Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Experience of Chhayageet

It is around 10 years back I started listening radio. One programme, I try not miss is 'Chhayageet'(छायागीत). It is on 'Vividh Bharti' radio station, every day 10pm.

Cocept of chhayageet is derived from 'Chhayavad'. It roughly translated to 'Era of shadow'. It was an era in Hindi poetry during which love for nature and love for mysticism upsurged. Poets like Jaishankar Prasad used the symbolism to express the beauty of poetry, depth of emotions and feelings. I have likings for writings of this era. They are simply amazing; possibly peak of classic Hindi poetry.

Chhayageet is on same concept, though at much less intensity of symbolism. The anchor (generally Kamal Sharma or Amarkant or Yunus Khan) would do commentry or poetry or express the nicely written theme phrases in-between songs. The songs are based on some common theme. Sometime it is 'virah'( pain of separation ), sometime love, sometime nature and so on. The binding between the songs is theme and the commentry by host RJ. Listenig commentry is as pleasure as the songs.

After day’s hard work, one go to bed to relax. The music starts on Vividh Bharti. Chhayageet steps in and breaks silence of night. I am in 'tandra' (The state of higher consciousness between sleeping and waking ). Soft, soothing and old music is playing. The songs are as wonderful as it can get. I am half sleep, half woken.

Body is sleeping, thoughts are disappearing, and mind is still. The calmness of night would accept nothing but 'Chhaya'( or chhayageet ). Music appears to come from infinity. It comes and dissolves into me. I surrender to its magic. The combination of 'going into sleep' while listening chhayageet is unmatchable. It is unmatchable in experience, calmness. One appreciates music as never before.

This amazing composition was coming to my ears yesterday when I was sleeping. Wished, I could stop the universe at that moment!! Listen it here. Video is not that good. Songs are all about lyrics and music. It has best of both.

"Palkonke peechhe se kya tune kahe dala fire-se to farmaana...... Nainone sapnon ki mehfil sajayee hai tum bhi jaroor aana......"

Thanks Vividh Bharti for having such wonderful creation. Long live chhayageet!!

1 comment:

  1. 'Chhayageet' - such a wonderful creation by vividh-bharati as 'Kamayani' by Shri Jaishankar Prasad.
    As our blogger has mentioned, the derivation of 'Chhayageet' comes from 'Chhayavaad'. And this reminds of the great poets 'Shri Jaishankar Prasad' and 'Mahadevi Verma'. The great era of Romanticism in Hindi literature.

    ReplyDelete