*A song has a few rights the same as ordinary citizens... if it happens to feel like flying where humans cannot fly... to scale mountains that are not there, who shall stop it?
~Charles Ives
I was eagerly looking forward to Kailash Kher’s third album, Chaandan Mein... but for whatever reason, when I heard the songs for the first time... I was disappointed. In fact I remember talking to Ifus about my disappointment... so having mouth padded Chaandan Mein, I had decided not to write a review.. but then I had not reckoned with the magic called Kailasa... I found myself humming snippets of songs off and on... Monday, when I was feeling blue, I couldn’t get the refrain of "Aavo ji.. aavo ji" out of my head...
And then when it rained over the weekend... I was humming, "Bheeg gaya mera mann"... Could I have judged the album too hastily, too harshly? It was time to give the songs a suno... so Sunday night, having watched Music and Lyrics for the umpteenth time, I got the CD out... for if the album could replace "Find my way back into love" in my head, its worth it.. (Weird? well, this is Nonu, remember?)
The album kicks off with the title track, Chaandan Mein.. with beautiful yet a simple tune, and heartfelt https://lyrics. The song has a rustic feel to it. Its a love ballad, an ode to the beloved, who is compared to the Moon... reminds me of beautiful Harsingar flowers falling on the ground in moonlight... a shower of moonbeams and flowers, making the night beautiful, poignant and heartbreaking. Kailash’s voice has come into his own in this song.
*Chaandan mein main takoon ri,
Teraa sonaa mukhdaa,
Pyaara pyaara mukhdaa.
Aanchal mein mainrakhoon ri,
Chandaa kaa tukda,
Eh ji pyaaraa mukhdaa.
Tu dhare jaahaan paaon toh,
Muskaaye yeh dharti,
Saiyaan, saiyaan…*
This song is easily the pick of the album, well one of them... its worth buying the CD just for this one... the alaap at the end has the power of stopping you dead in your tracks.. leaving you breathless, yet ecstatic.
With the second song Na Batati Tu (Na dhin dhinna), the mood abruptly changes... a fusion of Sitar and absolutely funky https://lyrics... Na Dhin Dhinna, specially in the beginning is absolutely fun. Don’t listen to this song when you are working, for you are bound to break into a gig.. and then there might be a lot of explaining to do. ( I am singing aloud as I am listening to it, post midnight, my dog looking at me warily, so you can imagine). The chorus at the end is so much fun just when I am listening to it, I am dying to try it out with friends.. am sure its gonna rock. Listen to it, the beginning and the end leave you with a euphoric high!
Teri Yaad Mein** is a song which will definitely test your patience. But give it time... and a few hearings, and you will fall in love with it. Typical of Kher, the song has been composed from the perspective of a woman who is grieving for her beloved who has gone away. Somehow, I am always mesmerized by Kher when he sings the feminine lyrics, truly Sufi!!!
Moond ke baithi hoon main ankhiyaan
tum aavo to kholoon
ghar aangan galiyaan kar kona
tumko samajh tatoloon
tera aana, jeevan paana
bhookh mite aur pyaas
khushiyon ki hove barsaat, teri yaad mein*
*Jaanoon na tere siva...
koi baat teri yaad mein...*
Bheeg gaya mera mann** ~ Ah... I absolutely love this song... with wonderful and different lyrics, foot tapping music, its simply electrifying. Vintage Kailasa stuff, it has the "sondhi mitti ki khushboo" feel to it.
Teekhi teekhi nukeeli si boondein,
Behke behke se baadal ooneendey,
Geet gaati hawa mein,
Gungunaati ghata mein,
Bheeg gayaa mera mann.*
Listen to the song, you might just feel that your parched heart and soul have been drenched with peace.
Ishq ho gaya, which talks about the despair of a woman whose love is doomed, might or might not work for you, depending on your mood.
Piya Ghar Aavenge**~ is a song which starts so softly you have to strain your ears to hear it... I love the way tempo changes from Antara to Mukhdha... going from a low octave to high, and then settling down towards the end of the stanza. You might notice that the lyrics are happy, but the song evokes a bitter-sweet pain, and I was wondering for the pathos in it, till I read somewhere that Kailash had composed the song right after his father’s demise.
Aeri sakhi magal gaavo ri,
Dharti ambar saajaao re,
Utaregi aaj mere peeh ki sawaari.
Ari koi kajal laao ri,
Mohe kaalaa teekaa lagaao ri,
Unki chab se dikhoon main to pyaari.
Lakhsmi jeevaaro,
Nazar utaaro,
Aaj mere piya ghar aavenge.
Aaj mere piya ghar aavenge.
Rang rang ma - is another masti track. The beginning (with puppet show kind sounds, maybe musically trained ears can help out here) is addictive, what with Kailash chanting Rang rang ma... It has a joie-de-vivre which is infectious to say the least. I can actually imagine Kailash, Naresh and Paresh giving each other high fives once the song recording would have gotten over.. its that electrifying!
Kar kar main hara is a song I am yet to make up my mind about. It has soul stirring, yet simple lyrics, but I am not very convinced if the guitar has not spoilt the mood of the song. Maybe, maybe not! It needs more patience yet. :o)
Chaandan mein demands your patience and unflagging attention, like a true classic, it doesn’t reveal its secrets and pleasures to those in a hurry, but be patient, give it time, it will take you to heights and vistas you must have explored with the Kailasa, and Kailasa Jhoomo re. After all, it talks about a love which is willing to wait endlessly, willing to pass the test of time and fate... Go for Chaandan mein, you wont be disappointed. After all it brings peace within, which is saying a lot, considering the fact that there’s no peace outside.