Shows
Gayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaShiv Bhajan 'Gal Bhujang Bhasm Ang' (my rendition of the Shiv Prayer sung by Pt Chhannulal Mishra)I have attempted a favourite Shiv Bhajan, a beautiful version of which has been liltingly sung by Pandit Chhannulal Mishra of Banaras, based on Raag Des. The lyrics in colloquial Hindi (closest to Bhojpuri) are folk-inspired and describe Shiv endearingly as the paradoxical ascetic-house holder, oblivious of social conventions, with a snake wrapped around his neck, ash-smeared semi-naked body, the bestower of blessings to all but himself, possessor of nothing. He is accompanied by his faithful spouse, Parvati, who fondly chides him for his eccentric ways.
2024-03-0805 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaSufi Bandish 'Phool Rahi Sarson' (my rendition of Bahadur Shah Zafar's composition)Composed by the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar in the 19th century, using his pen name 'Aashiq Rang', this beautiful Bandish pays homage to Sufi Pir Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and at the same time, nostalgically describes the unique beauty of spring in Zafar's beloved homeland of India, a magical time when golden mustard and 'tesu' flowers bloom in lush forests, the mango trees blossom preparing to fruit, the koel sings, and young, fair maidens beautify themselves. A 'maalin' (woman gardener) brings an earthen pot and plants an array of flowers in it to take as an offering to the...
2024-02-1306 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Suni Nahi Zamaane Ne Teri Meri Kahaaniyan' (my rendition of the popular Coke Studio song)I have attempted a haunting love song with tender and sad lyrics. Two people who were deeply in love with an ethereal sort of love are separated by circumstances. But their love stays alive within their hearts and though they will probably never be together in the 'real world', they continue to commune through their thoughts and dreams and remain connected at a subliminal level. Originally sung by Pakistani singer Shuja Haider in 2014, the song was reworked as a longer, more complex duet directed by Haider and sung by Momina Mustehsan and Asim Azhar in Coke Studio Season 9 in 2016. The...
2024-01-2508 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Hodie Christus Natus Est' (my rendition of the traditional Christmas Chant)I have attempted a traditional Christian chant that goes back to the early centuries of the Christian era. It is in Latin and rejoices in the birth of Christ. It was incorporated into the formal Catholic liturgy by Poper Gregory but its early renditions predate his time. The chant says that Christ is born today and therefore the angels and archangels rejoice on earth today. All the just and righteous too rejoice saying, 'Glory to God in the Highest'.
2023-12-2503 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Hare Hare Baans Kataa More Anganaa' (my rendition of the wedding song composed by Amir Khusrau)I have attempted a beautiful, traditional wedding song which is rooted in the villages of the North Indian Gangetic Plain. Ascribed to 14th century music maestro, poet and Sufi Khwaja Amir Khusrau, the charming, lilting folk melody and lyrics go back centuries and such songs have been sung in the villages of this region for centuries. Amir Khusrau would have been inspired by current rural wedding songs and rituals when he composed this. The poignant song expresses the sentiments of a young bride-to-be addressing her beloved and large-hearted father. She asks him to find the sturdiest greenest bamboos to construct...
2023-12-0209 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Aaj Ajodhya Mein Mangal Mai' (my rendition of a traditional Bhojpuri wedding song)I have attempted a favourite, traditional wedding song, probably sung for centuries by women of the Gangetic plains, especially in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The lyrics describe how that day is an auspicious one for Ayodhya and the joyous preparations that are taking place in that ancient city as Prince Ram is about to become a groom. The inhabitants plaster their courtyards and kitchens with cleansing cowdung. The priceless 'gaj-moti' or elephant-pearl is in evidence, a sign of the royal prince's splendour and power. A golden 'kalash' or pot is ritually installed in the marriage courtyard and a clay...
2023-11-1305 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaDevi Bhajan 'Tum Par Heera Sohe' (my rendition of the traditional Hindi bhajan)On the sacred occasion of the commencement of Ashvin Navaratri, I am singing a simple traditional devotional song or bhajan venerating the Goddess, in the colloquial Hindi of the Gangetic plains. The words praise Devi in a spirit of loving admiration. The Devi is adorned with a diamond which enhances Her beautiful face. The holy Tulsi plant grows in the courtyard of Her temple and Her spirit is reflected in its lush greenery. A lamp is lit in the temple and Her form shines radiantly in its warm glow.
2023-10-1502 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Nit Khair Mangaan Soneya Main Teri' (my rendition of the Punjabi folk-inspired love song)I have attempted a favourite Punjabi folk song with Sufi tones. A simple rustic woman expresses her deep selfless love for her handsome lover or 'soneya'. She says that she prays daily to God for his wellbeing and wants nothing else. Her lover has given her so much joy that she is filled with gratitude and wants nothing but to live and die at his feet. She wants him to fully enjoy the prime of his life as Time waits for no one in this world. She prays that if his death is destined before hers, God should take her...
2023-09-2312 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Ghar mein padhaaro Gajaanan ji' (my rendition of the traditional Ganesh Bhajan)On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, I am singing this simple, joyous, popular Hindi bhajan which is infused with loving devotion. The elephant-headed God of auspicious beginnings is fondly invited to enter our homes and bring along other beloved gods with Him, including the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh as also Sita, Ram and Lakshman. Lord Ganesh is asked to bless the home, remove all obstacles and shower his blessings on all its inhabitants.
2023-09-1903 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Play Me' (my rendition of the song by Neil Diamond)I have attempted a favourite love song written and sung by Neil Diamond in 1972. Its intense lyrics can be varyingly interpreted: is he singing of an exceptional love between a man and a woman, or the soulful bond between himself and his guitar (music) or then the spiritual yearning and love between the soul and Divinity? I could not provide the beautiful guitarwork that enrichens his song, so choose to sing without any instrument, which undoubtedly takes away from the beauty and rhythm of the song, but nevertheless, I have made an attempt as I love its lyrics.
2023-08-2604 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaShri Hanuman Lahari (my rendition of the composition by Goswami Tulsidas)I have attempted a favourite Bhajan praising Lord Hanuman, the Shri Hanuman Lahari, composed in the 16th century by the mystic poet Goswami Tulsidas. This version was popularized by the singers Rajan and Sajan Mishra. This Stuti is replete with sentiments of Bhakti or loving devotion and extolls Hanuman who is the personification Himself of selfless devotion to Sita-Ram, endowed with strength, courage and compassion.
2023-07-2809 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Saawan Ki Aayi Bahaar Re' (my rendition of the song from the film 'Junoon' 1979)I have attempted a favourite song from the Hindi film Junoon (1979), which evokes some.charming scenes traditionally associated with a North Indian monsoon, especially in rural communities. Set to a lilting folksy melody, the lyrics in the colloquial Hindi of Uttar Pradesh describe the feelings that the dark clouds and cool breezes of the monsoon evoke in a young woman, after the searing heat of the Indian summer. The monsoon weather makes her romantic and playful. The singer describes how the buds of the jasmine and bela flowers begin to open in this season and release their heady fragrance. Tree...
2023-07-1303 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Nirvana Shatakam' (my rendition of the Sanskrit prayer to Shiv composed by Adi Shankaracharya)I have attempted a chant of six sacred Sanskrit verses termed the Nirvana Shatakam or the Atma Shatakam, composed by ancient Indian saint and Guru Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD. The verses describe the profound nature of the Supreme Blissful Consciousness or 'Shiv' that is, in fact, identical with the individual Soul or 'Jiva'. A beautiful poetic exposition of the Vedantic philosophy of Advait (Non Dualism), the verses describe Shiv as that unchanging Consciousness that is complete in itself, beyond the body, mind, emotions, attachments, desires, social relationships, Nature, religion, sin, virtue, death and even salvation. And all...
2023-02-1810 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Agar Tum Saath Ho' (my rendition of the song from Hindi film 'Tamaasha')I have attempted a favourite song from the Hindi film Tamaasha' (2015) which has beautiful and unusual lyrics by Irshad Kamil. The song in the film is a duet in which a woman expresses her wish to always be together with her lover because his presence completes her and causes any sorrows that come her way to slip away. She is immersed in her longing to be with him through the daily hustle-bustle of each passing day and wishes that she could find a way to make hin stay with her a few more moments each time she sees him Her...
2023-01-1906 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Paar Channa De Dise Kulli Yaar Di' (my attempt at a Punjabi folk song)I have attempted this haunting Punjabi folk song which draws on the old legend of Soni and her lover Mahiwal. In simple Punjabi with a lilting melody, it recounts how Soni , who used to secretly visit her lover at night by swimming across the river Chenab, using a large earthen pot to carry her across, is faced with a fateful choice one stormy night. Her sister-in-law, learning of the affair, conspires to replace the baked clay pot with a raw one. That stormy night, Soni has an irresistible urge to visit her lover and pleads with the pot to take...
2022-12-1807 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaGhazal 'Niyat-e-Shauq Bhar Na Jaaye Kahin' (my rendition of the ghazal by Late Nasir Kazmi)I have attempted a geet-numa-ghazal (a ghazal sung in light, song form) written by Late Nasir Kazmi (1925-1972). In this romantic poem written in simple Urdu, an ardent lover voices both his longing for his beloved as well as the apprehensions this love arouses in his mind. His fears indicate both the depth of romantic love as well as its fragility. He engages in gentle irony by wondering if he may at some date, weary of even she who has so besotted him. The rest of the couplets however contradict this fear by describing how, when he meets her after...
2022-11-2606 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaThumri 'Kaahe Ko Jhoothi Banaao Batiyan' (my rendition of the thumri by Late Ustad Faiyaz Khan)I have attempted a favourite thumri composed in Raag Bhairavi by Hindustani music maestro Late Ustad Faiyaz Khan of the Agra Gharana in the 1920s-30s. The words, in the colloquial Hindi of Western Uttar Pradesh, express the hurt and anger of a woman whose beloved has been neglecting her. She chides him and asks why he is making false excuses for not visiting her when the real reason is that he has been callous and betrayed their love. She tells him that he should not come to her but rather should go back to his home and spouse where...
2022-11-2005 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Nahi Saamne Ye Alag Baat Hai' (my rendition of the song from film 'Taal')I have attempted a favourite song from Hindi film 'Taal' (1999) , written by Anand Bakshi with haunting music by A.R. Rahman. Sung in the film by Hariharan accompanied by Sukhvinder Singh, i have modified it for my simple amateur solo rendition accompanied by the electronic Tanpura. A favourite of mine, the song 's melody bears the stamp of Rahman, with its harmonious fusion of Indian semi-classical and Western musical styles. An intense love song, it has an undercurrent of spiritual soul-longing for the beloved.
2022-10-2305 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaVindhyeshwari Stotram (my rendition of the ancient Sanskrit hymn to Devi)On the auspicious occasion of the ninth day (Navami) of Ashwin Navaratri 2022 I have attempted this energizing ancient Sanskrit hymn to the Devi in her form as Vindhyeshwari or Vindhyavaasini: she who resides in the mountains of Vindhyachal. Vindhyeshwari is a very old form of the Goddess refered to in the Mahabharat and various Puranas. She is also called Vanadevi or the Goddess of the forests. According to one narrative, the primal human Manu prayed to Vindhyeshwari and was granted the boon of having progeny. The Puranas also recount that Devi forecast that she would reside in Vindhyachal and when...
2022-10-0405 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaSabad Kirtan 'Tu Prabh Daata' (my attempt at the devotional song from Hindi film 'Halla Bol')I have attempted a beautiful Sabad Kirtan, comprising of couplets composed by Shri Guru Nanak ji in the 15th century. This traditional Bhajan/Kirtan was featured in Hindi film 'Halla Bol' (2008), sung by Sukhvinder Singh. The couplets, set to the traditional lilting melody of popular North Indian devotional kirtans, are composed in an amalgam of mediaeval, colloquial dialects and nascent veranaculars of North and West India such as Awadhi, Brajbhasha, early Punjabi, Sindhi, Rajasthani, other 'Apabhramsha' (popular spoken simplified forms of Sanskrit) and Arabic. They were thus composed in the language of the common people of that time, as was...
2022-09-2011 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaCeltic Ballad 'O Danny Boy' (my rendition of the famous song set to an Irish folk melody)I have attempted this famous song which belongs to the Celtic folk ballad genre, lyrics of which were ironically composed by English lawyer-songwriter Frederic Weatherly, in 1910. They were set to the tune of a haunting old Irish melody called 'Londonderry Air' in 1913, which is supposed to have been discovered in the mid-19th century by a collector of old Irish music, Jane Ross, but the roots of which probably go back to 17th century Irish harp music. 'O Danny Boy', with its poignant lyrics and melody, became popular during World War I and over decades, it became an identity-song for...
2022-08-1903 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Saare Jahaan se Achcha Hindostan Hamaara' (my rendition of Iqbal's ghazal venerating India)I have attempted this well -loved patriotic Ghazal composed in 1904 in honour of India by poet Mohammad Iqbal, who was at the time, a believer in a united India, historically a land of many communities. In this 'Taraana-i-Hindi' (Song in honour of Hind), composed as an expression of opposition to British Rule and an expression of pride in India's unique identity and culture, the poet proudly notes Hindostan's unbroken and bravely resilient ancient civilization (as against how other mighty ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome and Greece crumbled). The waters of River Ganga, flowing through the Northern plains where so many...
2022-08-1406 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaEternal Mantras Medley (my rendition of some favourite Sanskrit Mantras invoking the Divine)I have sung a medley of some of my favourite sacred Sanskrit Mantras invoking the Divine. Starting with the popular prayer to Lord Ganesh, remover of obstacles, who allows all tasks to be accomplished, the medley includes selected mantras for blessings, universal well-being and protection addressed to the Mother Goddess, the powerful Gayatri Mantra praying for the Divine Light to illuminate our minds and souls, the Karpoorgauram Mantra invoking Lord Shiv which especially releases the devotee from the fear of Death, and the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra also invoking Lord Shiv as He who bestows health and well-being, grants victory over Death...
2022-08-0612 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Aaoge Jab Tum Saajna' (my rendition of the song from Hindi film 'Jab We Met')I have attempted this lovely song from the film 'Jab We Met'(2007). Sung by Ustad Rashid Ali with music by Irshad Kamil and heart-tugging lyrics by Samir, it is based on Raag Tilak Kamod with variations. A woman awaiting her beloved sings of how the courtyard of her home and her body, too, will bloom when her long-awaited lover finally arrives. The monsoons will shower rain on the couple as they meet . He lost his heart to her kohl-lined eyes. She waits with quickening breath, staring at the moon hopelessly each night, stars shimmering on her eyelids, calling out to...
2022-07-2404 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaChaiti (my rendition of a North Indian Folk Song) 'Sejiya se Saiyan Rooth Gayi le'I have attempted this traditional North Indian folk song, a 'Chaiti' (Chait: Indian lunar month of early summer) which was beautifully rendered in light semi-classical style by maestro Pandit Chhannulal Mishra ji of the Banaras Gharaana. It draws on the traditional slow lilting melody and Bhojpuri lyrics of the rural Chaiti which has been sung for centuries in the villages of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Traditional Indian folk music is attuned to the natural cycle of seasons. The Chaiti is typically sung in the Indian lunar month of Chait corresponding to early summer, when new leaves, flowers and fruit blossoms...
2022-04-2404 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma(Sanskrit Hymn to Devi) Tantroktam DevisuktamThis ancient Sanskrit hymn to the Goddess is found in the sacred text 'Durga Saptashati' and has been sung for centuries in India by devotees. It is sometimes described as a concise version of the long and powerful Sanskrit epic narrative in praise of the Devi (Chandi Paath) that comprises the Durga Saptashati. This hymn was sung by the Devas to invoke Devi as only she could protect them from the terrors unleashed by mighty demons. Pleased by the hymn, Devi manifested as fully armed Durga, and on the spiritually charged day of Ashtami during the sacred nine nights of...
2022-04-0910 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Ambua Na Kaatyo' (my rendition of an Awadhi Folk Song)I have attempted a folk song from the Awadh area of Uttar Pradesh, India which has very sweet lyrics in the rural colloquial Hindi dialect (Awadhi). It reflects the deep respect for Nature that has been a feature of traditional Indian rural culture. Indian culture views Nature as 'Prakriti', a form of the Mother Goddess (Devi) and all living beings are seen as interconnected and nurtured by Prakriti. Trees in particular are associated with various deities. In this song, the singer asks that we not cut various trees that give so many gifts to all living beings, be it the...
2022-04-0208 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaGhazal 'Mujhse Pahli Si Mohabbat' (my rendition of the Ghazal by Faiz Ahmad Faiz)My attempt is inspired by the famous semi-classical version of this poignant ghazal sung by Ghazal Queen Noor Jahan. Aptly sung for the first time by her in front of Faiz after his release from a term of political imprisonment in Pakistan, the ghazal is bitter-sweet in its message to the poet"s beloved. He tells her that while he is still drawn to her and loves her, there are many tragedies and injustices in society, the crusade against which must take priority in his life. Therefore, she should not ask him for the kind of singular love he used...
2022-03-2007 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaHori Bandish 'Kaanha Bhar-Bhar Maare Pichkaari ' (Holi festival song, semi-classical composition)I have attempted a lively, traditional song celebrating the colourful festival of Holi. This Hori Bandish (North Indian semi-classical short composition or 'Chhoti Bandish'sung on Holi) is based on Raag Bihag, in playful romantic mood ('Shringar Ras'). In the colloquial rural Hindi dialect of Uttar Pradesh (Khadi-Boli), it describes the youthful Lord Krishna's mischievous antics during Holi in Brindavan. He teasingly sprays coloured water on the blouses and sarees of his lover Radha amd her companions, and blocks their path when they try to evade him! When passers-by chide him, he stubbornly stands his ground and uninhibitedly hurls playful abuses...
2022-03-1703 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaShiv Tandav Stotram (ancient Sanskrit Hymn in praise of Lord Shiv, composed by Raavan)My attempt at the powerful ancient Sanskrit hymn in praise of Lord Shiv, composed by Raavan, ruler of Lanka. Raavan was a scholar, expert in many disciplines and a devout devotee of Lord Shiv. In this hymn, sung through the centuries, Lord Shiv is vividly described dancing his creative/transformative Tandav dance, the vibrations from which fill his devotees' hearts with joy. His dancing figure is visualized through beautiful metaphors and other forms of description in chaste Sanskrit: Shiva dances with blissful abandon to the mesmerizing beat of his 'damru', reddish locks of hair swirling, crescent moon adorning forehead, the...
2022-03-0106 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaPunjabi Wedding Song (Bridal Chooda: sacred bangle wearing ceremony)My rendition of a charming, traditional Punjabi bridal song or 'चू‌ड़ा' (Chooda: bangle). The Chooda ceremony is a ritual of great cultural significance in Punjabi weddings. On the morning of the wedding day, red and white bangles are placed on the wrists of the bride with a havan/puja. These bangles symbolize blessings of the Divine on the bride-to-be, for strengthening the conjugal bond, fertility of the union and familial happiness. This song describes the feelings of the bedecked young woman as she eagerly awaits the approach of her beloved, expected in the evening. She revels in the beauty of her embro...
2022-02-2405 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaWedding song (traditional North Indian) 'Tere Teekey ka Rasiya'I have attempted a traditional North Indian wedding song in colloquial Hindi. This charming, lively song is addressed to the bride-to-be by her maid -companion. She teasingly urges the beloved, pampered daughter of the house ('laado') to go and comb her hair, as her groom has already entered the gardens of their residence. She also laughingly warns the bride that she will charge her in gold coins for plaiting her braid and tailoring her wedding blouse as this is a special day.
2022-02-2002 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye Je' (my rendition of one of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite Bhajans)On the occasion of India's Republic Day 2022, I have attempted one of the favourite Bhajans of Mahatma Gandhi, Bapuji, Father of the Nation. Written in the 15th century in mediaeval Gujarati vernacular by the Vaishnav saint Narsinh Mehta of Junagadh, this bhajan has endured because of its wonderful simple expression of what lies at the core of Hindu spiritual philosophy: the saint explains who is a true devotee of Vishnu? S/he is one who understands the suffering of those unknown to oneself, who works to alleviate their hardships without becoming arrogant, who tries to be pure of thought, action...
2022-01-2606 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Piya Aiso Jiya Mein Samaaye Gayo Re' (my attempt at the song from film Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam)My amateur attempt at this delicately romantic song from the classic Hindi film 'Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam' (1962). It's music composed by Hemant Kumar, is inspired by Raag Brindavani Sarang, which suits the mood of lively, innocently playful, feminine anticipation for the beloved, that the charming colloquial Hindi lyrics of this song, steeped in Shringaar Ras, express.
2022-01-2503 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Silent Night, Holy Night' (my attempt at the classic Christmas Carol)Have attempted this beautiful, seene Christmas carol, originally written in German in the early 19th century by a humble Catholic priest, Joseph Mohr in a small Austrian town, and set famously to music by Franz Xaver Gruber. This carol evokes the still calmness and simple purity of the momentous night of Jesus' Nativity. First performed in a tiny village in Austria in front of a handful of people and picked up from there by some folk singers, it spread across the globe and has moved the hearts and spirits of millions of people. Yet another proof, if any is needed...
2021-12-2502 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma"Yeh Kya Jagah Hai Doston' (my attempt at the Ghazal from Indian film Umrao Jaan)I have attempted a favourite Geet-numa-Ghazal (Ghazal rendered in song format) from the classic Indian film 'Umrao Jaan' (1981). The ghazal is preceded by some introductory comments by me to set the context of the lyrics. The ghazal, in simple Hindi-Urdu, expresses the intense mixed feelings of both joy and sorrow as 19th century courtesan Umrao Jaan, uprooted from her base in Lucknow, glimpses her long-separated mother in a chance encounter while giving musical performances on the move. It's a moment when, as a woman slowly approaching middle age, she turns and looks back at her strange life and circumstances, which...
2021-12-1908 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaKrishna Medley (my rendition of a mix of some of my favourite Krishna bhajans)I have attempted a medley of some favourite Vaishnav bhajans or devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna, also invoking hin at points as another prominent Vishnu Avatar, Lord Ram. Sung to a brisk traditional Indian devotional beat, these age old bhajans/chants in Sanskritic and colloquial Hindi invoke the Divine Spirit in joyous mood. To be 'in God' in His Krishna form, is to suspend ego and reason, and surrender to the living, loving Divine Spirit that glows within each of us, letting it take us up and carry us along where it will.
2021-12-1205 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'My Heart Will Go On And On' (my amateur attempt at the classic song from English film 'Titanic')I have attempted the beautiful love ballad from the famous English film 'Titanic'. Sung unforgettably by Celine Dion with haunting music by James Horner amd lyrics by Will Jennings, the song's inspiration clearly goes back to medieval traditional European folk and operatic ballads as reinterpreted in 1970s rock music. The vocals mix and merge with the enveloping music that uses the tin whistle along with the guitar and electronic instruments, amd starting softly amd wistfully, rises to a dramatic, powerful crescendo. The tin whistle ( or similar simple woodwind instruments) have an old history in Celtic, English and Native American folk...
2021-09-0904 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Ae Mere Pyaare Watan' (my rendition of song from Hind film 'Kabuliwala')On India's 75th Independence Day, this is my attempt at the poignantly beautiful, patriotic song from classic Hindi film 'Kabuliwala' (1961) originally sung in the magical voice of Manna Dey, with folksy Pathan music by iconic music director Salil Chowdhury and touching lyrics by Prem Dhawan. The Kabuliwala in the film sings of his Afghan homeland, but ofcourse it resonates with our love for our own homeland, India, Bharat, Hindustan.
2021-08-1504 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Mere Mahiya Sanam Jaanam' (my rendition of folk-inspired song from Hindi film 'Dhoom 3')This feisty, passionate, folk-inspired love song in Punjabi-Urdu from film 'Dhoom 3', successfully merges traditional Indian melody and lyrics with a Western fusion rendition. Originally sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, the lyrics are inspired by traditional Heer-Ranjha poetry of Punjab, and have a deeper mystic meaning: they evoke a love that is both physically and spiritually deep, that causes the singer to completely surrender her self in an unworldly manner like a 'jogin'. She knows that her emotional state and behaviour is such that she would be called 'Kamli' (Crazy), a name she proudly addresses herself by in the song.
2021-08-1403 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaRudrashtakam (Prayer to Lord Shiv from the Ramcharitmanas)This is my devotional attempt at the centuries-old hymn 'Rudrashtakam Stotram' composed by 16th century Bhakti saint, poet and scholar Shri Tulsidas, as part of his sacred epic Ramcharitmanas. In eight stanzas (ashtakam) the prayer invokes Lord Shiv, praising His beautiful form, qualities and deeds in lyrical Sanskrit.
2021-08-0706 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Dil ki Girah khol do Chup na Baitho' (my rendition of song from Hindi film 'Raat aur Din')My raw rendition of this haunting song.from film 'Raat aur Din' (1967). Love the intriguing, free-thinking lyrics by Shailendra and the delicate lilting melody by Shankar-Jaikishan. Memorably enacted by iconic actress Nargis in her unconventional role as a married woman with a dual personality disorder. She urges her partner and rhe audience at a dance club to untie the knots in their hearts, to come to her and dance, as no one is an outsider there. Strangers may magically connect in such a delightful gathering, smile into each other's eyes, and create their own magical city of dreams. They can...
2021-08-0603 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Neela Aasmaan So Gaya' (my rendition of the song from Hindi film 'Silsila')I have attempted this tender song from the popular Hindi film 'Silsila' (1981). I have actually combined the 2 songs sung by the male and the female subjects, The first two stanzas (sung by the male lead in the film) are in romantic, happy mood, describing a magical night when the two lovers (Rekha and Amitabh) are together, while the latter two stanzas (sung in the film by the female lead) describe the sadness of the night when the lovers are separated by a cruel fate: a night which seems withered, with the moon drowning in tears.
2021-07-1907 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaSufi Bhajan 'Damaadam Mast Qalandar'I have attempted thIs Sufi Bhajan, the current, popular, catchy version of which was composed by Pakistani film music director Master Ashiq Hussain in the 1960s. However, the lyrics in Saraiki (Sindhi/Multani), the refrain Damaadam Mast Qalandar and also the folksy roots of this 'Dhamaal' go back centuries. This bhajan/ dhamaal is an interesting example of the eclectic, syncretic, popular culture of medieval North-western and Western India, combining in its lyrics, devotion (bhakti) for the Sindhi Hindu deity Jhoole-Laalan (associated with the Rigvedic god of water, Varun), the Sufi saint Usman Shah Marwandi who was worshipped as a saint...
2021-07-0207 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaEnglish Song 'Fields of Gold' (inspired by the original by Sting)This is my attempt at a gentle country ballad written and sung by the famous English pop singer Sting in 1993. It was inspired by the beautiful sensuous movement of the wind as it moved over rippling golden barley fields around the country home of the writer/singer. Its lyrics and melody are in the Old English folksy style, telling of a love that was enacted in barley fields in the bright summer, a love now long gone but never forgotten and perhaps still awaited yet again. The West Wind in classic English literature is associated with soft breezes, the harbinger...
2021-06-2703 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaFilm Song 'Lukka Chhupi Bahut Hui' (inspired by the original from Hindi Film 'Rang de Basanti')This is my raw attempt at a hauntingly beautiful song from the famous Hindi film 'Rang de Basanti' (2006). The poignant lyrics expressing a mother's love for a lost son, who has sacrificed his young life in the pursuit of noble goals of social and political revolution, are by Prasoon Joshi and the unusual, intricate musical composition is a fine example of A.R. Rahman's eclectically harmonious style. The song in the film is a duet, a dialogue between mother (singer Lata Mangeshkar) amd son (singer A.R. Rahman). My amateur solo rendition is a simplified version accompanied by an electronic...
2021-06-1806 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaKajri 'Barse Kaali Re Badariya Mor Chunariya Bheejee Jaaye' (traditional Purabi monsoon folk song)For people who enjoy India's robust folk music traditions, here is my amateur attempt at a Saawan ki Kajri. The Kajri is an ancient folk song sung in the villages of Eastern UP and Bihar, especially in the monsoons. It describes the beauty of the Indian monsoon and the wish to enjoy this beauty with the beloved, be it Krishna swinging in the 'saawan jhoola' with Radha, or rural women who sing the Kajri to express their sadness at being separated from their men, migrant labourers forced to live long periods away from their homes, to make a living in...
2021-06-1103 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaMeera Bhajan 'Paayo Ji Mhe To Ram Ratan Dhan Paayo'My rendition of a joyful devotional song in the Vaishnav tradition, by 16th century Hindu mystic poet Meera Bai, a central figure in the medieval Indian Bhakti movement. Meera's songs, composed in Brajbhasha, the sweet colloquial Hindi dialect of Lord Krishna's homeland, with a mixture of words from nascent Rajasthani, Gujarati, Punjabi, have been sung for centuries in North and West India, and are steeped in soulful Krishna-love. Meera's life story in tumultous times,and her flouting of social conventions in her spiritual journey, continue to capture the popular imagination as much as her beautiful devotional poetry.
2021-06-0904 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaGeet numa Ghazal 'Koi Saagar Dil ko Bahlaata Nahin' (Film 'Dil Diya Dard Liya')This is my attempt at a beautiful ghazal written by noted poet Shakeel Badayuni, originally sung by Mohammad Rafi. This geet-numa-ghazal (ghazal rendered in a simple song style) has a haunting melody with a light semi-classical base, composed by talented music director Naushad.
2021-06-0604 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaBhajan 'Darshan Debo Shankar Mahadev' (traditional prayer to Lord Shiv)This bhajan is composed in the form of a bandish based on Raag Yaman. It beseeches Shankar, the Great God, to appear before His devotee who is facing terrible hardships, and has taken refuge at Mahadev's sacred feet. It asks Lord Shiv to grant the devotee peace, courage and protection in the face of troubles.
2021-05-2503 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaShaadi Geet 'Sejon pe Bhooli Chandan Haar' (traditional North Indian wedding song)This beautiful wedding song in Hindi has been sung traditionally amongst both Hindus and Muslims of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and belongs to the Banna-Banni genre of weding songs of Uttar Pradesh. I learnt this song from older women relatives in Patna, Bihar. They in turn had heard this song sung decades ago by an unknown Muslim woman singer from the Old City of Patna, who had been invited to sing during a wedding in the family. This unusual song has a slow, langurous sweetness as it fondly describes the heavy ornaments of the 'Banni' or newly wed bride who...
2021-05-2102 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaShaadi Geet 'Nakhredaar Banno Aayi Piya' (traditional wedding song of Uttar Pradesh)I have attempted a lively, traditional wedding song from my home state of Uttar Pradesh. In colloquial Hindi, it is of the genre of 'Banna-Banni' wedding songs, which are typical of Uttar Pradesh, though also sung in Bihar, and have been sung for centuries into the present. 'Banna-Banni' are words used to lovingly address and describe a to-be groom and bride or a just-married groom/bride respectively. In this song, a young husband is teasingly told that a demanding new bride with airs and graces has arrived. But she is also beautiful, her eyes like a forest deer, her face...
2021-05-1702 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaFilm Song 'Gali mein aaj Chand nikla' (Film Zakhm 1998)This poignant song is from the multiple award-winning film Zakhm. The bittersweet lyrics by Anand Bakshi are perfectly complemented by the pretty, old-style melody and music by Music Director M M Kreem. This thought-provoking film brought out the suoerficiality of religious identities and the meaninglessness of communal hatred in the face of a deep, abiding, romantic love that defied social conventions and morality, and created its own Truth. For a lover, the wait for the beloved stretches endlessly, and when the beloved finally comes, it is as though the rare and precious moon of Id is sighted after a year-long...
2021-05-0906 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaGhazal 'Chaahat mein kya Duniyadaari' (Poet Mohsin Bhopali)My amateur attempt at a classic ghazal by Late Mohsin Bhopali, whose birthplace I share. Based on Raag Darbaari, this ghazal has been rendered by well-known singers, notably, Munni Begum and Gulbahaar Bano. The ghazal has the elements of truly good shaayari, in its beautiful combination of simple language evoking depth of feeling, with appropriate imagery. The shaayar says that in true love, there is no worldliness and no conditionality. He also doesn't blame the beloved who chose to adhere to the pressures of society and/or proved fickle like a vagrant cloud, incapable of sustainedly providing shade. Love is...
2021-05-0209 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaGeet-numa Ghazal 'Zindagi ki raahon mein ranjo-gam ke mele' (inspired by rendition of Munni Begum)This is my attempt at a ghazal rendered simply in a lilting song format, without semi-classical embellishments. A well known version has been sung by Pakistani singer Munni Begum. The lyrics tell how the path of life is marked with carnivals of unhappiness. One is surrounded by crowds of calamities and yet, is always ultimately alone. Separated from the beloved by conspiracies of this world or the reality that no one really accompanies one in this sorrowful journey. One's image is always reflected standing by oneself, whether in a single whole mirror or in the hundred pieces of a smashed...
2021-04-2905 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaHanuman Bhajan 'Jai Jai Jai Hanuman Gosain'This bhajan, adoring the powerful, beneficent deity Lord Hanuman, is a fine example of the North Indian Bhakti tradition. It has perhaps been most famously sung in modern times by the gifted devotional singer Late Shri Hari Om Sharan Written in the old colloquial ' Kharboli' /Awadhi of Uttar Pradesh, with its charming, spontaneous, fusion of words drawn from Sanskrit, local popular Prakrits, and including a smattering of indigenized Arabic and Persian words, the Bhajan beseeches Lord Hanuman for his Grace. It is believed by many devotees that, out of all deities, it is Hanuman who most quickly responds to...
2021-04-2607 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri Varma'Bhaye Pragat Kripaala' (From the 'Baal-Kaand' of the Ramcharitmanas by Goswami Tulsidas)These sacred verses from Goswami Tulsidas' epic Ramcharitmanas are regarded as very auspicious. They describe the revelation experienced by Queen Kaushalya prior to the birth of Lord Ram. Vishnu appeared in his magnificent, all-powerful form to the Queen and conveyed to her his desire to enter her womb and be born as a human being. Unbelieving and overwhelmed initially, Kaushalya was then overjoyed and beseeched the Lord to engage in 'shishu-leela' ie. to manifest as a human baby, so that she, who longed for offspring, could be granted the unique happiness of motherhood. This episode is also available on YouTube...
2021-04-2103 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaShri Ram Stuti. Shri Ram Chandra Kripaalu Bhaj Man (From the Vinay Patrika by Goswami Tulsidas)This classic bhajan in Sanskrit with a mix of mediaeval Awadhi (Hindi dialect of the Ayodhya area of Uttar Pradesh) was written in praise of Lord Ram Chandra by 16th century Bhakti poet and saint Goswami Tulsidas. It describes the beauty, valour and grace of Shri Ram as a young man in his prime. The last two stanzas describe how Princess Sita prays to Goddess Bhavaani to grant her Lord Ram as her spouse, and how her inner being thrills with joy when she senses that the Devi has granted her this boon. The bhajan composition is based on Raag...
2021-04-2106 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaRam Janm Badhai. Bhajan. (Poet Goswami Tulsidas)This beautiful bhajan was written in Awadhi (Hindi dialect of the Ayodhya area of Uttar Pradesh), by 16th century Bhakti poet and saint Goswami Tulsidas. Full of maternal love (Vaatsalya Bhaav), it adores Shri Ram in his toddler form. The Supreme Lord Vishnu, creator of the Universe, in his baby Ram Avatar, attempts to walk and stumbles and falls onto the earth. His doting mother Rani Kaushalya runs to take him in her lap and dusts the earth off him with her saree pallu. As he toddles, the anklets on his baby feet jingle and entrance everyone. The bhajan is...
2021-04-2105 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaShri Durga Stuti (traditional Maithili Bhajan)This charming bhajan is especially popular in the Mithilanchal area of North Bihar. Attributed by some to the famous 14th-15th century Maithil poet and scholar Vidyapati, the poem is in the medieval vernacular local dialect of the region (Sankrit-derived Apabhramsh/nascent Maithili). In the spirit of Bhakti (loving personalized devotion) the Devi is adored as Mother, Bhagawati, Mahamaya, Durga and her beautiful form poetically described: she sits laughing and happy, on a lotus astride her lion. Her hands hold a conch-shell and weapons to slay evildoers. She is radiant in red, like the rising sun and is the protector...
2021-04-2004 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaGhazal 'Ranjish hi Sahi' (Poet Ahmad Faraaz) (Based on Raag Yaman)My atttempt at a favourite Ghazal by acclaimed Pakistani Shaayar Late Ahmad Faraaz. Sung by many iconic artists including Mehdi Hasan. The ghazal is steeped in romantic pathos: a lover pleads with his beloved to come to him even if she is angry or indifferent. So great is his longing to see the beloved, that he is willing to accept any reason for such a meeting, and presents various heartrending justifications to persuade the beloved to see him: to come for the sake of appearances, to honour and respond to his own love, to make him cry and even, to...
2021-04-1707 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaBhagawati Stotram (Sanskrit hymn honouring Devi Bhagawati/Durga) Composed by Maharishi Ved VyasThis ancient Stotram or Sanskrit hymn was composed by one of the seven, great, immortal sages of India, Maharishi Ved Vyas, compiler of the Vedas and the Mahabharat, apart from other major Sanskrit scriptures. The hymn reveres the Mother Goddess as the radiant embodiment of Divine Energy (Shakti), worshipped by Vishnu, Brahma, Shiv and other Gods. She is honoured as the female half of Shiv, the sacred river Ganges, with the Sun and Moon contained in her beautiful eyes. She is invoked as destroyer of demons like Andhak and Mahishasur, destroyer of evil, disease, poverty, pain, and bestower of offspring...
2021-04-1203 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaPunjabi Folk-inspired Film Song 'Sajnaa Ra Tera' (from Pakstani Film 'Jatt Mirza')My amateur rendition of a heart-achingly sweet song from Pakistani film 'Jatt Mirza' (1982). Originally sung by Noor Jahan, composed by Master Abdullah with lyrics by Ghulam Ahmed Chishti, this love song, is rooted in the traditional folk music of Punjab: a woman yearns for her beloved, calling out to him, saying that she has been defeated looking out for him to come to her, with the doors of her heart and the windows of her eyes open for him. The gardens are bereft without him and sorrow keeps her awake at night because, if she falls asleep, she sees him...
2021-04-1104 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaBangla Song 'Dheetang Deetang Bole' (Music and Lyrics Salil Chowdhury)My attempt at a popular Bengali song composed by the versatile genius Salil Chowdhury in the 1950s, and perhaps most famously sung by Hemanta Mukherjee. This song, imbued with patriotic fervour and joie de vivre, is a fine example of Chowdhury's masterly blending of Indian and Western musical traditions. The song's lyrics, melody and rhythm, all demonstrate the deep influence of folk music, love for his motherland, and empathy for farmers and working people that inspired much of Chowdhury's life work. In the song, simple working people call out to each other to come together and dance joyfully to the...
2021-04-0702 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaSufi Bandish 'Karam ki Najar Kijiye' (traditional prayer honouring Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti)This traditional bandish based on Raag Yaman has been sung in North India through the centuries in honour of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (12-13th century) who settled in Ajmer and founded the popular Chishtiyya sect that in many ways defined the pluralistic tenor of mediaeval Indian Islamic philosophy. Affectionately invoked as Gharib Nawaaz (he who showers his beneficence on the poor and helpless), he is revered to this day by many Indians of all faiths.
2021-04-0203 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaHori Geet 'Rang Daarungi Daarungi' (Inspired by Pt Chhannulal Mishra's masterly Purabi rendition)This is an amateur attempt at a popular Hori (traditional folk song sung in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, in the month of Phalgun, especially on and around the harvest festival of Holi). The singing of Hori is intrinsic to the celebration of Holi in villages of the Banaras area and Bihar. The traditional lyrics are in Purabi dialects associated with this region, particularly Bhojpuri. The rustic Hori was inducted into the Purabi semi-classical music tradition over centuries. This particular Hori celebrates Radha's enjoyment of the festival, as she teasingly and lovingly plays with Lord Krishna. The composition is steeped...
2021-03-2803 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaGhazal 'Kuchch to Duniya ki Inayaat ne' (Sudarshan Fakir)My amateur attempt at a favourite Ghazal by poet Late Sudarshan Fakir of Jalandhar, India. Immortalized in the voice of Begum Akhtar. The sad musings of the poet revolve around uncertain (apparently unrequited or unresponsive) love, unfulfilled hopes and the heartbreaking ways of the world.
2021-03-2507 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaAmir Khusrau Sufi Bhajan 'Chhaap Tilak Sab Chheenee'This timeless composition by 14th century Indian poet, musician and mystic Hazrat Amir Khusrau, carries the fragrance of the soil of the North Indian countryside. Written in Hindavi, the evolving mediaeval Hindi language, the Bhajan reflects the rich syncretic culture of India, in its lyrics and melody. Khusrau was deeply inspired by folk traditions and the metaphors and descriptions used in his poetry, like references to the ritual Tilak adorning a bridegroom's forehead, the green bangles as an auspicious marital symbol on the wrists of a new bride, and the analogy between Krishna or Manmohan and Khusrau's beloved Pir, Nizamuddin...
2021-03-2108 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaSufi-Inspired Hindi Film Song 'Main bhi Naachun Manaaun Sone Yaar ko...Bulleya' (Film 'Sultan' 2016)This is my amateur rendition of a lovely Sufi-inspired film song. The lyrics written by Irshad Kamil include traditional Sufi invocations to Pir Bulle Shah and chanting of 'dum', the mystic connotation of which is the sacred vital life force or 'prana', channelized through the breath and its rhythms. The music by Vishal-Shekhar also draws on traditional Indian devotional melodies. The song's lyrics express the delicacy and refinement of love in its highest form, which may be unrequited or physically unfulfilled between the lover and the beloved, but is all the more powerful and alive because of its incomplete ever-becoming...
2021-03-1905 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaShaadi Geet 'Kesar Chheente Maharajwa' (traditional Indian wedding song)This is a traditional North Indian wedding song with a beautiful folk-inspired melody, lyrics and varying rhythm. The groom (addressed lovingly and respectfully as king or maharaj) is invited to come to his bride's home, with his forehead anointed with auspicious, richly coloured saffron (kesar).
2021-03-1704 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaGhazal 'Aaj Jaane ki Zid Na Karo' (poet Fayyaaz Haashmi)This famous ghazal written by Fayyaaz Haashmi and set to music in Raag Yaman Kalyaan by Sohail Rana, has been often sung, but in my opinion, most unforgettably by Farida Khanumji. The words touch the heart as the woman in the ghazal entreats her lover not to insist on leaving, but to stay seated by her side, as precious moments spent together, once gone, will never return.
2021-03-1506 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaHindi Film Song (Ghazal) 'Raat bhar aapki yaad aati rahi' (Film Gaman)This poignant geet-numa-ghazal written by Maqdoom Mohiuddin features in the popular Hindi film 'Gaman' (1978). The music director Jaidev has set the ghazal words into a haunting song format. The words and melody express such intense loneliness in the absence of the beloved that I felt they stand effectively on their own, and so my amateur attempt is unaccompanied by any instrument.
2021-03-1404 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaShiv Bhajan 'Gal Bhujang Bhasm Ang' (inspired by the masterly rendition of Pandit Chhannulal Mishra)I have attempted a favourite Shiv Bhajan, a beautiful version of which has been liltingly sung by Pandit Chhannulal Mishra of Banaras, based on Raag Des. The lyrics in colloquial Hindi (closest to Bhojpuri) are folk-inspired and describe Shiv endearingly as the paradoxical ascetic-house holder, oblivious of social conventions, with a snake wrapped around his neck, ash-smeared semi-naked body, the bestower of blessings to all but himself, possessor of nothing. He is accompanied by his faithful spouse, Parvati, who fondly chides him for his eccentric ways but also deeply respects him.
2021-03-1004 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaBandish 'Bharjo Na Maa' (composed by Ustad Wilayat Hussain Khan 'Praan Piya' Agra Gharaana)This beautiful Bandish is based on old wedding songs traditionally sung in Uttar Pradesh. The composition by Hindustani classical music maestro Late Ustad Wilayat Hussain Khan 'Praan Piya' is based on the romantic Raag Bihaag (Shringaar Ras). The lyrics are in the colloquial old-world Hindi of Western Uttar Pradesh. Through them, a woman addresses her female companion and tells her to fill her cup with wine, and says that she is in a state of intoxication because her lover is so enchanting and fascinating, and drinks himself as well as gives her wine to drink, cup upon cup.
2021-03-0905 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaHindi Film Song 'Mero Gaam Kaatha Paare' (in Gujarati, from film 'Manthan') (1976)My attempt at this beautiful, folk-inspired, poignant song in colloquial Gujarati, from Shyam Benegal's award winning Hindi film 'Manthan', based on the revolutionary Amul story. Apologies in advance for imperfections in my pronunciation. The film was presented by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.
2021-03-0403 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaHindi Film Song 'Rafoo' ('Kaise Kaise Dhaagon se Buni hai..'). From the Film 'Tumhaari Sulu' (2017)The lyrics of this composition (by Guru Randhawa and Santanu Ghatak) have the characteristics of poetry that is truly beautiful: simple yet profound in the emotions and philosophical approach to life that they reflect. And the melody complements them perfectly.
2021-03-0305 minGayati. Live. Breathe. Sing! Informal singing by Gauri VarmaSaraswati Vandana. Sanskrit hymn.Ancient Sanskrit hymn in praise of Devi Saraswati, Goddess of Wisdom, Speech, Learning, Healing and the Arts. Having origins in Vedic times as a river Goddess, she is also associated with flowing waters, communication, agriculture, the spring season and regeneration of life. The shlokas of the hymn adoringly describe Saraswati's form and attributes: She who is fair as the jasmine, snow and moon, clothed in white, seated on a white lotus in Padmasan pose, holding a boon-bestowing staff, the musical Veena, the Vedas and a rosary of healing white sphatik crystal; She who removes darkness ignorance and feat; She who...
2021-03-0302 min