Songs of the monsoon

Krishnaraj  Iyengar

There is nothing more romantic for a music lover than being huddled-up in a packed mehfil hall on a rainy morning listening to strains of an old rendition in monsoon Raga Gaud Malhaar punctuated by ‘wah wah’s’ of ardent connoisseurs! Often at venues like Mumbai’s Sangit Mahabharati, India’s prestigious classical conservatory, legends like sarod maestro Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta and vocalist Ustad Yakoub Hussain Khan to name a few, captivate listeners with their malhaar magic. Malhaar ragas have even cast a spell on Indian cinema. Famous hits like ‘Bol re papihara’ from Guddi by Lata Mangeshkar sung in Miyan Ki Malhaar still resound in many an old timer’s mind!

Indian classical music is a treasure house of rhythm (taala) and melody (ragas), the latter being described in Sanskrit texts as Ranjayati iti Raagaha or ‘that which pleases/colours the mind’. Along with ragas for various times of the day and moods, seasonal ragas are a fascinating subject. Monsoon being a highly essential time of the year for the subcontinent, great importance has been given to them by Indian music as well.

The power of ragas and their relation to the seasons and the environment has been much celebrated. It is believed that there occurred thunder and pouring rain when the legendary Miyan Tansen sang a certain malhaar and lamps began lighting by his rendition of Raga Deepak!

Great maestros, through the ages, have opined that nature plays a vital role in music and vice-versa. Malhaars are ancient ragas, which are specific to the Indian monsoon, as their name suggests. Even the lyrics to which these are sung often describe the monsoon.

Generally, the mood, the time of the day or season relevant to a raga are determined by several factors. The selection of notes, their combination, phrasing and also the type of notes (sharp or flat) present in the raga, how long a note is extended and how it is rendered play a role in conveying a message. Every raga is known to create a certain image in the listener’s mind. Grey clouds hanging low, the fragrance of wet earth and foliage, peacocks dancing, rivulets flowing down the hills, cool breeze and swaying of trees is a typical prelude to an Indian monsoon, which the malhaars recreate musically.

Though ‘malhaar’ is not specifically a raga, there are many ragas that come under the malhaar category. Tansen’s Miyan ki Malhaar, the most popular of all malhaars, Gaud Malhaar, Surdasi Malhaar, Ramdasi Malhar, Meera Malhaar, Nat Malhaar, Megh and rarer Charju ki Malhaar are among the known varieties. Each of these portrays a unique colour of the monsoon with their distinct personality and flavour.

Towering legends like Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan, Surshri Kesarbai Kerkar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Mallikarjun Mansoor, Ustad Amir Khan to name a few, have left a legacy of evergreen renditions in different malhaar ragas.