Do you ever have a song, an idea, a storyline, or an image stuck in your head? And it just refuses to go away? For some time at least? I have this with music—it could be a song, an instrumental piece, a jingle, etc. This becomes my “now’”song, and the “nowness” (pardon my English here) could be for any length of time.
The music selection blared out by the various pandals at the ongoing 10-day Ganpati festival has not thrown up any surprises. Hindi and Marathi film songs, and film songs from other languages as well; remixed bhajans and aarti songs, and at a pandal near my house some Vishnu Sahasranamam spiced up with some ‘technofied’ beats. But today morning I heard a song that I associate with the Ganpati festivals of my childhood and took me back to the Mumbai of my childhood.
I had just got off at the bus stop near my workplace when I heard the opening strains of “Prathama tula vanditi krupala…”
This song is from the 1979 Marathi film Ashtavinayak and is sung by Vasantrao Deshpande and Anuradha Paudwal. I remember singing this with many others at the pandal near my grandparents’ house at Matunga and enjoying this beautiful melody in Raga Yaman. Even after so many years, I found that the appeal of this song had not diminished as I softly accompanied this song from across the road. I was also surprised to find that I remembered the lyrics as well !
Hope you enjoyed listening to my “now” song 🙂
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I did not understand anything but the musicis good..
Thats was good of songs in those days.. We still remember the songs.. These days yeah there are hit songs but we forget very soon..
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The song is about Ganesh and how he is the first to be worshipped, and appeals to his benevolent side. And the power of the music is such that it has appealed to you even though you did not know the language.
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This has always been my favorite. As such I love this raag, coupled with the fantastic lyrics, it becomes unmatchable.
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Yes, that’s the beauty of the song and the Raga. I love the way Yaman has been used to give the flavour of a beginning that mirrors the opening lines of the song.
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You made me want December to come around right away, Sudha! That is when I go to Chennai for the Music festival!
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Oh wow ! I have never attended the music festival in Chennai. Heard a lot about it, read a lot about it and of course watch the half hour concerts on Jaya TV.
Suresh, I am feeling a little jealous now 🙂
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I think you should take it in at least once, Sudha! make it for a week or so in Dec 15-25 period to just get a flavor of it!
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Tell me honestly! Isn’t it also for the Music Academy canteen and its fare? My MIL used to wax eloquent about it and my FIL who didn’t much enjoy the music spent the better part of the concert there 😀 I haven’t attended any ‘season’ there yet.
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May suggest that you make an exception this year and attend the Sawai Gandharva festival in Pune. It is an experience for lovers of classical music that should not be missed.
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Would love to but I have a place to stay at Chennai for the month but none in Pune 😦 Cannot afford hotel rooms for any length of time 🙂
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Would love to listen to this early in the morning along with ‘Suprabhatam’….
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Glad you liked it, Ilakshee. There are some downloadable versions of this song that I came across some time back. Maybe you do that and listen to it in the mornings 🙂
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As I am writing this comment, I can hear an arti in progress in a nearby house. It always feels so nice to hear the bhajans and artis as they are, in their original forms without any remixes or over-exaggeration of beats that seems to be the current trend now at so many places. Your ‘now’ song is a wonderful song with some soul soothing music and lyrics, I am hearing it for the first time but I loved hearing it. Thanks for sharing the video. 🙂
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I love this song, Arti, and my mother would often coax me to sing this one when I was learning Raga Yaman in the evenings before she lit the lamp. I am not sure who enjoyed it more. And simple music and lyrics is what makes the song appeal to everyone. I ‘m so happy that you enjoyed this one, Arti. 🙂
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Brilliant stuff!
Gujaratonnet.com
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The song is truly very devotional. There are other songs which used to be played during Ganesh festival in Mumbai sung by old timers like Lata, Asha, etc which had such mellifluous music. Wish we could get back those lovely days. Ah!
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Yes, it is devotional but also one that touches the soul. I think some of the other songs that you must have heard during the Ganpati festival must have be “Gajanana shree ganraya” and “Sukhkarta Dukhharta”. The old days will never come back, but the music can definitely be enjoyed even today 🙂
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I play it whenever I can. I have recorded it in a cassette and now have converted it into MP3.
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And I don’t even have a recording of this song 😦 Can you send me the MP3 file. Thank you.
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Though I didn’t understand the language, I enjoyed the song…I do have ‘now’ songs and ‘now’ moments too..I don’t know for what reason though, this song always strikes my mind..’dil ka bhawar kare pukar..pyaar ka raag suno’…not relevant here though..:)
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Music reaches across language barriers and appeals to the soul. That’s why so many people have enjoyed this song without knowing Marathi 🙂
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Sudha this bhajan is very soothing to the ears-thanks for introducing it to me.
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You’re welcome, Indu. Delighted that you enjoyed this. 🙂
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Nice song. Melodous. Whos is the actor and actress in the song? It is interesting to look at the movies made those days, without the benefit of the technology and equipment we have these days.
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Glad you liked the song, Sabyasachi. The actor is Vasantrao Deshpande, who has also sung the song. And the actress is Vandana Pandit. This was her debut film.
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Absolutely Sudha it sort of pulls you. I love it when its played during the Ganpati festival
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Glad you felt the same way, Rathina. I realise ,ore and more tat it is the simpler melodies that last forever and ever.:-)
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Landed in site after searching for vadana pandit mam… I become here big fan after looking this evergreen movie any idea about any other movie she did…
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Welcome here, Ganu. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. I’m sorry I can’t help you here as I have no other information on Vandana Pandit.
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I too a big fan of Vandana Pandit..She did one play called Ghasiram Kotwal..But apart from that there is no single information about her on net..Did she stopped working after Astvinayak? Or did she married and went abroad? I am curious to know about her…
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What does the line “Prathama Tula Vandito” means in Marathi?
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It means: “I pray (vandito) to you (tula) first (prathama).
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Marathi Bhakti Geet and Abhang have their own beauty. It is fulfilling to hear Pratham Tula Vandito…and gives lots of peace and hope. Well meaning lyrics and well sung with a soothing music always fresh.
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Marathi Bhakti Geet and Abhang have their own beauty. It is fulfilling to hear Pratham Tula Vandito…and gives lots of peace and hope. Well meaning lyrics and well sung with a soothing music always fresh.
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