The Slammed Door

Posted on 08/05/2021 When I used to live in Delhi, more than two decades ago, I recall how an occasional summer afternoon would be marked by an aandhi (or dust storm) that would bring some respite from the scorching heat. But the high speed winds, laden with fine dust, would also mean unending rounds of

Musings on Mahal (1949)

The last post that I wrote on the solos of Lata Mangeshkar – Vocal preludes special – started off with the iconic song Aayega Aanewala from the movie Mahal made in 1949. The song was indeed special in terms of the experiments that were made, which I have already described at some length in my

Solo Songs of Lata – Vocal Preludes Special

There is a genre of songs which is unique and uncommon – where there is a prelude, which has both instrumental as well as vocal music. This genre of poetry is perhaps called Qat’a in Urdu and vilambit laya (introductory slow tempo) in Hindustani classical music. The prelude is slow when compared to the rest