Malhars...!

 The Malhars! The Refreshers! Another great group of Ragas like the Bhairavs (Example: Ahir Bhairav – Previous post). The Malhars are associated with the rains. Word ‘Mal’ is, here, a preffix denoting negativity or all the negative virtues in general. And the word ‘Har’ actually denotes the person or an entity defeating the negatives.

Capable of creating a very pacifying effect, it almost brings you on the verge of rediscovering yourself and the environment around you, just the way the rains do – wash clean everything! Ever if feeling depressed, struck by a terrible inferiority-complex, a few minutes of a real ‘Malhar’ experience is the best pill for you!

The Malhar, whichever it may be, take you into this whole new state of self realisation and you are dumbstruck and overwhelmed by the entire experience. No wonder, these ragas are associated with rains. Rains, revealing the beauty of nature, break it free from the shackles of lifeless weariness and rejuvenate it, at the same time empowering it for not only making the flame of life survive but also nurturing it with great care. In a similar way, these musical creations defeat all the emotional weariness and culprits like self-pity, low self esteem and inferiority complex that cause depression, concentrated in your mind and give you a whole new vision to look at your life.

Nat Malhar, Ramdasi Malhar, Miyan-ki-Malhar, Megh Malhar, Shuddha Malhar (the original one), Gaud Malhar, Meera-ki-Malhar are versions coming under the heading of Malhar. These types were to great extent used by musicians and the composers that we were fortunate enough to have in our film and entertainment industry. 

Trust me; you would surely want to download the creations, of which the links are attached down here. Worth a shot! Go ahead! Try one, and have a wonderful experience of self realisation!

Here comes the most famous, signature song of Raag Miyan Ki Malhar..

"Bole Re Papihara" from the movie "Guddi"(1971), sung by Vani Jairam as her debut song, composed by Vasant Desai:

Another amazing & my most favourite composition is "Badarwa garjat aaye, nanhi nanhi bundan.." by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. It has been composed in Raag Sur Malhar. Sur Malhar is another raaga in Malhar family & is slightly different from Miyan ki Malhar. It was originally composed by Sant Kavi Surdas (son of Ramdas, composer of Ramdasi Malhar).
Special Note: Do not miss the mesmerizing piece around 16:50 min.

Here comes an amazing bandish by Smt. Kishori Amonkar..

Umad Ghumad Garaj Garaj...  The words themselves create an amazing picture of roaring monsoon winds. The picture gets completed by flash of Thunderstorms created by Smt Kishori Amonkar's beautiful tanas..

Below is the famous bandish "Karim Naam Tero.." by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. The same vilambit bandish sung by Smt. Kishori Amonkar, in a slightly different style is also famous.

Apart from all the emotions like "Kaari badariya", "Chamke bijuria", "Papiha Bole",  "Saiyan na aaye"usually found in Miyan Ki Malhar, this beautiful Vilambit Bandish composed by Sadarang (Real Name: Niyamat Khan) has got a different feeling.This is all what it says:

Karim Naam Tero

Tu Saahib Sataar
Dukh Daridra Duur Keeje
Sukh Deho Saban Ko

Sadaranga Binati Karata

Sun Leho Sataar 

 Sadarang & Adarang (Nephew of Niyamat Khan, Firoz Khan) were serving as artists for Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah (ruled 1719-1748), are still remembered for their great compositions.

This one is another mind blowing composition in Miyan Ki Malhar, by Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia: 

Water Poems

Here comes "Ab Ke Saawan", a Rock song, quite similar to Raag Miyan ki Malhar, by Shubha Mudgal. Being created in the year 1999, it still enjoys the place of one of the best mixtures of Western Rock & Indian Classical Music. The song Ghanan Ghanan from the film Lagaan also goes by the similar way of Miyan ki Malhar. 

One of the epic song in Marathi, "Ghan Ghan Maala" also enjoys an important place in list of songs of Miyan Ki Malhar. 

You might be thinking of this Malhar family being dominated by Miyan ki Malhar only! I wouldn't deny that! But, it was just to put some of the best compositions before you. It is not at all possible to cover all of them.. Like a tip of iceberg, I must say. 

Jan Palbhar Mhanatila....
The last song here, again from Miyan Ki Malhar, is again a beautiful Marathi song, sung by Lata Mangeshkar. A very different composition in Miyan ki Malhar, about which you will definitely think that the meaning which Malhar should convey is not at satisfied by the song.
But, have patience till the last few lines, and you will definitely get answer of your question!

Do not at all worry about the meaning. The lyrics & English translation is available at the following link: