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Film Songs in Rag Bhupali

by David Courtney working tools


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Chanda Hai Tu, Mera Suraj Hai Tu
Film - Aradhana
Year - 1969
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Dadra
Music Director(s) - S.D. Burman
Singer(s) - Lata Mangeshkar
Links -
Lyrics - https://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~navin/india/songs/isongs/additions/N8089.html
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This is not a good example of Bhupali.  It does not move in a fashion that suggests Bhupali.  The most that we can say is that it hints at Bhupali.



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Dekha Ek Khvab To Yeh Silsile Hue
Film - Silsila
Year - 1981
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Dadra
Music Director(s) - Shiv, Hari
Singer(s) - Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Links -
Lyrics - https://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~navin/india/songs/isongs/additions/N9008.html
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This is an example of Bhupali which pushes the edges a bit.  The notes are there, but their treatment neither reflects a traditional Bhupali nor a Deshkar


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Dil Hun Hun Kare
Film - Rudaali
Year - 1993
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava
Music Director(s) - Bhupen Hazarika
Singer(s) - Bhipen Hazarika
Links -
Lyrics - https://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~navin/india/songs/isongs/additions/N8091.html
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This is really pretty close to Deshkar.  But you make your own decision of the whole Bhupali / Deshkar thing.


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Giridhar Gopala
Film - Meera
Year - 1945
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava
Music Director(s) - S. Venkataraman
Singer(s) - M.S. Subbulakshmi
Links -
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This is actually as good of Deshkar as I have ever seen; however I suspect that this is an accident.  The composition clearly shows that the music director was not thinking in terms of Bhupali / Deshkar but was instead thinking along the line of the South Indian Mohanam.


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Ham Tum Se Na Kuchh Kah Paaye, Tum Ham Se Na Kuchh Kah Paaaye
Film - Ziddi
Year - 1997
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava
Music Director(s) - Dilip Sen, Sameer Sen
Singer(s) - Hariharan
Links -
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This is generally a pretty good example of Bhupali.  However about half-way through the song the musical interludes begin to significantly diverge from Bhupali.  About the same time, an un-bhupali-ish usage of the Shuddha Nishad creeps into the song.


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He Govind, He Gopal, He Dayaal Lal
Film - (non-film song)
Year -  
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Dadra
Music Director(s) -  
Singer(s) - Jagjit Singh
Links -
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – bhajan by Jagjit Singh.  The is generally a very good example of Bhupali. There are very slight traces of Shuddha Madhyam and Shuddha Nishad.  However these are very fleeting and well within the bounds of contemporary light interpretations of rags.  All in all, this is a very good example of contemporary approaches to rag Bhupali. The purists may cringe, but this is the direction that this rag is taking.


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In Ankhon Ki Masti Ke Mastane Hazaron Hai
Film - Umrao Jaan
Year - 1981
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava
Music Director(s) - Khaiyam
Singer(s) - Asha Bhosle
Links -
Lyrics - https://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~navin/india/songs/isongs/9/970.html
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This adheres fairly close to Bhupali, but it does go out of rag in several places.


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Jaun Tore Charan Kamal Par Vari
Film - Sur Sangam
Year - 1985
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava
Music Director(s) - Laxmikant, Pyarelal
Singer(s) - Lata Mangeshkar, Rajan Mishra
Links -
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This seems to be a typical Deshkar / Bhupali mix.


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Jyoti Kalash Chalke
Film - Bhabhi Ki Chudiyaan
Year - 1961
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava
Music Director(s) - Sudhir Phadke
Singer(s) - Lata Mangeshkar
Links -
Lyrics - https://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~navin/india/songs/isongs/8/856.html
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – Pretty good example of Bhupali


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Kanchi Re Kanchi Re
Film - Hare Rama Hare Krishna
Year - 1972
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Fast Dadra
Music Director(s) - R.D. Burman
Singer(s) - Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
Links -
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – Pretty good example of Bhupali.  Interesting accidentals are sometimes seen when it does depart from the rag (e.g., komal dha)


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Nil Gagan Ki Chhaonmen
Film - Amrapali
Year - 1966
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava
Music Director(s) - Shankar, Jaikishan
Singer(s) - Lata Mangeshkar
Links -
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This leans heavily toward Bhupali, but there are liberties taken.



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Panchhi Banu Udti Firun Mast Gagan Men
Film - Chori Chori
Year - 1956
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Dadra
Music Director(s) - Shankar, Jaikishan
Singer(s) - Lata Mangeshkar
Links -
Lyrics - https://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~navin/india/songs/isongs/additions/N9026.html
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – Pretty good example of Bhupali


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Pankh Hote To Ud Ati
Film - Sehra
Year - 1963
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava
Music Director(s) - Ramlal Hirapanna
Singer(s) - Lata Mangeshkar
Links -
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This is really a pretty good example of Bhupali


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Sansaar Ki Har Shay Ka
Film - Dhoond
Year - 1973
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava
Music Director(s) - Ravi
Singer(s) - Mahendra Kapoor
Links -
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This is really a pretty good example of Bhupali.  However you have to ignore some of the musical interludes which go out of the rag a bit.


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Sanvare Rang Rachi
Film - (non-film song)
Year -  
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Dadra
Music Director(s) - Hridaynath Mangeshkar
Singer(s) - Lata Mangeshkar
Links -
Meera bhajan<
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – It starts of bhupali-ish, but after the first interlude it goes of into other stuff.  The bottom line is that this might be a nice song, but it would not be a song that you would use to get a handle on Bhupali.


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Sayonara, Sayonara
Film - Love In Tokyo
Year - 1966
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava
Music Director(s) - Shankar, Jaikishan
Singer(s) - Lata Mangeshkar
Links -
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – It has been suggested that this is actually Deshakar.  However there is such a muddle concerning the supposed distinctions between Deshkar and Bhupali that we really are not in any position to say anything here.  Readers are advised to consider this and make their own decisions in this matter.


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Yeh Hava...Yeh Phiza...Aa Bhi Jaa
Film - Gumraah
Year - 1963
Rag - Bhupali
Tal - Kaherava (based upon a swing)
Music Director(s) - Ravi
Singer(s) - Mahendra Kapoor
Links -
Video Link - Go To Video
Forums - Discussions on Film Songs

Comments – This sticks pretty close to Bhupali



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