The Mystic of Qawwalis

1/17/2024

Rama kant | 14th Jan 2024

With Rama Kant-ji, one comes to expect the rare and esoteric and therein lies the joy of his presentations. His horizon of Film songs stretches to the 40s and the 30s and it's always a pleasure to be walked down the garden holding his hands for guidance. On both these fronts Rama kant-ji did not disappoint.

That said, the choice of Qawwali in his PMP was baffling. Not because this genre is uninspiring and tepid. Quite the contrary, Qawwali’s are awe inspiring when done right. As the song progresses the tempo and passion build up, with each singer trying to outdo the other in both vocal delivery and lyrical subjugation. The show had its fair share of “Eureka” moments, but as a listener one tended to get fatigued by the predictability of this templatized genre.

Additionally for reasons unknown Roshan’s Qawwali’s were kept out. Admittedly Roshan’s Qawwali’s are popular and have had/ continue to have plenty of airtime. Given Rama kant-ji fetish to highlight only rare songs, I certainly didn’t expect – “Yeh Ishq Ishq hai” and “Nigahen Milane Ko Jee Chahta Hai” to be on the playlist. But I was disappointed to not see a few of the Roshan’s less heard /spoken tracks like

"Haseenon ke jalwe pareshan rahte" from Babar
"Nigaah-E-Naaz Ke + Na Khanjar Uthega" from Barsat ki Raat .. featuring a competition between Male and Female Qawwals
"Parda Uthe salaam ho jaye" from Dil Hi toh Hai

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As for the songs played

The all-female Qawwalis - "Kabhi Ae Haqeeqat-e-Muntazir" from Dulhan Ek Raat Ki , "Dil Gaya To Gaya, Dilruba Mil Gaya" from Shama were very endearing. However, the crown in this segment was taken by "Aahen Na Bharin Shikwe Na Kiye" from Zeenat which turned out to be a stunning revelation.
Asha and Rafi are known to be great exponents of this genre and they delivered with aplomb with "Meri Tasveer Lekar Kya Karoge" from Kala Samunder and "Husnwale Husn Ka Anjam Dekh" from Qawwali Ki Raat
If there’s any genre that truly belongs to Manna Dey, it must be the Qawwali, IMO. His voice is suited best for this genre, arguably even better than Mohd. Rafi. But the fact that he usually sang for the character actors and not the Hero in Qawwalis put him at a disadvantage. Mannada proves his mettle in "Zalim Meri Sharaab Mein" from Reshma Aur Shera
"Aaj Rang Hai Ey Ma Khusro Rain Suhaag Ki" from Junoon at over 7 minutes dragged on needlessly. There are many film Qawwalis which are longer than this one, but they hold your attention as they pick up tempo and pace which this one didn’t.
Both Qawwalis from Garam Hawa which were an ode to Sufi Saint Salim Chishti probably were the closest to how a real life Qawwali would be, one which was deglamorized version of what we are now used to in Hindi films

Thank you, Rama kant-ji for exposing us to this genre beyond the popular ones and helping us discover some gems.

7 Comments

Balaji Ramachandran

Music listening is a passion and out of this passion was born Nostalgiaana. We (along with Shankar Iyer) present radio style shows since April 2020

Disclaimers

• This is my personal review and views expressed are entirely mine and NOT of TEAM NOSTALGIAANA

• I hope to review it objectively and not just make this an attempt at absolute unquestioned veneration.

Any view for or against may be expressed through the comments section.

Rama kant

1/18/2024 03:30:00 am

Thanx a lot Balaji for an insightful unbiased review of my PMP. It is good to know that broadly barring one number of Junoon, u liked every other choice of mine.
Yes, the lesser known qawallis of maestro Roshan could well have been taken but that wd have eaten into the
Marvellous work attempted by lesser mortals far away from glory, leave apart appreciation n recognition. That wd have defeated the very purpose of my effort to showcase the other less celebrated n acknowledged music directors, who have done their bit to keep this genre alive, though it might not be anywhere near the output of the uncrowned king of qawallis, Roshan either in terms of quality or quantity.
These lesser children of God do deserve to be feted once in a while for their contribution to this aspect of HFM.

Reg the dragging on portion of Junoon number, u r perfectly entitled to yr opinion, but my humble take on this is that this sort of repetition of a phrase in this format of music isn't unknown n has been done by more illustrious MD's as well. This is somewhat akin to chanting in hindu religious scriptures. In the climax of the creation it serves to heighten the emotional fervour of the religious appeal being made by the lost, totally focused devotees almost in a state of trance.

My thanx again for taking yr precious time out of yr busy schedule n honouring me with this detailed weighty review. I m overwhelmed with gratitude. 🙏

🌷🌷🌷

Charumitra Ranade

1/21/2024 10:14:03 am

totally agreed with balajis comments!!!!

Suresh Kulkarni

1/18/2024 05:36:25 am

I personally look forward to unheard songs and that wish was more than fulfilled by Rama Kant ji in his PMP. 7 of them were FTH for me. To have them from the same genre was a testimony to Rama Kantji's vast knowledge and the research he must have done. But I understand if people felt a bit of a monotony due to songs of the same genre coming at them one after the other. All in all I personally enjoyed the show a lot. I just wish Rama Kant ji speaks some more during his narratives :) I am sure it will be entertaining and informative

Vikas Prabhu

1/18/2024 06:04:18 am

Have attended PMP of Balaji Vittal only till date and was mighty impressed the way entire show was conducted and curated. Selection of songs, audio quality, genuine information about paraphernalia of music makes the experience even more awesome. All the very best to R4 team for this new venture,may the force be with you always.

Meenakshi Krishnan

1/18/2024 07:39:00 am

Well written Balaji 👏

Rama kant ji's farmayish choices have always been hatkey so as expected his presentation was also hatkey. The theme being qawwali, & lesser heard ones was a challenge for me to recollect them & hum .😃 Overall nice presentation..

1/19/2024 01:27:10 am

Thanx a ton Meenakshi for the kind words. It is primarily due to the encouragement of my colleagues like Charu, Shankar, Baaji n yrself that I got into the business of presenting MP's n choice songs. Yr daily doze of one song apart from a stinging four liner on club site as well as yr choice songs r more often than not off the beaten track, liked n appreciated by one n all.

1/21/2024 10:15:57 am

wow!!! ramakantiji and Meenakshi ji for nice remarks