Monsoon: Musical, sensuous

Nonika Singh

“Rain is grace: rain is sky descending to earth; without rain there would be no life.” — John Updike

Indeed, and many an artist closer home too echo similar thoughts and reinforce rain’s power of renewal, equally emphatically and poetically. For acclaimed painter Sidharth, water is a living being, elixir of life as human body is 80 per cent water. He avers, “The very sight of rain evokes memories.” For the artist who has painted Baarahamass in a series of paintings, rain and its deep impact on our life conjures up endless images — pristine and pure. He can go on and on extolling the beauty of monsoon and quotes Guru Nanak Dev who said, “Pehla paani jio hai jit harya sab koi. (First life is water rest came after)” Baba Farid and Baba Bulle Shah too spoke of mystical monsoon and the painter poet reminds you what saavan truly stands for. Saa means green and van is vegetation.

Monsoon and its magic are inextricably intertwined in the world of art; be it visual or saat sur. In the musical galaxy, fables are woven around the miracles ragas can unleash. 

Lush and luscious rain sequence has invariably been the go-to backdrop to set the romance going. Hindi film music has had a long tryst with rain and has kept its date with its amorous  moods. From the immortal Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi barsat ki raat to Rimjhmi gire saawan to Tip-tip barsa paani… rain has been synonymous with romance on silver screen.

Sensual, erotic, romantic, playful… rain does the perfect 360-degree waltz in our cinema. Though many feel that the treatment in cinema is a tad too superficial and can never fully justify its myriad splendour, rain songs continue to evoke that perfect gooey feeling. A catalyst for romance, a rain melody, though filmy, touches our hearts too. 

Certain images as that of Raj Kapoor and Nargis striking the perfect pose under the umbrella in Shree 420 are iconic. Replicated time and again, a variation of it was seen in Aashiqui 2 recently, these stand as an ode to romancing in the rain. Then songs such as Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si, sung by and picturised on the melody king Kishore Kumar, reverberate through the corridors of time. Indeed, often rain becomes a ruse to simply show off the sexy curves of a rain-drenched heroine too. 

But then who can wish away the groovy moves of Sridevi in Mr India where each sinew of hers oozes sensuality in Kaate nahi katte. Or Zeenat Amaan’s Bheegi bheegi raaton mein (Ajnabee) or Smita Patil’s earthy sensuousness in Aaj rapat jaaye toh (Namak Halaal).

Monsoon, however, is not merely a perfect prop for upping the romantic quotient. Often it’s a character in itself. It enhances the mood of the films such as Monsoon Shootout, which are anything but erotic, rather help viewers startle and intrigue. Mumbai rains have often amplified the tension and anxiety in several films. More than one monsoon moment is indelibly etched on our minds. 

Bollywood singer Sukhwinder Singh, who sang the irrepressible Kava-kava, ajj mera jee karda (Monsoon Wedding) followed by the peppy lines Rabba-rabba mee barsa, is not surprised that rain inspires filmmakers. He reasons, “Rain enhances the romantic mood like no other accoutrement. Most of our songs are not just picturised well, beautifying the couple immeasurably, but bring varying shades of love to the fore as well.” As monsoon has already hit Mumbai, he is sure it has already triggered the imagination of many and more monsoon music is on its way.

Well-known musician and Mohan Veena exponent Salil Bhatt differs, “Cinema merely offers you a readymade picture of monsoon magic which is not your own but someone else’s imagination. On the other hand, classical music helps you envision it and opens your third eye.” Either way, the rasa of classical notes or the gossamer sentimentality of Bollywood’s rain songs, both captivate our mind and senses. 

Cavorting in the rain or feeling its power of rejuvenation and renewal, the pitter patter is best encapsulated in music and can never stop us from being on a song, “I'm singin' in the rain, just singin' in the rain. What a glorious feeling I'm happy again.” 

Musical monsoon, but another name for happiness.