by ARTOHUS
Rains evoke varied emotions for each one for us. For some, it is a sudden pang of melancholy that arises from gazing at the looming clouds. For some, it means boundless joy from dancing in the first showers of the season. For some, it is a lazy cup of coffee with a book in hand in a cosy corner beside the window. And for some others, it means walking hand in hand with a loved one under the same umbrella.
For me, rains always mean music. From the assembling silence that serves as a prelude to the possibility of a downpour to the unrestrained rhythms of the capricious wind, the Gregorian voices booming from the kingdom of clouds to the crackling interludes of lightning and finally the majestic arrival of the anticipated drops striking the earth in an orchestral flourish to the lazy pitter-patter of the metred droplets, monsoons create a mesmerising soundscape that my ears never get tired of. In other times, an unending playlist of rainy day songs become my favourite pastime as I watch raindrops slither down the window pane.
When talking about rains, Bollywood can’t be far away. As they say, there is a song for everything in Bollywood. Over the years, Bollywood has immortalized monsoons by showering us with a range of emotions to express our love for the rains. Coincidentally, it is Bollywood songs that rank the most when defining my rainy day playlist.
I am sure there are many beautiful songs that speak about rains, each striking a different note in our hearts that somehow create our very own monsoon experience. Here are five songs that came to mind as I sat down to write this.
- Piya Tora Kaisa Abhimaan (Raincoat) – There is something about rains and unrequited love. The first song in this list is one that talks about the feelings of a woman waiting in vain for her grudging lover. From the film Raincoat and composed by Debojyoti Mishra, this song has been sung by the talented classical singer, Shubha Mudgal and the lyrics have been penned by the evergreen Gulzar. Amazingly, the song is interspersed with Mudgal’s mellifluous singing and Gulzar’s poetry narrated in his own befittingly melancholic voice. What’s beautiful are the pauses in between the song that intensify the feeling of emptiness in the listener, even as the minimalistic use of background music creates a beautiful mood of the monsoon environment. Gulzar’s lush verses, reminiscing about the bygone days, add another dimension to the song, emboldening the sense of solitariness.
- Aasmani Chhatri (The Blue Umbrella) – Rains don’t just imply sadness, though. They also instill happiness and joy in many of us. The second song on this list is one that celebrates just that. If rains remind you of your childhood, then the second song is for you. It is from the movie, The Blue Umbrella, which has been adapted from the eponymous short story by Ruskin Bond. This song encapsulates the entire story about a little girl in love with her umbrella and, of course, the rains. The innocent and chirpy voice of Upagna Pandya, the singer, and the magic of Gulzar’s lyrics are sure to take you back to your childhood days. The rhythm and tempo of the song exude an infectious exuberance that stays long after the song has stopped playing.
- Kabhi Neem Neem (Yuva) – And finally, the romance! A song is not only about the tune but also about its picturisation. This song doesn’t directly talk about rain but strongly carries its essence. Reason enough for it to be this list. Plus it’s a Rahman composition for the film Yuva. Rahman churns out a powerful soundscape that matches the breezy visuals of this romantic number shot in the rains. His use of natural sounds like splashing water, coupled with earthy instruments like the ghatam, the mridangam and the bass guitar lends a soul to the song. Madhushree’s mellow voice captures rightly the mood of a woman feeling shy when her lover looks amorously at her. In the interlude, Rahman’s enigmatic voice takes over, and this part of the song, along with the spectacular visuals of panoramic Calcutta, infuse the song with a powerful energy. There is another song in the film with a more direct reference to rains but, in terms of feel, I think this song compares better any day.
- Bhaage Re Mann (Chameli) – And again, some songs just talk about how beautiful it feels to be in the rain. This song from the film Chameli, picturised on a drenched Kareena Kapoor dancing freely in the rain, does make you rush out and feel those blessed drops. Composed by Sandesh Shandilya and sung by the effervescent Sunidhi Chauhan, it’s a fun sing-along that you can hum throughout the day. The use of guitar and flutes give an edge to this song enlivening listeners to the monsoon experience. The use of guitar and flutes create a lively tempo that equates with the vibrant spirit of the rains. Sunidhi’s seductive voice beckons you to lose yourself in the beauty of the rainy day.
- Leja Leja Re (Ustad and the Divas) – And last but not the least is this blissful ballad of two strangers who fall in love against all obstacles on a rainy night. Although it is not a Bollywood song but a single from a music album, however, it does deserve a mention for its moving allusion to monsoons. Composed by Sandesh Shandilya yet again, this song is from the album, Ustad and the Divas, featuring Ustad Sultan Khan and Shreya Ghoshal. Her voice flows as smoothly as the night with Ustad-ji’s as haunting as the rains. Watching the video will give a better idea of the story, although just closing your eyes and listening to the moving lyrics in the stillness of the night is enough to keep you awake or better, make you fall in love.
