References to nature are commonly found in chaitis ‒ songs that celebrate Chaitra, the first month in the Hindu calendar, which began on March 21 this year. But some song-texts may not have any mention of natural beauty and focus instead on the erotic content.
Nirmala Devi
Yehi Theyia Motia Herayi Gayili Rama
The first track features thumri-dadra exponent Nirmala Devi. She sings a chaiti that follows the typical melodic and rhythmic framework that forms the commonly heard template. Set to Deepchandi, a time cycle or taal with 14 units or matras, it is interspersed with departures into the eight matra Kaherva, played expressively by tabla maestro Nizamuddin Khan. The nayika or female protagonist in the song-text tries to locate a piece of jewellery, which implies that it was lost in the dishevelment following a sexual encounter.
Rasoolan Bai
Piya milan hum jayibo Rama
Rasoolan Bai, a respected thumri-dadra performer from a generation preceding Nirmala Devi's, sings a chaiti that does not follow the template referred to earlier. It is set to Sitarkhani also called Addha, a 16 matra taal. The narrative describes the emotional state of the nayika who yearns to meet her beloved, now that she has come of age. The song-text is a reminder of a social phenomenon that saw girls married off as child brides.
Shobha Gurtu
Piya Milan Hum Jaibe
Shobha Gurtu sings the same song-text, but with a different melodic structure set to the six matra Dadra, that changes to Kaherva towards the end. She is accompanied by Purushottam Walawalkar on harmonium and Dhruba Ghosh on sarangi, while I play tabla.
Listen to songs in the first part of this series here.
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Nirmala Devi
Yehi Theyia Motia Herayi Gayili Rama
The first track features thumri-dadra exponent Nirmala Devi. She sings a chaiti that follows the typical melodic and rhythmic framework that forms the commonly heard template. Set to Deepchandi, a time cycle or taal with 14 units or matras, it is interspersed with departures into the eight matra Kaherva, played expressively by tabla maestro Nizamuddin Khan. The nayika or female protagonist in the song-text tries to locate a piece of jewellery, which implies that it was lost in the dishevelment following a sexual encounter.
Rasoolan Bai
Piya milan hum jayibo Rama
Rasoolan Bai, a respected thumri-dadra performer from a generation preceding Nirmala Devi's, sings a chaiti that does not follow the template referred to earlier. It is set to Sitarkhani also called Addha, a 16 matra taal. The narrative describes the emotional state of the nayika who yearns to meet her beloved, now that she has come of age. The song-text is a reminder of a social phenomenon that saw girls married off as child brides.
Shobha Gurtu
Piya Milan Hum Jaibe
Shobha Gurtu sings the same song-text, but with a different melodic structure set to the six matra Dadra, that changes to Kaherva towards the end. She is accompanied by Purushottam Walawalkar on harmonium and Dhruba Ghosh on sarangi, while I play tabla.
Listen to songs in the first part of this series here.
