Dasht-e-Tanhai

So In between my WCM (Western Classical Music) craze I suddenly remembered this song.

By an absolutely phenomenal poet- Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

His command over the language and the sheer feelings he invokes are amazing.

Some of his poems have been sung by some of the best Women Ghazal singers ever.

This one that I have included here was sung by Iqbal Bano. This is just so romantic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXy8D9Qvw04

The Lyrics: 

By Faiz Ahmed Faiz (Translated by Ayesha Kaljuvee- whoever she is!- She did a fabulous job though!)

dasht-e-tanhaai mein, ai jaan-e-jahaan, larzaan hain 

In the desert of my solitude, oh love of my life, quiver
teri avaaz ke saaye, 
the shadows of your voice,
tere honthon ke saraab 
the mirage of your lips

dasht-e-tanhaai mein, 
In the desert of my solitude,
duri ke khas-o-khaak tale
beneath the dust and ashes of distance
khil rahe hain tere pehlu ke saman aur gulaab
bloom the jasmines and roses of your proximity

uht rahi hai kahin qurbat se 
From somewhere very close,
teri saans ki aanch 
rises the warmth of your breath
apani khushbuu mein sulagti hui 
smouldering in its own aroma,
maddham maddham 
slowly, bit by bit.

dur ufaq par chamakati hui 
far away, across the horizon, glistens
qatra qatra
drop by drop
gir rahi hai teri dil daar nazar ki shabnam 
the falling dew of your beguiling glance

is qadar pyaar se hai jaan-e jahaan rakkhaa hai 
With such tenderness, O love of my life,
dil ke rukhsaar pe 
on the cheek of my heart,
is vaqt teri yaad ne haath
has your memory placed its hand right now

yun guman hota hai 
that it looks as if
garche hai abhi subah-e-firaaq
(though it's still the dawn of adieu)
dhal gaya hijr ka din 
the sun of separation has set
aa bhi gaye vasl ki raat 
and the night of union has arrived.

 I am going to put just the english verses together so you can read it as a poem to get the true meaning of it.

In the desert of my solitude, oh love of my life,

Quiver, the shadows of your voice,
the mirage of your lips.

In the desert of my solitude,
beneath the dust and ashes of distance,
bloom the jasmines and roses of your proximity

From somewhere very close,
rises the warmth of your breath,
smoldering in its own aroma,
slowly, bit by bit.

Far away, across the horizon, glistens
drop by drop
the falling dew of your beguiling glance

With such tenderness, O love of my life,
on the cheek of my heart,
has your memory placed its hand right now

that it looks as if
(though it's still the dawn of adieu)
the sun of separation has set
and the night of union has arrived.

Some of the other Ghazals I like from him are

Hum ke thehre ajnabi itni madaraton ke baad (Nayyara Noor)

(We have stayed strangers after so many interactions)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB7aZ8RYTD4

It's really funny- when I was a kid-I used to think this was a song written by a prostitute for a loved patron but actually it's actually about the Pakistan Bangladesh Partition!!!!

Tum Mere Pass Raho... Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Nayyara Noor.

 (Stay close to me)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5W-f9PWz_4

Nothing quite like love and depression to get the creative juices and emotions flowing!!!!

Ave Maria

So this is a highly unusual post for me given it's about a prayer and I'm strongly atheistic!

So my whole fascination for Western Classical Music (WCM) caught fire after I heard this song - it was in a bunch of Music I took from my sister- and it just said Ave Maria- Schubert.

No identifications of any sort.

Before this I never understood the fascination for the high women Soprano voices in the  WCM world - but this changed my mind.

To understand how crazy I am about it- I actually heard a million renditions of Ave Maria by Schubert by any WCM singer I could find on YouTube till I managed to identify the voice! And here it is- I hope you enjoy it. 



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDyiYEdTp-U

On thinking about it- it's possible I like it so much despite the prayer aspect of it for a couple of reasons

1. It's in German so I can't understand the words! J

2. The Music is BEAUTIFUL

3. Despite being an atheist - I almost envy people who have faith as I think it really empowers them and gives them a sense of being loved and looked after unconditionally that atheists just don’t have! And in hearing the singer you really get the feeling she means this prayer with all her heart.


I find  anything that is shared with the outside world and is so heartfelt is always moving even if you don't agree with it.

It's like putting yourself out there- never an easy job. But I think artists do it the most- in varying degrees.

Creativity is so inherent- like something bubbling inside you that you just need to get out somehow- some means.

Not to take away from others but I find painters and writers as some of the most exposed creators- especially writers. So much of what they write exposes their life experiences and really how and what they think to the whole world (and I don't mean like this blog- duh- I mean unwittingly though the characters in their fiction)

One of the Authors I feel most about this Jhumpa Lahiri.

I've read most of her books (except Lowland) and appreciated them- I am not sure I would say enjoyed as despite being very engrossing and well written they have such a strong strain of depression through them that they never invoked a feeling of enjoyment in me.

The last I read her was when " the Unaccustomed earth" came out.




Halfway  through- I went to such a dark place that I refused to read anything of hers again- the feelings her characters share are so raw and so real it's like you are going through it yourself and they all have many issues and things depressing them!!!

It may not be true but I definitely get the feeling Ms. Lahiri has and maybe is battling depression. But then so many artists do.

I don't know if it makes me shallow but I really have to grit my teeth to read/ watch something depressing- which (who knows why) I still do. Maybe because the voice of the author or director is sometimes just so good- it would be a shame to miss it.

So one such movie is  Incendies



This is a Canadian - Middle Eastern movie.

I saw it without knowing the plot other than it was based in Canada and the Middle East and was fabulous, as it was recommended to me by a sister. When it played in a nearby movie theater  I saw it, came out of the theater and called my sister to say "Whatever possessed you to recommend I see it? And then a " Thank you"


It was one of the better made movies I have seen and definitely one of the most disturbing!

Realistic enough that a lot of what they show has obviously and unfortunately been taken from the world today and strange enough that you know this is not true.

If you are strong of heart and think you can handle it- give it a try!

Anyway- this is getting very dark. I will leave you with a another singer I have discovered too- Bernarda Fink. The song I wanted to embed here doesn't have a YouTube link so here's a different piece by her


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRhzSh2bEcI

Enjoy!

An ode to Franz Schubert Sonata (Duo) in A major (Op. 162 I. Allegro moderato)

So I know nothing about Western Classical music ( I call it Western Classical as the "Classical" I grew up with was Indian Classical- referred to as just Classical music!)

Anyway- I came across this piece by Franz Schubert and now have one of my super crazy crushes on it- have it on auto play the whole day (and will sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and have a quick listen to it too). It is just so evocative though to be honest I don't know what all it makes me feel. I may just write about him later- like many geniuses- a life full of strife!

Have a listen BUT - make sure that there is no noise around you and either you have headphones or a really good surround sound system. You won't get the feel of the piece at all otherwise. My favorite place to listen to it is in the car as I can crank up the volume and am immersed in it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5TzODL8bQE

So, after being asked, I sat and analyzed what exactly I like about this and I realized while I like the complete piece, it is the portion (of the violin) between 0:08 seconds and 0:42 seconds as the piece starts that I love.

For me when I hear this bit- I catch my breath- despite being analytic enough to realize that that is what I like- I still hold my breath every time I hear it.

That particular bit is repeated a few times during the piece. It is pretty short but I think as I like it so much and wait for it to come back in the music- it’s the anticipation that's got me hooked!

Which made me realize so much of what is exciting in life is anticipation and deprivation!

I mean- think about it- anticipating things is so exciting- when younger- if your 'crush' will talk to you, or a party, a holiday, meeting people, entering college, hot tea on a rainy day (with pakora's) - all these things create pleasure in the mind and thus body. A side effect of happy anticipation is a constant smile on your face!

Anticipation is defined as an emotion involving pleasure, excitement (and sometimes anxiety) in considering some expected or longed-for good event.

But so often- the actual event isn't as exciting as the anticipation- leading to the famous saying "Be careful what you wish for - you may get it!" But then so often it is!

So what I find interesting- is that sometimes we like something so much we overdose on it- unfettered access to whatever it is that we want can sometimes actually make it lose its charm. It's really sad but I do think people forget the value of things if it is easily accessible to them. 

Of course anticipation can be created too! One of the most interesting methods in this (and I am quite quite sure that wasn't why this custom was introduced) is the custom that some Orthodox/ Hasidic Jewish women sometimes follow.

In this custom for 2 weeks a month they are not allowed to have ANY contact with their spouse- no touch- nothing at all till after they have done Mikveh!

Something like this would probably render the spouse way more attractive that just routine! I mean there's something so attractive about the thing that you are not supposed to do! That’s certainly a way of keeping the magic alive in your marriage ;)

Back to Anticipation - I think it's important to have things in life that you are anticipating- it keeps you happy in small doses- if you have nothing you are looking forward to- that's just sad.

Sometimes- one is in a place where one feels like there is nothing good happening or nothing to look forward to but one really has to break out of it and start anticipating small stuff to make your life and you happier- a cup of tea with a friend- a good book- a good movie.  Good food, a nice hug from someone. A holiday. The sun shining!

I think the biggest thing anyone can do for themselves is try to stay happy- by whatever ( legal and non harmful to others) way. I mean everyone has some stuff in their lives that they need to do but don't like- but try to make it fun- eg. loud music while doing house work, grocery shopping  with a friend etc.

If you think of something you are anticipating- let me know ( in other words- comment!!)

Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

Where'd You Go, Bernadette?  is one of the best books I have read recently and given I read at least 3-4 books a week - that's high recommendation from Moi! Would rate it an 8/10

The author is Maria Semple. Her back ground is in script writing for really funny shows like   Mad About You, Saturday Night Live, Arrested Development, Suddenly Susan and Ellen.

And thankfully she brings her talent to this multi faceted fabulous book. Coming across a good book is such a pleasure but it brings an inherent conundrum with it. You want to tear through the book cos you want to find out what's coming next  but at the same time you want the book to last forever!

This starts it's narration in the voice of Bernadette's daughter and hooks you from the first page.

The narration changes voices with almost every pause and there are more twists and surprises than a twister though unlike the twister the surprises aren't bad!

I don't want to give away the story at all but for me this book made me think of the role of a person as an individual versus  as a member of a family - mother, father, wife, husband, sister etc.

No man(woman!) is an island but striking the balance between your "self" and your duties/obligation is a tricky one.

Think about it- most of us love our family and want to do stuff with and for them. But so often that takes over your life. I really do think everyone should do something on a regular basis that is for them alone- their mind, their body even if they sometimes feel or are made to feel selfish about doing so.

This now reminds me - though it's not really meant to be thought of in that direction of a couple of good movies where (in both these at least) a stay at home mom gets taken for granted and then breaks out of the rut.

One is a 1989 movie called  Shirley Valentine (6.5/10) about a British Housewife who rediscovers herself in Greece.

I saw this at least 20 years ago but still remember it. This was based on a Broadway play. I find very often the quality of writing and plot and basically fleshing out of characters is richer when the movie is based on a book or a play. You can find this on YouTube is you feel inclined to watch it. BTW- it stars Pauline Collins of the Upstairs, Downstairs fame

The other movie I thought of is English Vinglish - an Indian movie based in New York.  

An absolutely  fabulous feel good movie (8/10) with Sridevi giving a wonderful performance.

It really brings to life how we sometimes define and how sometimes people define us by the one thing we can't do. In this it’s speaking English. And how one has to not let one's whole identity be defined by it.

I find it really interesting how given a lack of physical differentiators very often language is subconsciously used as a socio-economic dividing factor. For example in 18th century the Russian court spoke French!

Also especially in former colonies or occupied states the fluency in language of the occupier becomes  the favored language. For example in India the fluency, grammar and accent of a person's English very often  places them socio- economically. Personally I find it very offensive when people make fun of  pronunciation - language is not inherent but a learnt trait and should be treated as such!

I really enjoy it when an underlying serious issue is treated delicately and presented for us to enjoy like in these movies and Book! Enjoy!

And if you end up seeing these movies or reading this book- leave me a comment!