Nirvana

I’m listening to Nirvana, after a really long gap. Brings back some weird and old memories. Everybody around me in college days used to love them. Man who sold the world was an anthem. Even now, if any of us starts…. tanaa-na-na-nanan …everyone else catches up…. we passed upon the stairs…..

I dont know what’s there in Nirvana which binds you, makes you resonate with the music… phyisically as well. You start moving in sync with the base. There are very few bands which have that affect… I guess “release me” Pearl Jam and to some extenct Alanis.

From Gazhals to Qawwalis

I’ve recently graduated from ghazals to qawwalis. Half an hour back I was listening to gazhals (obviously Ghalib), and now I’m listening to some real old qawaalis (Bollywood 1950s). So the graduation is that recent!!

Whatever, I never realized before that qawwalis can be that expressive, soothing, romantic and philosophical at the same time. The one which is currently struck in my head, and going to remain stuck for a while, is:

Na to kaarawa.n ki talaash hai,
Na to humsafar ki talaash hai.
Mere shaukhe-e-khana kharaab ko,
Teri rehguzar ki talaash.

Mere na-muraad is junoon ka,
ab hai ilaaj koi to maut hai.
Jo davaa ke naam pe zeher de,
us charaagar ki talaash hai.

Well must thank one of my uncles for giving me this age old song.

dhoop ka tukDa

jaaDe ke dino me
dhoop ka ek tukDa
aataa hai mere aangan me
naTkhaT bacche sa.
ek kone se
doosre kone tak,
reshami vastra sa
sarakataa hua,
dauDataa hai.
khijataa hai.
sukhaane ko daali gayi
cheezon ko sarkaate,
THanD se THiTHuri
deh ko garamaate,
subah se shaam tak
thakaa daalata hai
wah naTkhaT
dhoop ka tukDa

(By Radha Janardan)
(Image – on a winter afternoon in my mother’s kitchen)