दस राग और एक प्रेम कहानी

Kartikeya Juneja | 20th Apr 2024

When you run into a 24-year-old and are hazarding a guess of the kind of music he would be listening to, chances are you wouldn't be thinking of the Hindi Retro Film music of the 50s and before. My introduction to Kartikeya started off on this note. About a year ago he got in touch with over social media and whilst we exchanged notes, he came across as someone who was besotted by the 1950s of HFM. So much so that we even conducted a few shows exclusively of the 50s decade for an audience of his choice. We didn't find this choice of decade unusual .......... well until we found out his age!!!

Kartikeya started his PMP by stating that he likes to listen to all genres of music, but his favourite remains the songs in HFM which are based on classical music of the golden era. He weaved his 10 songs with a compelling narrative of a love story as it unfolds with each song sequentially

1. Starting off with a raag Hameer based composition he presented the song "Lachhmi Moorat Daras Dikhaye" from the film "Street Singer". Kannan Devi's crisp rendering of this Bhakti geet from the 1938 film was just the start one needed to jump into the Kartikeya mood of the retro HFM.
2. After starting off with a devotional song, Kartikeya now opened his love story to the audience. The kick start of a love relationship is attraction, and he starts from this premise with the song "Do Maina Matware" from the film "My Sister (Meri Bahen)". This Raag Kalyan based song of K L Saigal song is an ode to the "Matware" nain (eyes) of the woman which seems to draw the attention of the lover to them.
3. With the man setting his eyes on his lady love, it's reciprocation time and the next song "Hue Unse Naina Chaar" from the film "Bekasoor" describes the feelings of the woman as she also feels her heart slipping away .... आशाओं में हलचल है, अरमानो में तूफ़ान, दिल कर बैठा है प्यार, अब में क्या करूँ .... convey the mood of the woman nicely 
4. Any couple in love would know that "roothna - manana" is part of this wonderful journey and invariably must come in every love story. Kartikeya's story is no different. Hansdhwani based composition "Jaa Tose Nahin Bolun" from the film "Parivar" comes up next as the story now moves to the stage where both have acknowledged their respective loves and this "nonk-jhonk" must appear as part of the story's continuity. This song on screen is seen as Krishna trying to cajole and convince Radha to give up her anger
5. As the love story continues, Karikeya now moves to the humour part of the relationship with the song "Lapak Jhapak Tu Aare" from the film "Boot Polish" based on Raag Darbari. Only Shankar-Jaikishan could have pulled off a comical song based on such a serious raag where David on screen is seen invoking the rains to soothe his bald head and help grow back the hair.
6. Dedication is the next stage of the love story once it is clear between the two lovers that they are made for each other, and it seems natural for them to spend their lives together. "Man Mera Udta Jaye Ba" from the film "Maa Beta" was next on the list, A song adapted from Rabindra Sangeet this delectable composition of Hemant Kumar is soothing to the ears. These lines convey the sentiments beautifully the feelings of someone in love ........ आज न रोको प्यार के इस दीवाने को | हातों से दिल जाता है तो जाने दो | तोड़ चला ये बंधन सारे , जहाँ साजन का प्यार पुकारे | पागल मन है कब यह किसी की माने रे 
7. Envy does creep into the love relationship and Kartikeya takes his love story forward where this feeling is depicted through the classical touch comical song "Aao Aao Sanwariya" from the film "Padosan". An outrageously filmed song, it always brings a smile to our faces watching or even just hearing it 
8. Anxiety about the future of the relationship is inevitable and Kartikeya move to this sentiment with the next song "Ritu Aaye Ritu Jaye" from the film "Hamdard". Based on Raag Sarang and Malhar. Not a conventional Separated-in-love song, this song talks about various Ritus (Seasons) with consequent changes in the mood of the song (based on the season) conveying the moot point that seasons come and go, but the sight of the beloved is still deprived. 
9. "Tinak Tin Tani" from the film "Sargam" seems a misfit in the context of this presentation at first listening, but a more careful listening brings out the nuances that Kartikeya wishes to showcase. Overcoming obstacles as part of the love journey is common and if love is intense and sincere the lovers can overcome situational difficulties to accomplish their goal 
10. Finally love triumphs, if stayed the course by those in love. The finale - "Man Ki Been Matwari" from the film "Shabab" which is based on the Raag Basant + Bahar was Kartikeya's sign off song. All well that ends well, goes the adage and sure enough we close this presentation with a happy ending

I am stunned by the precision of Kartikeya's delivery, conciseness of content, a taut narrative and a choice of songs that left us spellbound. At the end there's only one thing I can say ... Take a bow Kartikeya!