Article - Part III:

III. Using movie songs to appreciate Indian classical music

For the last seventy years, we have been regaled with Indian movie songs characterized by pleasing melodies. There are several web sites, including http://www.sudeepaudio.com and http://www.SoundOfIndia.com, giving lists of movie songs based on Indian classical raga-s.

There are various collections of movie songs based on classical music, available on audio cassettes and CDs. These songs have been sung by renowned singers like Lata, Asha, Rafi, and Manna Dey.

The raga-s, on which the songs are based, include Yaman, Bhairavi, Pahadi, Piloo, Bageshri, Ahir Bhairava -- about ninety raga-s in all. Again, you may want to know the taal-s commonly used in the movie songs. They are, chiefly, Keharva, Dadra, Roopak, Teental, sometimes Jhaptal. Explore the Internet and you will get all the information about these taal-s.

Movie songs in today's movies do include some based on classical raga-s. Some songs from the movies "Taal" and "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" provide good examples. There are other movies, too. Even at this stage, we are trying to listen -- only listen.

By now, you will have done enough of mere listening: Starting with the next installment, we will begin to actively appreciate, evaluate, be critical, learn, develop taste. While we will not develop any prejudices, we will start having preferences and choices, naturally. particular CD, return it and get another CD.

Next part : Music appreciation

Part I | Part II | Part IV | Part V | Part VI

Haresh Bakshi
The author is the editor of Sur.Aur.Saaz articles and runs SoundofIndia.com