Music

I cannot remember a time when I was not surrounded by music. Amma, my mother and a trained musician, always had a song on her lips. She would often be joined by Appa, my father, who though not a formally trained musician, was very knowledgeable about music. Though I have learnt music formally, it is the informal learning that I have imbibed over the years that drives my instinctive passion for music.

Music is a quiet passion for me. It is a passion of the heart and one that I prefer not to talk about or get into discussions on the merits or demerits of one system of music over another system for music, or one singer over another. I cannot also explain or rationalise why I like one form of music and dislike another. All I know is that some music does not affect me while others touch my heart, nay soul, like the ones listed below.

• Kahat Kabir suno bhai saadho …
• Love and poetry through the ages: A Bharatanatyam performance by Alarmel Valli
• A Sufiana experience for the mind, body and soul
• The incredible music of Salim Khan and Sikander Langha
• Of music and memories in Pune: 22 years on
• The magic of the Peony Pavilion
• The incredible music of the Thar at Suryagarh
• Tyagaraja’s tambura

Music is also inextricably intertwined with my faith and belief in the divine and in is an ongoing journey. Perhaps a lifelong journey too.

• Faith and music: An ongoing journey 

My “now” song: This is a song that is stuck in my head. And just refuses to go away. For some time at least. The “now” song could be a song, an instrumental piece, a jingle, etc. and the “nowness” (pardon my English here) could be for any length of time.

• Zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat
• Abhi naa jao chhod kar
• Pachelbel’s Canon in D
• Phir wohi raaste
• Raske bhare tore nain
• Jithe sagara
• The silent anthem
• Ve chori chori tere naal
• Apni toh har aah ik toofan hai
• Kangna in Raga Malkauns
• Maula maula maula mere maula
• Yesterday once more
• Baabul moraa naihar chooto hi jaye
• Zindagi mere ghar aana
• Nimbonichya zadamage
• D.K. Pattammal singing Jana Gana Mana
• Prathama tula vandito
• Ya Ali
• Daya Ghana
• Dasht-e-tanhai
• Anjan ki siti
• Oh re taal mile nadi ke jal mein
• Kuchh toh log kahenge
• Ab ke baras bhejo
• Kabhi neem neem, Kabhi shahad shahad
• Aao balma
• Piku’s background score
• Umraah langiyaan / Chhan chhan chhankan 
• Ambwa talay dola rakh de niharwa
• Allahvai naam thozhudaal
• Allahu Akbar
• Baisara beera
• Like a Winter’s Dream

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