Churi”
Episode 11
This is the story of a young boy who ran away from home at the age of ten and joined a Jatra (vernacular theatre) group. Thereafter, he went to Calcutta and became a disciple of Nulu Gopalji till he passed away. He then became a disciple of Amritlal Dutt, with a burning desire to become an instrumentalist, and learned to play many indigenous and foreign musical instruments like sitar, flute, piccolo, mandolin, banjo, etc. Subsequently, he became a disciple of Ustad Wazir Khan who helped him acquire all the nuances of the sarod. This young man who then became the court musician for the Maharaja of Maihar is none other than Ustad Allauddin Khan.
Episode 12
Pandit Vishnu Digambar Pulskar established several branches of a music school by the name of “Gadharv Vidyalay” Spreading knowledge about music had become the sole mission of his life.
Episode 13
Rasoolan Bai was a renowned Hindustani Classical musician. She was known for the romantic Purab Ang of “Thumri Sangeet” and belonged to Benaras Gharana. In the gruesome Hindu-Muslim Gujarat riots in 1969, her house was burnt down, and she was forced to return to Uttar Pradesh. She started a life in Allahabad, depending only on her small stall near the AIR building until she died an unnoticed death in 1974.