Jan 21, 2007 01:15 PM
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(Updated Jan 22, 2007 02:29 PM)
- Some people do different things...and if the difference is so novel, then what we do ? Accept it wholeheartedly ! Ravi Menon, the noted music-journo has brought this unusual book for the music lovers !"Soja Rajkumari"**Language : MalayalamWriter : Ravi MenonPublisher : Olive Publications Pvt. Ltd.Pages :114 ;Price : Rs. 65/-
During the summer vacations, we used to visit our uncle. The favourite pass time there, was playing the Gramophone records using the "electric record player" . And he used to tell many stories about Lata, Saigal, Anil Biswas, Punkaj Mullick, Kishore Kumar , Rafi, Mukesh and his favourite Madan Mohan. Years later when I heard about this book , I couldn't wait to buy it !
The book contains 19 -chapters. Each of them contains beautiful trivia about the music directors, singers, poets and making of the songs and much more. Apart from these there is a very nostalgic 4-page note by the famous poet O.N.V. Kurup given as the prologue ! The first chapter is "Soja Rajkumari Soja" and is about Kundan Lal Saigal. There are chapters for Suraiyya, Geeta Dutt, Lata, Asha, Rafi, Kishore, Mukesh, Sonu Nigam, Noushad, Madan Mohan, O.P. Nayyar, Usha Khanna etc. The other chapters are about the Binacca Geet Mala and Ameen Sayani, Ghazals and Jugalbandis.
One rare article about the "Rain-Ragas" used in Hindi film songs and a special article on the influence of western music are also there. The small book gives a lot of information about the rise and fall of singers and music directors , transition of film music and phenomenons like "Binacca Geet Maala" that rocked the nation through the Radio ! Here are some Chapters :1. Soja Rajkumari Soja - About KL Saigal2. Kaalpanikatayude Shabdam (The voice of romanticism) - About Suraiyya3. Maayaatta Punchiri , Marikkaatta Gaanangal (The smile that never fades, the songs that never die) - About Mohd.Rafi4. Jane kahaan gaye woh din - About Mukesh5. Priyam, Priyataramee Gaaanangal ! (These songs are favourites !) - About Lata6. Gaata rahe mera dil - About Kishore Kumar7.
Aloukikamaaya Sangeetam ( The metaphysical music) - About Asha8. Aatmabandhattinte Sangeetam (The music of intimacy ) - About the successful composer-singer duos.9. Vishaada Gaanam pole (Like the melancholic melody ) - About Anthony Gonzalves and Dutta Ram , the underrated geniuses.10. Mughal -e- Azam Enna Indrajalam (The magic called Mughal-e- Azam) -About the movie and Noushad11. Megha Raagangal Peyyumbol (As the clouds of ragas rain) - About the "Rain-Ragas"12. Kizhakkinte eenam, padinjarinte sangeetam ( The tune of the east, the music of the west ) -
About the influence of western music.13. Ghazalinte aakaasam (The sky of Ghazal ) - About Ghazals and maestros14. Ningal aavasyappettat (Those you want) - About the wonder-voice of Ameen Saayani and Binacca Geet Maala15. Sangeeta Samvidhanattile Stree (The woman music director ) - About Usha Khanna16. Rafi Paadunnu , veendum, veendum! (Rafi sings, again and again! ) -About Sonu NigamFor Malayalis, this is a unique book about Hindi film music. Do read it.
