Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (10)- First Meeting of Siya-Ram at the Pushp Vatika






Yes, as I had promised in my last post on Ramayan that today we’ll talk about the Pushp Vatika sequence. Here is the scene in YouTube:

So, the scene starts when Rani Sunayana Devi instructs Sita to visit the Gouri temple and worship the deity as a family custom of the Royal House. So Sita goes to the temple with her friends.

And on the other hand, we find Shri Ram and Lakshman going to the Pushp Vatika to collect the flower for the daily worship of Muni Vishwamitra. So they reach the vatika, ask the gardener about it and enter the garden. Here we have a really beautiful doha from Ram Charit Manas- ‘Lata Bhavan te prakat bhaye’ – describing the beauty of the Lord!

After completing her puja, as Sita decides to return, her friends tell her that Shri Ram has also come to the vatika, and they suggest Sita to have a look at Him. Sita aggress and goes to the vatika.

Here we have really really wonderful sequence, which is a source of Joy to all the Devotees of Siya-Ram! This sequences - its picturisation along with the devotional lines from RCM in it, the Music of Ravindra Jain saab, as well as the acting of Arun Govil and Deepika, and above all the direction of Ramanad Saagar ji- is truly memorable for its true portrayal of the emotions generated in the lovers at their first sight. The characters are not merely earthly beings, but they are the very Shri Hari and Mata Lakshmi from Vaikunth Lok, so the lines from RCM has that Depth and Richenss which gets us immersed in its beauty, filling us with the Love shared by the Lord and His Consort!!! The songs keep on repeating itself in our mind as well as the scenes become permanent in our heart!

Here is the video:

Now coming to the actual situation - after seeing Shri Ram, Sita Mata becomes emotional, and goes to Gouri Mandir again to pray to the Goddess. The lyrics of the prayer are so Sincere that we almost Feel to pray the same along with her. The way she says – ‘Kinhe hu pragata na kaaran tehi’- Is just enough to remind us about the omnipresence of the Lord!

Now, the goddess becomes happy and blesses Sita Mata with the words- 'Vinay prem vas bhayi Bhavaani'. Here we have another beautiful line- ‘Karuna nidhan sujaan sil sanehu jaant raavar’- this is also one of the Best lines , I believe in it So Much that probably I can’t express!

And the ending is so Pious!!! The repetition of the – ‘mudita mann mandir chali’, works like a Chanting Effect for me! The mood is uplifted, the heart has got a hope thr’ Mata Gouri and Sita Mata is happy at the end of the scene! Our Heart just goes out to the whole sequence again and again!

After this, we have Sita thinking about Shri Ram, in her room as well as Shri Ram looking at the Moon and comparing it with Mata Sita. Here we have a nice conversation of Shri Ram with Lakshman. A song – ‘Prachi Dishi’ from RCM is there, which very clearly depicts the state of Shri Ram. The tone is so Peaceful and True to the Actual Feelings of Shri Ram and Sita Mata!

Now Ashok Kumar comes on screen to explain the feelings of Shri Ram and Mata Sita very beautifully. He stresses the Spontaneous Feeling as well as the Restraint in their characters.

To experience the Beauty of this Pushp Vatika and the sequence continuing the mood, we need to understand the lyrics of RCM, (for first time viewers, please follow the English translation for that), otherwise the sweetness/ divinity of the scene will be lost. All the lines used here are Wonderful and Filled with Bliss, so I am unable to quote them. Here are the lyrics:
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1261945&TPN=64&#25557037

Next time we'll attend the 'Swayamvar' of Sita Mata :)



Jai Siya-Ram!


You might also like these posts on Ramayan:


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (11) - Sita Swayamvar (Part 1)


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan(9)- Ram-Lakshman in Mithila


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan(9)- Ram-Lakshman in Mithila






In the last post we were introduced to the Royal Family of Mithila. Now we are coming back to Shri Ram and Lakshman, who are staying with Sage Vishwamitra in the ‘aamra vatika’ of Mithila. (This scene is not there on many DVD versions of the serial). As Lakshman wants to visit the city, Shri Ram asks Vishwamitra for the permission to do so. Vishwamitra becomes very happy and appreciates Shri ram for His wisdom while expressing wishes. He tells them to go to see the city so that the people of Mithila can also be Blessed by the sight of the Lord! So they go to visit the city and started spreading Joy to all… The public became overwhelmed by looking at them. The ladies looked at them and discussed about the beauty and charm … They wish if Sita could get married to this handsome Prince, then they will be able to see him again in future, when he will come to visit the in-laws. They discuss about the valour of Shri Ram. Really a wonderful scene to experience the beauty of the Lord!! All has been said in the RCM lines which has been used in the background music- 'Dekhan nagar Bhoop suta aaye'. Here is the lyrics:-

http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1349127&TPN=122

We can very easily relate this scene with the scene from Ramanand Sagar’s another great work ‘Shri Krishna’, where Shri Krishna goes out in the neighbourhood for the first time, then also the same reaction from the public can be noticed. Here is the scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb4hEBiAIxE

And here are the lyrics of that song:-

http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1311014&TPN=83



Now coming back to Ramayan, in the last post we have seen that Raja Janak came to know about Sage Vishwamitra’s arrival in Mithila, so he goes to welcome him personally. They all meet and greet each other. Here is the scene:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9S2A9HPzQw&feature=related


Then Shri Ram and Lakshman comes there after their visit to the city (Mithila), and Raja Janak becomes ‘visibly moved’ while looking at Him. This is such a wonderful scene! The lines from ‘Ram Charit Manas’ as the backgroung music says it all- ‘Murati Madhur manohar dekhi, bhaye videh videh bisekhi’. As Janak was considered as an ascetic person, still, the first look at the Lord, filled him with the rapture of Bliss. Really a memorable scene!!


In the palace, the friends of Sita tells her about the beauty of Shri Ram, about His visit in Mithila, that day, Sita listens to it with rapt attention.


After that, we have one of the Great scenes of Ramayan here, this one is one of my Top Favorite scene of all!! Where Shri Ram and Lashman serves Muni Vishwamitra by pressing his feet. After that Lakshman dose the same to Shri Ram to serve Him. The song is – ‘Munivar sayan kinhi tab jaayi’. This scene is Soooo Unique in its Content that everytime I feel Emotional while watching it! It is indeed Blissful as well as it teaches us the lesson what the Lord delivers through this action, that is to Respect the Guru, the Brahmin. The Lord of the Universe serving a sage, what a great Humility from the Lord!! I am So much attached to this scene that probably I won’t be able to express it here. The music, the words as well as the way the singer has delivered the song - all combine to make the effect of a Divine experience here. This is indeed one of the highest moments of Ramayan acc to me. It takes the serial to a Great Height! Such a Pious moment experienced by the audience here!


We also have same kind of scene in RSji’s Shri Krishna also, where Krishna comes to the aashram of Gargacharya for the first time, in Mathura, after killing Kans. It also has the same effect on me as the previous one from Ramayan. The lyrics are also very nice in SK.

(Will try to post the link of the video of the scene as well as the lyrics of the sequence in future.)


So here in Ramayan, we have Shri Ram and Lakshman going to take rest for the night. Tomorrow or the day after they will attend the Swayambar of Sita, but before that we have another Wonderful sequence in Pushp Vatika, will write about it in my next post.


Jai Shri Ram!


May be you'll also like these posts:

Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (8)- Introduction of the Royal House of Mithila


Monday, August 8, 2011

'Tumi Ebar Aamay'- Bengali Song by Rabindranath Tagore


Dear Friends, today, Baishe Shraabon (22 Shravan) is the Death Anniversary of Rabindranth Tagore. We all are remembering him with great respect. I am posting one of my Most favourite song by Rabindhranath Tagore, 'Tumi ebar aamay laho hey Naath laho'- I also tried to translate the song, please forgive any mistakes, as my aim is only to spread the message of Tagore to all of you!



This song is a prayer where the writer is requesting the Lord to accept him in spite of all the flaws, to make him Pure and guide him in the right way. I really really love this song because of the Sincerity in its approach. The words, the music- all combine to create the effect of a prayer!



This is the link where you can download the song or you can just hear it, it is sung by the great artist- Mita Haq.



And here is the Lyrics:



Tumi ebar aamaay laho hey Naath laho,

Tumi ebar aamaay laho hey Naath laho,

(O Lord, accept me this time,)

Ebar tumi firo na hey,

(Please don’t go back without me this time)

Hriday kere niye raho.

Hriday kere niye raho.

(Accept my heart O Lord!)

Tumi ebar aamaay laho hey Naath laho.

Tumi ebar aamaay laho hey Naath laho.

(O Lord, accept me this time,)



Jedin gechhe toma bina,

(The days of my life spent without remembering you)

Taare ar phire chahina, jak she dhulaate,

(I do not look back at them any more, let them be reduced to the dust)

Jedin gechhe toma bina,

(The days of my life spent without remembering you)

Taare ar phire chahina, jak she dhulaate,

(I do not look back at them any more, let them be reduce to the dust)

Ekhon tomar aaloy jeebon meley,

(Now I will only look at your Light)

Jeno jaagi ahoraho,

Jeno jaahi ahoraaho.

(And want to be aleart/ awake always)

Tumi ebar aamaay laho hey Naath laho.

Tumi ebar aamaay laho hey Naath laho.

(O Lord, accept me this time,)



Ki aabeshe kisher kothae,

(Misguded by many desires)

Phirechhi je jothae tothae, pothe prantore,

(I have roamed around aimlessly for a long time)

Ki aabeshe kisher kothae,

(Misguded by many desires)

Phirechhi je jothae tothae, pothe prantore,

(I have roamed around aimlessly for a long time)

Ebar buker kaachhe o mukh rekhe,

(Now keep yourself inside my heart)

Tomar aapon baani kaho,

Tomar aapon baani kaho.

(And guide me with your Light)

Tumi ebar aamaay laho hey Naath laho.

Tumi ebar aamaay laho hey Naath laho.

(O Lord, accept me this time,)



Kato kolush koto phaanki,

(Many are the vices and deceptions)

Ekhono je achhe baaki moner gopone,

(Which still exist in my mind)

Kato kolush koto phaanki,

(Many are the vices and deceptions)

Ekhono je achhe baaki moner gopone,

(Which still exist in my mind)

Aaamay tar laagi ar phiraayo na,

(Oh Lord, please do not refuse me on that account)

Taare aagun diye daho,

Taare aagun diye daho.

( Burn all thoses vices with Thy light of Knowledge/ Love)

Tumi ebar aamaay laho hey Naath laho.

Tumi ebar aamaay laho hey Naath laho.

(O Lord, accept me this time,)





Some other songs by Tagore:

# 'Keno Jaagena Jaagena',


# 'Chiroshokha He'


Saturday, July 30, 2011

Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (8)- Introduction of the Royal House of Mithila














Now we have the first scene in the Royal house of Mithila. We can see Raja Janak along with Rani Sunayna and Kulguru Shataanand performing a Shiv puja. Really a nice way to introduce a ‘Pious’ family. The same was done in the beginning while introducing the royal family of Ayodhya, with a prayer to Kuldevta Suryadev. Truly, Ramayana helps us to ‘connect wth the Divine Lord’ in each of its scenes. It portrays the ‘ideal way to lead our life’.


Here are the videos of this part:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAoV8ooX1Z0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP03uNzeeMQ



Coming back to Mithila- while performing the puja, we can see Sita Mata for the first time. Really really a beautiful entry. They talk about the oath of Raja Janak about ‘Shiv-Dhanu bhang’. We find that the task is really a difficult one. Rani Sunayana asks Sita to pray for a virtuous and noble husband, she gets worried about the futue of her daughter. But Shataanand suggests Janak to have Faith in the oath, implying that, the Power which inspired him to take the oath with see to its success. The background music of this scene is soooo Divine!! I always cry while listening to it, the same music has been used in many of the scenes after this and each time I get filled with emotions while listening to it! Very very powerful tune indeed!


Now a messenger informs Raja Janak about the arrival of Muni Vishwamitra, who is staying in the 'Arma vatika' of Mithila. Raja Janak, Sunayana Devi and Shataanand –all become very happy to recieve the news of the arrival of Vishwamitra. They feel his presence will make the ambience more pious!


We have another good news in this scene- the brother of Janak, Kushadhwaj with his family also come to attend the Swayambar. All the members of both the families become very happy to meet each other. Then Janak decides to go to welcome Sage Vishwamitra personally. We will discuss about that scene in my next post.

Jai Shri Ram!



Prev posts on Ramayan:-

Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (7)- Ahalya Uddhar and Journry towards Mithila


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (6)- Tadka Vadh



Next Post on Ramayan:



Friday, July 22, 2011

'On Another's Sorrow'- A Poem By William Blake

William Blake

William Blake

On Another's Sorrow

From Songs of Innocence


Dear Friends, today I am sharing a wonderful poem by William Blake, where he tells us how the Lord is ALWAYS with us in happiness as well as in sorrow. When we feel sad, He is right there with us, He wants all of us to be happy. He never leaves us. We just need to be aware of the fact and only then we can 'perceive' His presence in every momeent of our life. I was really so overwhelmed by this poem when I read it for the first time.  The link was provided by Dear Sister Lola and I thought to share it with you all. Really a great poem portraying the way Lord FEELS for all of us. 

Can I see another's woe,

And not be in sorrow too?

Can I see another's grief,

And not seek for kind relief?

Can I see a falling tear,

And not feel my sorrow's share?

Can a father see his child

Weep, nor be with sorrow filled?

Can a mother sit and hear

An infant groan, an infant fear?

No, no! never can it be!

Never, never can it be!

And can He who smiles on all

Hear the wren with sorrows small,

Hear the small bird's grief and care,

Hear the woes that infants bear -

And not sit beside the nest,

Pouring pity in their breast,

And not sit the cradle near,

Weeping tear on infant's tear?

And not sit both night and day,

Wiping all our tears away?

O no! never can it be!

Never, never can it be!

He doth give His joy to all:

He becomes an infant small,

He becomes a man of woe,

He doth feel the sorrow too.

Think not thou canst sigh a sigh,

And thy Maker is not by:

Think not thou canst weep a tear,

And thy Maker is not near.

O He gives to us His joy,

That our grief He may destroy:

Till our grief is fled and gone

He doth sit by us and moan.


.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Bigolito Koruna Janhobi Jomuna- Bengali Film







This is Bengali film which is based on a journey towards Kedarnaath and Badrinath. It has a group of pilgrims who are going to visit the shrines to fulfil their wishes. The main Protagonist, (played by Shubhendu Chatterjee) is going there only to observe the journey, the different aims and the tries to understand the purpose of this journey.



The film is very very rich in music. Pankaj Kumar Mullick has done such a marvellous job here that you'll only have to listen to it one. After that the tunes/ shlokas will keep on repeating themselves in your mind. The 'Charaaibeti' is one of the most used shloka here. There are other chants also. The theme music throughout the whole film is sooo Blissful and Divine!



The narrator meets the family where the elder sister is going for the welfare of her husband and the younger sister is going to correct her mistake- once she showed her disrespect towards God and lost the power of her legs. The hero follows her and they start sharing their views, accepteach other as companions and start the journey for the final phase.

There they face a snow storm and gets buried under the snow. The last sc of the film just freezes the shot. I liked that effect. It tells us that the end is actually endless...



Faith is one of the chief theme of this story. The hero wants to have Faith in this rituals/ journey towards the shrine, but he does not have enough. The heroine never had faith in God, but after losing her strength, she realises her mistake and decides to undertake the pilgrimage. In the course of the journey, she gets her strength back (really a nice sc) and the hero watches her, empathizes with her journey. In the last sc, we find that the hero realises the element of faith from the heroine only. He finds it in the eyes of her and that moment gets freezed, it becomes eternal!!



Really a nice movie. The shooting has been done in the original locations, so you'll get the flavour of the original journey in the mountains, the tough climbing, the typical setting of a 'choti' to take rest, the different characters, whom we meet during the journey, each of them has a story, the naarator obsereves them and gather the experiences, learns from them and moves ahead. Very very beautiful to realise Spirituality thr' the nature, thr' the journey, (which can be termed as a 'spiritual journey' undertaken by each individual), thr' the music, thr' the river, thr' the characters... Really a nice experience!!



I only got one link in ref with this film, may be you'll get some Pictures of the movie from here:





Some related posts:

Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (7)- Ahalya Uddhar and Journry towards Mithila







Now we are starting our journey towards Mithila, the sc starts from here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnUX68Y9zEQ&feature=related

And continues till:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gs3AO069eE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAoV8ooX1Z0&feature=related

During their stay in Vishawmitra’s aashram, Shri Ram and Lashman come to know about the envoy from the King of Mithila- Raja Janak. Vishwamitra asks them to accompany him to Mithila and as obedient students, they they follow him.

Here we also have the story of the birth of Sita. That once when there were draught in Mithila, then King Janaka himself started ploughing and found a baby girl in the plough filed, and named her Sita.

Now we have the song- ‘Chale Ram Lakhan muni sanga’, where they visit the Ganges and Vishwamitra tells them about the history of Sagar Raja and Bhagirath. I love the line- ‘Jagpaavani Ganga’ from the song. The music here is so pious!! It just expresses all about the Mahima of Maa Ganga!

Continuing their journey they come to the deserted place which was the ashram of Rishi Gautam once. Now the famous Ahalya uddhar takes place! It is So Powerful that words are not enough to express the impact! The Lord uplifted the lady who was rejected by her husband. It is such a great feeling that you have to go thr’ the emotions to ‘Realise’ it. The lines from RCM (in the original version of the song) as well as the changed words in the new version- both are sooo True!! I cannot quote a single line from that composition, it is beautiful as a whole! But yes, I love the line ‘Pad raj ki mahima bhaari’ and ‘Jo tribhuvan pujita, Lakshmi sevita, un charno me sthaan diya’:- all these expressions are so Beautiful!!

And just before the sc, when Vishwamitra says that only a Lord can uplift the wretched one! I just Love those words!! It proves the ‘Karuna’ of the Lord regarding All the creatures!! Another overwhelming sequence!

After Ahalya uddhar they reach Mithila, from where we’ll start in my next post.


Jai Shri Ram!



Links of Prev posts On Ramayan:

Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (6)- Tadka Vadh


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan(5)- Nice Family Moments and The Arrival of Rishi Vishwamitra


Next post:-

Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (8)- Introduction of the Royal House of Mithila



Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (6)- Tadka Vadh





Continuing my journey with Ramayan after a gap of two months :).

In my previous post we have seen Rishi Vishwamitra arriving in Ayodhya and asking Dasharath for Shri Ram and Lakshman. Now we have Shri Ram and Lakshman going with Sage Vishwamitra to kill the demons so that the rishis can perform the yagna in the proper way without any hinderance.

During the journey, we have a very nice doha from Ramcharit Manas- ‘Purishsinha dou veer'- it tells us about the Beauty of the Lord! I Love to listen to this composition. Specially the lines- ‘akhil biswa kaaran karan' (The Lord is the ‘reason’ as well as the ‘performer of any action’ in the creation!)... The description the Lord is sooo sweet!

Then Sage Vishwamitra tells them about the Demon Tadka and Shri Ram kills her with the aim of the ‘Welfare of mankind’. After that both the brothers keep guarding the sages while they perform the ‘Yagna’ uninterruptedly. The way Shri Ram and Lakshman protects the ‘yagnasthal’ – I feel so secure to watch that sc! In the same way the Lord protects all of us, all His children, each moment! Only we forget that and become worried about our future, ourselves, our success and all… But actually He is there always and we are safe only because of Him!

After the success of tha Yagna, all become very very happy and Sage Vishwamitra tells them about the researches the sages go thr' for the development of society. Now that can be continued as Shri Ram has watched over the yagna. So Vishwamitra wants to give some more Knowledge to Shri Ram, so that He can use all those for the Welfare of he Creation. Here we have the song- ‘Tab rishi nij naath hi...’ and we have this nice line- ‘Vidya nidhi kahun vidya dinhi’- so Significant!! The Sea of Knowledge taking knowledge from the Sage!!

And the next sc, where He eats ‘kand-mool’ with all the sages and bocomes Happy/ Contented with that! When we consider a Prince doing it, we really Wonder!!

This sc along with the prev song- are expressive of the Greatness of the Lord! The Bliss which he generates among the persons around Him (His devotees) by accepting whatever they have to give- is Such a Novel Gesture!! The effet of all these sc.s are Immense when we FEEL the emotions the characters present in the sc are going thr’.

From next post we’ll start another part of the story, i.e.- the journey to Sita- Swayambar.

Today we started our journey from here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t7U-Q1hoU&feature=related

And here the sc continues after Tadka Vadh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fyhtjQrypk&feature=related

Jai Shri Ram!



May be you'll also like these posts on Ramayan:


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (7)- Ahalya Uddhar and Journry towards Mithila


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan(5)- Nice Family Moments and The Arrival of Rishi Vishwamitra


Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan(4)- 'Gurukul' Episodes





Saturday, July 9, 2011

Meera ke Girdhar- Hindi Film


This is a film based on the life story of the great devotee Meera bai. The title role played by Upasna Khosla. It is a nice film, depicting the Devotion of Meera for the Lord. It does not have unnecessary emotional/ dramatic scenes, very very neat work by the direcor Vijay Deep and the Music Director- Kanak Raj. The music is really nice, some are very sweet and devotional.

The political backdrop was such an integral part of the story of Meerabai that it is impossible to omit, so here we find politics in the palace of Maharaj Sangramsingha. But Meera with her Pure Devotion exceeds all the social barriers to meet her Lord and takes refuge in him, which we find in the last scene.

Many many scenes are really excellent- I specially remember the scene where the grandfather of Meera offers her to the idol of Shri Krishna (in her childhood), the scene where Meera talks to the portrait of her late grandfather where he reminds her about her connection with Shri Radhe Rani, the moment when Meera's husband wins over his desires and finds out the Greatness in Meera and starts feeling Respect/ Devotion for her as well as for the Lord, the death sc of Meera's husband- Raja Bhoj, the way Meera spontaneously starts dancing with joy when she sees the new temple for Shri Krishna, the way Meera decides to leave the palace and start her journey towards Vrindavan, and her last reply to the Acharya of Vrindavan about Shri Krishna as the 'only male' and the all the devotees as females. The last song- 'Sansaar ko chodke chali re Meera'- is also very nice.

Overall, a nice movie, worth watching for some good music and the element of devotion which is the intrinsic part of each and every scene of Meera. Very nice performance by Upasna Khosla.

These are the best songs of the film, which I really loved while watching it for the first time:

The title song: (also watch the film from this link, following the numbers as thyt appear in the related videos list)


Mere hai Girdhar Gopal:


Bhoolkar reet saari:


If you want only the songs:

May be you will like these posts -

'Meera'(1947) -  Hindi film on the life of Meerabai

'Man Mohana'- Song

Jai Shri Krishna!