Friday, January 20, 2012

Humbling SINDHU BHAIRAVI

Music does weird things to you. One of 'those' is, it can make you cry for 'absolutely' no reason. It is not to be confused with, 'happy for no reason' tears. I am talking about the tears that you would find rolling down your cheeks in the most ridiculous situations such as having a crazy/naughty time with friends at a discotheque. YES. That is what SINDHU BHAIRAVI does to your senses. If you let 'her' in your life, you will have to show the exit door to 'arrogance'.

She humbles you and makes you realise how much ever you succeed in life, 'you shall ever be at the mercy of her charm' in the most graceful and assertive way that, you would quickly surrender to her as if hypnotised.

 AAROHANAM (ascending swarams) : S R2 G2 M1 G2 P D1 N2 S

AVAROHANAM (descending swarams) :  S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S


The variations in Sindhu Bhairavi explored by Charulatha Mani

As much as ,SINDHU BHAIRAVI can be confused with ragam Thodi, she can be easily identified if lent a patient ear. Though R2 and R1 appear to give a character to the ragam, you can feel 'her' only when the swarams come together in a certain pattern. One of them is  N2 S G2 M1 P D2 P that sparks up the fire. The other pattern that purely belongs to her is N2 S R2 M1 R1 S (it ascends meticulously to M1 and descends mellifluously to S). The journey from M1 to R1 and lingering on to R1 for a few seconds is all it takes to make one rise from the highest of thrones and by the time it culminates in S, you would end up in prostration before her.

Plentiful facets and superlative renditions of SINDHU BHAIRAVI exist in Indian and Middle East music. Its popularly known as 'Bhairavi' in Hindustani music (not be confused with carnatic Bhairavi). As Shrimathi Charulatha Mani clarifies, it is not an Indian born ragam. Its adapted from the Middle-east and was popularised in Hindustani music.


 Some famous cine songs:   Maargazhi thingal allava, naanoru sindhu kaavadichindu, Jiya Jale / Nenjinile nenjinile (hindi and tamil versions respectively), Mile sur mera tumhara, Phir mile sur mera tumhara, Sapnon se bhare naina, Chingari koi badke

Everytime I experience her, I let her play with my emotions. I let her hit every nook and corner of my body and mind for hours and finally merge one with my soul. She calms my mind. She abates my anger and restlessness. She absorbs all my negative vibes until there is nothing negative left to emit. She makes me turn into a new leaf. She makes me re-think and re-live.
The day I embraced SINDHU BHAIRAVI, I knew I had changed for the better.  I forgive my enemies. I confront them. I apologise to them. I accept them. And I wait for the day when they too would acknowledge her and be humbled by her ethereal form.

MORAL: The best way to be your better self  is by submitting yourself to her in 'every sense'. SINDHU BHAIRAVI shall 'eternally' become your positive half.

P.S: If you boast of being a 'tough nut to crack', then let me tell you. She has the power to make even a stone emote.