Though almost all Indian festivals are full of gaiety and splendour yet none has a closer affinity to song and dance than Holi. The advent of the Holi festival may be too well recorded in folk lore but none knows how it acquired such a gigantic appeal or what enthused different musical artistes to give their own interesting interpretations of this colourful spectacle. However, feasting on the rich tapestry of cultural music traditions, Hindi film and non film music practitioners have enriched our aesthetic coffers with some outstanding gems of absolute delight.
To many, it may not be apparent that the playful and mischievously naughty Lord Krishna is central to most Holi songs. With his unique persona in the annals of world literature, Krishna is an obvious choice since he is at once a companion as well as a saviour to all of us. But that does not mean “Holi Khelat Nandlal Biraj Mein” from “Godan” is just one of the routine songs with Krishna as the central figure of our attention. Far from it; in fact, it is so well imbued with rustic flavour that most people are still ensnared with its pastoral musical sounds, innocent imagery and robust singing. With Anjaan’s innocent lyrics, ace sitarist Ravi Shankar created a timeless classic in Rafi’s full-bodied vocals, making deft use of folk sounds and instruments to carry an authentic rural stamp of grace and simplicity.
If Naushad’s “Tan Rung Lo Ji Aaj man Rang Lo” (“Kohinoor”), “Holi Aayi Re Kanhai Rung Barse” (“Mother India”) and “Khelo Rung Hamare Sung” (“Aan”) are all time favourite Holi songs, it is because they too resonate with the fragrance of our soil and secular spirit, exhibiting goodwill and bonhomie that are intrinsic to the mass appeal of Holi. It is this exuberance and strength of our society’s humanism which Ravi and Shakeel Badayuni captured in Asha Bhosle’s “Layi Hain Hazaron Rung Holi” in “Phool Aur Patthar” to encapsulate our unity in diversity on screen.
Indeed, from time to time, the festival of colours has evoked magnificent creations so as to motivate us in to a foot tapping ritual. Savour the virtuosity of Asha Bhosle and Manna Dey in “Holi Re Holi Rungon Ki Holi” (“Paraya Dhan”) or the vocal jibing of Asha and Mahendra Kapooor in “Arre Jaa Re Hat Natkhat” (“Navrang”); you’ll realise these gems must be heard more often and not relegated only to odd celebratory occasions or evenings. If R D Burman gets the singers to twist their tongues in rapid fire succession, C Ramchandra makes them go through vocal gyrations that are sheer delight to ears.
Masses have normally given thumbs up to songs that are soothing yet peppy enough to convey the innocent gaiety and revelry of Holi. That is why “Bam Bambam Bam Lahiri” (“Do Dil”), “O Phagun Aayo Re” (“Phagun”),“Aaj na Chhodenge” (“Kati Patang”) or “Rang Barse” (“Silsila”) have found takers all over the country with their innate lyrics of tease and naughtiness. However, delicate creations too like the duets “Holi Aayi Pyaari Pyaari Bhar Pichkari (“Pooja”) and “Mat Maro Shyam Pichkari” “Durgesh Nandini” have earned praise for their accent on the subtle intricacies of romance.
Like Holi is unique in its construct and execution, its songs too come from vivid spectrums. If you really wish to enjoy the colourful festival, it is imperative that you also lend your ears to some of the great compositions of our classical singers also. Only when you have heard Juthika Roy’s impeccable rendition of “Holi Ki Machi Hai Dhoom”, it’ll dawn upon you how sweet are the perils of Holi for the frailer sex. The classicists carry you on a different journey of tonal inflections and nuances that soothe your mind yet sensitise you to the playful vagaries of Holi. Listen to Shubha Mudgal’s exquisite “ Kanhaiya Chalo Mori Guiyan” or Girija Devi’s “Aisi Holi Na Khelo” to drench your soul in vivid colours without a splash of water!
Hori, the special songs for festival, are an absolute delight especially if you were to come across a few creations of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Begum Akhtar or compositions like “Rung Daaroongi Daaroongi” and “Barjori Karo Na Mose” by Pt Chhanulal Mishra or Savita Devi respectively. Cascading your mental canvas with a stream of exquisitely coloured ideas and mellifluous inflections, you are left speechless in amazing admiration. Indeed, to think Holi is just a festival of merry making is grossly undermining its importance since it is an occasion to build bridges of love and hope. And pray what better than some magnificent songs to help you find yourself as well as strengthen your cherished relations? If, as the Bard said, music is the food of love, then just play on!