Notes to calm you down

Krishnaraj Iyengar

Ragas are endowed with their own unique colours and moods. They bring positivity and fight anxiety, especially in stressful times. There are ragas for different times of the day and one can enjoy a day-long repertoire of performances by legends like Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Bismillah Khan’s shehnai, Pandit Ravi Shankar’s sitar and living masters like vocalists Pandit Venkatesh Kumar and Arshad Ali Khan, to name a few.

Internationally acclaimed sitar and tabla maestro Pandit Nayan Ghosh explains, “Ragas have the power to elevate the state of mind and uplift the mood, especially aarohi ragas which have an ascending, upstream movement. Nocturnal ragas like Rageshri, Adana and Kedar, Bhairavi and Ramkali for the morning, the afternoon Vrindavani Sarang and evening ragas like Nand and Yaman are some fine examples.” Adana and Khamaj are among his fortes. Here are some mood-enhancing ragas and their cinematic expressions:

Bhairavi

The versatile morning raga is among the most popular romantic ragas. Along with famous Bhairavi thumris by great past and present masters, Tu Ganga ki mauj main (Baiju Bawra, 1952) and Dil ka khilona hai toot gaya (Goonj Uthi Shehnai, 1956) bring out Bhairavi’s essence along with recent hits like Nimbuda from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam ( 1999) and Hai mera dil from the 2000 film Josh.

Bhoopali

Calmness, devotion, tranquility, purity and relief are the feeling this pentatonic evening raga creates with just five notes — Sa Re Ga Pa Dha. Albela Sajan from Bajirao Mastani is a brilliant exploration of Bhoopali on the big screen with the peppy rendition enhanced by masterful choreography.

Nat Bihag

A bright raga that resounds with childlike exhilaration, innocence and joy, Nat Bihag’s notes create the feeling of colourful, fragrant flowers, endless meadows, bright sunshine and spring. Jhan jhan jhan jhan payala baaje from Buzdil (1951) is not only an SD Burman-Lata Mangeshkar masterpiece but also the favorite bandish of classical vocalists.

Nand

An evening raga, Nand envelopes you with warmth, affection, togetherness and joy especially with the Ga Ma Dha Pa Re Sa phrase and accent on Ma in the ascent. The calming and healing raga is exemplified by Madan Mohan in Lata’s signature Tu jahan jahan chalega (Mera Saya, 1966).

Kedar

The night raga creates the perfect feeling of gaiety, glee, celebration, cheer and love that the commencing glide from Sa to Ma itself announces. Kedar has glorified performances of many maestros like sarod legend Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, vocalists Ustad Amir Khan, Bhimsen Joshi and, of course, Pandit Ravi Shankar to name a few. A great Kedar rendered in cinema is the Rafi-OP Nayyar masterpiece Aap yunhi agar humse milte rahe from Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962).

Bahar

As the name suggests, this raga depicts springtime verdant fields, clear blue skies and blossoming roses. Bahar creates the perfectly joyous and energetic vibe. Lata Mangeshkar’s classical tour de force in Chhaya (1961) is a masterfully rendered Salil Choudhuri gem. Chham chham naachat aayi bahar has hints of Basant, a raga that eternally compliments Bahar.