Tori jai jai kartaar
Posted on: April 11, 2014
This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.
This article is the 9700th song post in the blog.
It is often said that the language of music is universal. “Music is the universal language of mankind”-said Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
“where word fails, music speaks”- said Hans Christian Anderson. Heinriche Heine also said something similar- “where words leave off music begins”.
But music, like spoken words, have their own vocabulary, grammar, language etc. And one needs to be familiar with them if one has to appreciate them. There are certain kind of music (pop music, folk music) that people may find easy to enjoy, often without fully understanding them. But the enjoyment of music goes several notches higher, if we are able to appreciate them more knowledgeably. To take a very simple example of a typical Hindi movie song, one can enjoy it without knowing anything about it, but we can appreciate it better if we know details like singer, lyricist, music director as well as the movie the song is from. If we know the lyrics and understand the meaning, and also the reason for the song to appear in the movie, we are able to appreciate the song that much better.
But there are kinds of music that takes considerably more effort and learning on the part of the music lover to be able to appreciate it fully. Take for instance the classical music of any kind, whether it is Western classical music or Indian classical music. Unless one has been trained in such kind of music, one cannot appreciate or for that matter even understand what is going on.
In India, majority of population are untrained in many important fields, and classical music is one such field. Majority of people in India are so busy making both ends meet in their daily lives that they do not have time for such “unproductive” pastimes like learning to appreciate classical music. Worse, many people are so ignorant in such matters that they find classical music as something amusing and make fun of it. As a child growing up in 1970s, I found classical music as well as old Hindi film songs Of K L Saigal etc amusing and I wondered why they could not sing like the then modern Hindi movie singers, viz Kishore Kumar etc. Ignorant people like me were in a majority (they still are) and movie makers would take the easy way out and would make fun of such music themselves, while the right thing of the movie makers would be to make movie goers aware of such music and show them how to appreciate such music.
Fortunately, the movie makers and music directors of the golden era had far better taste and class. Though they composed music for the ordinary movie goers, some of them would go out of their way to include semi classical songs situations too in their movies. In some cases, movie makers and music ditrectors made it a point to get renowned classical singers to sing in their movies. Quite a few of them would go and attend classical music performances of renowned ustaads.
Bhimsen Joshi, Amir Khan, D V Paluskar, Krishnarao Chonkar, Rahat Fatah Ali Khan, Ustaad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustaad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Ustad Sultan Khan are some of the big names of Hindustani classical music who were prevailed upon by movie makers to sing in Hindi movies. In some cases, they were paid unheard of amounts to make then sing in Hindi movies.
Unfortunately appreciation of classical music among public is quite low and as a result classical singers are far less known and appreciated than the “pop” singers. Bhimsen Joshi became a well known figure among lay public only after he sang “Mile Sur Mera Tumhaara” in 1989. Till then, even his paanwaala was not aware about his musical credentials.
It was Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali who always used to say that this country would never have been divided if Hindustani classical music was taught to one child in every home. I also read a moving tale of Albert Einstein who was once invited to a western classical music concert. There he befriended a young reporter. On finding that the reporter did not know anything about classical music, Einstein took him out of the hall and taught him the nuances of classical music step by step. When the two came back to the hall much later, the hostess of the programme commented that Einstein had missed witnessing some wonderful music. Einstein remarked that he had made very good use of this time while he was missing out on the music in the hall.
How I wish that I was well versed in appreciating classical music. Unfortunately I am not which means that I can only vaguely know what is going on when a classical music piece in played.
“Baiju Baawra” (1952) was one movie in which Ustaad Ameer Khan was especially brought in to sing a couple of classical songs. Some eight years later, Ustaad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was brought in to sing in “Mughal e Azam” (1960). In between the two movies. Shankar Jaikishan used Bhimsen Joshi’s voice in a memorable song in “Basant Bahaar” (1956).
Here is a classical song from “Baiju Baawra” (1952). This song , composed in Raag Pooriya Dhanaashri is sung by Ustaad Ameer Khan. Shakeel Badayuni is the lyricist. Music is composed by Naushad.
Listening to this song in morning time is a divine experience. This song, the thirteenth and final song from “Baiju Baawra” (1952) happens to be the 9700th song (or rather write up) of this blog. And I feel that this classical song is a befitting century song for the blog.
Here is this song, the thirteenth and final song from the movie. This song is the movie opening song of “Baiju Baawra” (1952). The song plays as credits roll on the screen. The picturisation shows Surendra (playing Tansen) singing this song (in Ustaad Ameer Khan’s voice) in Akbar’s darbaar. As the song ends, Tansen gets Mughal darbaar’s version of standing ovation which consists of appreciative music lovers (standing at quite a distance away from the site of performance, it would seem to me) shouting “Miyaan Tansen Zindabad.” 🙂 It is interesting to know that common public understood classical music those days unlike what is the case now. 🙂
It is quite appropriate to use a classical musician of the calibre of Ustaad Ameer Khan to sing for the character of Tansen and it shows the extent to which the makers of “Baiju Baawra” (1952) went to lend class to their creation.
With this song, now the tally in the blog stands at 9700 ! The musical juggernaut rolls on, and we are now quite close to the five figure mark of songs in the blog. Moreover, the quality of articles accompanying the songs, and invaluable informations contained in the writeups as well as in the comments that follow has already made this blog a valuable source of authentic information of HFM. The support that this blog has been receiving from contributors, readers, visitors and other well wishers is the source of strength and motivation for all of us.
I take this opportunity to thank one and all. Let the musical bandwagon go on and on.
Song-Tori jai jai kartaar (Baiju Baawra)(1952) Singer-Ustaad Ameer Khan, Lyrics-Shakeel Badayuni, MD-Naushad
Lyrics
aaaa
aaa aaa
aaa aaaa aaa
aaa aaa
tori jai jai Kartaar
tori jai jai Kartaar
mori bhar de aaj jholiyaan
tu Rahim daata
tu paak kirtikaar
tori jai jai Kartaar,
tori
Tansen ko ru Rab
gyaan dhyaan deejo sab
Tansen ko tu Rab
aaa aaa aaa
aaa aaa aaa
Ta
Tansen ko tu Rab
gyaan dhyaan deejo sab
aa aaa aaa
aaa aaa aaa
aaa aaa aaa
Tansen ko tu Rab
gyaan dhyaan deejo sab
raagrang saagar hai
kar de naiyya paar
tori jai jai Kartaar
tori
aaa aaa aaa
aaa aaa aaa
aaa aaa aaa
tori jai jai Kartaar
to..
tori ee ee
jai
jai Kartaar aar
aaa aaa aaa
tori jai jai Kartaar
to…
ga ma dha ni re dha ni
….
re sa
tori jai jai Kartaar,
to …
ga ma dha ni….
tori jai jai Kartaar ,
to
aa aa aa
tori jai jai kartaar
aa aaa aa aa
aaa aa aa aa
jai jai Kartaar
to …
aaa aaa aaa aaa
aaa aa aa aa
aa aa aa aa
aaa aa aa
jai jai ae
11 Responses to "Tori jai jai kartaar"
April 11, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Atul ji, if you don’t mind one small correction,IMHO Puriya Dhanashree is normally sung at transition from noon to evening ( A Sandhiprakash Raag), comments on you tube link seem to be incorrect.
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April 11, 2014 at 4:32 pm
This article gives much valuable information.Most Indians might lack a technical and formal theoretical knowledge of classical music, but till the radio and TV invaded, they had an innate musical sense. Mothers used to sing to the children, songs were sung on important family and social occasions, music was an integral part of our religious worship- so that most of us had some exposure to music in the course of our daily living.
In the countryside where I grew up, I had observed agricultural workers in the filed singing native tunes while drawing water from the well, driving carts, pulling weights, etc. Categories like fishermen, boatmen etc had their own brand of songs.Even in the late fifties and early sixties when I was in college, I had seen hotels, even pan-beedi shops turning on their radios to receive classical music broadcast on AIR. (AIR was against film music for which one had to turn to Radio Ceylon).
Our film producers those days made good use of classical music and certainly helped to spread the taste for good music among the cinegoers. In this respect, I feel that our Music Directors were great geniuses- within the limitations of 78 rpm records, they immortalised ragas through film songs. I find every single MD of those days has left a legacy of very good tunes based on classical ragas.. My children who have learned classical music point out to me that most of the 50-60 year old songs which we still hum are all based on ragas, even if they appear modern- like mana janab ne ,muft huve badnaam, mujhe milgayi hai, abhi na jao chod kar, chand phir nikla, etc., apart from patently raga-based songs like madhuban mein radhika, suhani raat, nain so nain nahi milav etc. Each of our old grand MDs was a gem of pure ray serene who never forgot our musical heritage, even if they copied or adapted western tunes occasionally. Likewise, our playback artistes have lent their voice to many soulful tunes and thus made the ragas live in our hearts. It was said in some quarters that Kishore Kumar lacked training in classical music but so what? Listen to the way he sang the song ‘wo meri taraf yun’ in Kafila or the line ‘ishq ki bazi seedi bazi’ in the song ‘wo dekhe to’ in Funtoosh or ‘chhota sa ghar hoga’ in Naukri.or even ‘Zindagi ke safar mein’ in Aap Ki Kasam. It was certainly up to the MD to bring out the potential in the singer. And I feel most of our old giant MDs have done extremely well in the choice of ragas, tunes, selection of artistes to sing particular songs, etc.
Your site provides much valuable information and insight into the intricacies of our film music and allied subjects.. I take this opportunity to bow to all the great personalities who created our great film music over the years. I also thank you for this site which is like an open university!
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April 11, 2014 at 6:59 pm
Atul ji – Jai ho !
‘atulsongaday’ – Jai ho!!!
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April 11, 2014 at 8:20 pm
Congratulations to Atulji and all his fans on reaching this milestone and adding one more movie in the list of all songs covered.
I am not a knowledgeable person in the field of Indian classical music, but there are few singers whose heavenly voice transfers me in the blissful mood irrespective of time/raga. Baiju Bawra will always be in my heart for it’s songs, music, story, acting, picturization….. The most powerful movie of Hindi cinema in the classical genre. Thanks to Vijay Bhatt, Naushad sahab, Shakeel Badayuni, Bharat Bhushan, Meena Kumari, Surendra, Bipin Gupta, Rattan Kumar & Baby Tabassum and Kuldeep Kaur for her powerful acting.
Thanks Atulji for the wonderful post. You made my day (my local time) 🙂
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April 12, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Great going. Inching towards the magic number. Carry on the good work. If music is food for love. Play on. Thanks
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April 12, 2014 at 1:45 pm
An appropriate piece when you are reaching the another crossroad. Wonderful rendition from Ustad Ameer Khan. Incidentally the Carnatic Raag Kamavardhini resembles Purya Dhansree of Hindusthani Sangeet.
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April 12, 2014 at 1:49 pm
Atulji,
Everyone must have gone through the same phase. Initially it is difficult to digest Saigal and NFS. But as our taste gets matured we began to like them.
Take the real life situation. Ask those who likes karela and methi bhaji, whether they liked them when they were kids. Invariably the answer will be no. There may be exceptions; but how do they like beer which is quite bitter
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August 8, 2014 at 1:17 am
YIPPEEEE!! Baiju Bawra (1952) finally joins the ranks of movies where all songs from the movie have been discussed on this blog. Thank you and Congratulations! Atul Ji!
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
April 11, 2014 at 4:25 pm
Congratulations Atulji for reaching another landmark! 9700 songs with lyrics, a momentous achievement! Hats off……please take a bow! Actually you too deserve standing ovation from members – albeit from chairs chairs w/o standing physically 🙂 , for sheer perseverance of effort!
Warm Regards
Umesh
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