Sheer Bliss. Review on Ten Best Devotional Songs

Music has a strange power to transform one’s atmosphere, influence moods and create scenes. In fact it can be used as a therapy in itself. A loud foot-tapping music may send you into a boogeying tizzy while on the other hand, a peaceful chant could propel you into the throes of a meditative journey. Hence the right music for the right situation can create the perfect ambience. It is precisely this factor which has lead to the importance of background music in cinema.

Spirituality and devotion is one sphere where music can play a powerful role in instilling a degree of passion in the devotee. In most religions, devotional songs play an important role in identification and spreading of the message. Particularly in religions which originated in India, music has always played a significant role.

If one were to visit the devotional songs section of a Music store, one would find a wide variety of categories such as:

~ Bhajans focusing on a particular deity

(e.g. Sai Bhajans, Ganesh Bhajans, etc., usually by lesser known singers)

~ Regional language songs, which have their own strong clientele

~ Private albums on devotional and spiritual songs by mainstream singers

~ Compilation of film bhajans

In this review, I have tried to restrict my choices to the more popular Hindi ones – which are film songs and a few non-film popular devotional songs as well.

1) Allah tero naam

Film: Hum dono

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar

The film situation is full of pathos as wives of soldiers pray to the Lord to protect their husbands and peace for everybody. The music is extremely touching and the song has been sung to perfection by Lataji.

2) Ae maalik tere bande hum

Film: Do aankhen barah haath

Singer: Lata MAngeshkar

Once again, a poignantly sung melody by Lata and chorus. In this song, prayers are offered to the Supreme Lord to help bring us out of the seemingly unsurmountable troubles.

3) Suraj ki garmi se jalte hue tan ko

Film: Parinay

Singer: Sharma Bandhu

This was an early 70s art movie with Shabana Azmi and some unknown faces. The main actors are sitting in the audience and a group of 4 similar looking men are singing this quaint sounding number on a stage. The first time I heard this one, I was struck by its uniqueness. The meaning is quite philosophical and profound and difficult to describe. You have to hear it to experience it.

4) Main to aarti urarun re Santoshi Maata ki

Film: Jai Santoshi Maa

Singer: Usha Mangeshkar

One of the biggest hit mythological films, Jai Santoshi Maa broke all records on the box-office. This song is sung in a dandiya beat and has lyrics full of devotion to the goddess Santoshi Maa.

5) Itni shakti hume dena data

Film: Ankush

Singer: Sushma Shreshta, Pushpa Paghdhare

This is a beautiful song full of meaning. It asks the Lord to give us enough strength so that we do not lose our confidence in the face of misery.

6) Sukh ke sab saathi dukh mein na koi

Film: Gopi

Singer: Mohd. Rafi

Despite being a Muslim, Rafi could sing songs praising Hindu deities with a great deal of devotion and fervour. This particular song tells us how this material world will see good times and bad times, but for the devotee, Lord Ram will be there for all times to come.

7) Man tarpat hari darshan ko aaj

Film: Baiju Bawra

Singer: Mohd. Rafi

Another gem by Rafi with a heavy classical raga-based song. Put to tune by another maestro NAushad, this is a challenging tune with some high notes towards the end. The protagonist is desperately seeking the darshan of the Lord and calls out with passion to his Lord to come to his aid.

8) O Paalanhare

Film: Lagaan

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar

A soothing bhajan put to tune by modern tech-guru A.R.Rahman and sung by Lataji, this comes as a welcome relief in the film at a point of great tension and anxiety. The song only goes to show that finally, it is refuge in the Divine Power which will eventually show the way.

9) Shirdi waale sai baba

Film: Amar Akbar Anthony

Singer:  Mohd. Rafi

A qawwali based song from the Manmohan Desai blockbuster, this song has a rather contrived picturisation of an aged mother getting her eyesight back when this prayer goes on at a dargah. But the mood created by the song is one of high devotion and zeal.

10) Sainath tere hazaaron Haath

Film: Shirdi ke SaiBaba

Singer: Mohd Rafi, Usha Mangeshkar

A well made life sketch of the saint from Shirdi, this Manoj Kumar film had some good music. This song sings the praise of Sainath and his all-pervasive warmth and goodness,

Final comments:

In a good devotional song, the meanings of the lyrics, the music, the rendition are all extremely important. While compiling the above list, an attempt has been made to keep these considerations in mind. If you are in the right frame of mind, these songs will surely help you reach the appropriate atmosphere and give you peace of mind. Till then, Jai Ram ji ki!