LE DIVINE FELINE

Vani Jairam

"Mora Saajan Sauten"

dhrupad:

“Mora Saajan Sauten” by Vani Jairam (Composed by Naushad)

Mora saajan souten ghar jaaye, ab mein kaise kahoon?
Jab mein poochun, kachu woh na bole,
Jhooti kasme kahein, haan,
Ab mein kaise kahoon?

My beloved visits his mistress, now how do I speak?
When I do ask, he is silent,
He makes these false promises, yes,
Now, how do I speak?

The raag is Pahadi. Within this tranquil and serene scale Vani Jairam manages to convey a torpor of feelings. The taan midway is a marvel of artistry. Jab Mein Poochun; The work on Jab is both native and authentic (Begum Akhtar would have approved!) and the ambiguous Haan which mixes misgivings, possessiveness and a knowing maturity is the sign of a singer who not only knows the genre, but is also familiar with its soul. When words, emotions, and voice meld with consummate ease and expertise, the listener is transported into the moment. With Mora Saajan Sauten, VJ accomplishes this task, with all the grace and beauty of a swan at the centre of Lake Thumri. [x]

—The Lost Thumris of پاکیزہ पाकीज़ा Pakeezah (1972)

(via fuckyeahsouthasia)