Timeout - Magical Monsoon Melodies

by Megha Bajaj

If the drip-drop of rains is not music enough, here is a wonderful CD containing some melodious folk songs welcoming and appreciating the rainy season. The form used is thumri, a semi-classical mode of music having an interesting history. The story of thumri began in the Gangetic plains where the peasants heralded seasons with their hypnotic folk songs. In the latter half of the 18th century, in the twilight of the Mughal rule, these folk songs acquired a classical touch, polish and ornamentation and thus was born thumri as we know it today. In this album, the central theme is of the pining 'nayika' who is separated from her beloved as the dark clouds gather in the sky. The songs in the latter part of the CD depict the joyous moments when the 'sakhis' are revelling in the rain as Radha and Krishna swing in amorous delight. The singer, Dhanashree Pandit, is one of the leading exponents of the thumri genre. Her powerful voice evokes several emotions in the listener like yearning for the beloved, pain of separation, and joy in the reunion. She aspires with this CD to give thumri its rightful place on the concert stage, which is presently dominated by the khayal form.