HG Insider - Hidden-Gems

HG Insider
Volume 2 Issue 4 – October 2013
From the Editor's Desk
I welcome all of you to the October edition of HG Insider
and wish you all a very colorful and festival season,
starting from Navaratri, Dussehra, and Diwali, to
Thanksgiving and Christmas!
This year, as always, we continue to do several private
programs, public events, and fundraisers. Recently, a live
music program was arranged by our Gem, Simhadri
Santhebennur, at Bridgewater temple with Desi Beats
(a talented group of live musicians and singers) from
India. They performed Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and some
Hindi songs along with a few HG singers (Ramana,
Shreyas, Pavan, Krithika and Ujwala). Rajesh
Kulkarni was the sound technician at this event.
Congratulations to Aara Chandrashekaran (daughter
of Vidya and Rajesh Chandrashekaran), our 13-year
old Gemlet, for publishing her first book - ‘A Matter of
Time! We are very proud you, Aara, and wish you best
for your future projects!
An editor’s job is not just publishing an issue regularly,
but finding capable people who are able to handle the
responsibility. I have been lucky enough to find a new
editor, who is more than qualified for the job.
In 2013, Anandi Nagarajan became the new coeditor. She is another intelligent and talented person
who worked with me throughout this year. She is
enthusiastic and creative and I welcome her to be our
new editor. I know her capabilities and trust her
completely that all the new issues will be very
entertaining, educational and colorful. Chitra Kumar
is willing to be the next co-editor.
My best wishes to both the editors!
Jaate-jaate, I would also like to thank our Gem, Raju
(Rajesh Chandrashekharan), once again for his
creativity on the beautiful logo he made for the HG
Insider.
Hope you will all enjoy this issue which includes a
number of new features. Wishing you a very happy
festive and colorful season!
Congratulations to Ramana Subramanian for
completing his second, half-marathon in less than 2
hours. I really admire his three D’s – his dedication,
determination and discipline. Good luck for the
upcoming marathon in November!
Yours sincerely,
Rajeshree Kulkarni
I would also like to announce that this is my last issue as
an editor. We had started this quarterly newsletter in
2012. This is the eighth issue of HG Insider. It has been a
great experience and it was wonderful working with my
co-editors in the past two years.
Hidden Gems is a group of passionate track singers
who seek to channel their energies to the service of
those amongst us who are under-privileged, facing
tribulations, and who may have been hit with
hardships due to circumstances beyond their control.
Since coming together in January 2005 to raise funds
for victims of the 2004 Tsunami, Hidden Gems has
successfully performed several fund-raisers for a
variety of other causes such as
Katrina, Asha for Education, South Brunswick Public
Library and CRY. In addition, Hidden Gems has
performed numerous private events.
Our uniqueness lies in the fact that most of our
proceeds are donated to charity.
In 2012, Malathi Parthasarathi was my co-editor. She
was witty and humorous and a joy to work with. I still
remember those meetings and those entertaining emails
in the beginning. To start anything new is always
challenging. In the beginning, we had many meetings
and discussions about what to include in the newsletter,
the cover page, the logo, the pictures, articles, kids corner
and so on. Malathi was a perfect partner and a great
help. I really enjoyed working with her.
ABOUT HIDDEN GEMS
http://www.hidden-gems.org
Some Organizations we have supported
through the years:
Established in January 2005
Founder members:
Rajesh Kulkarni & Mahendra Solanki
Publisher: Hidden Gems
Editor: Rajeshree Kulkarni
Asst Editor: Anandi Nagarajan
QUICK CONTACT
PR and Event Coordinator
Bharat Parulekar
Phone#:732-762-7101
Email: [email protected]
Advertising & Marketing
Rajesh Chandrashekaran
Phone#:732-977-6836
Email: [email protected]
Webmasters: Abhin Parkhi & Vrinda Khatu
Treasurer : Tejoo Bambulkar
Visit us at www.hidden-gems.org
Follow us on Facebook
Core Group Members
Ramana Subramanian, Ujwala Chinni,
Rajesh Chandrashekaran, Girija Murali,
Mahendra Solanki
HG Insider, a quarterly magazine
The next issue will be published in January 2014.
If you would like to send in your articles for
inclusion in the January issue, please send them to
us at [email protected] by
December 1st. Editors' decision will be final!
www.hidden-gems.org
WE DO IT ALL
From retirement parties to holiday parties
From public shows to private parties
From fundraisers to crowd pleasers
From graduation parties to farewell parties
From sweet sixteen parties to home coming
parties
From parties for a cause to parties just
because!
HG Insider : October 2013
If you've got the purpose,
we've got the passion!
Come, discover what
we can do for you!
2 of 12
Meet the ‘Gems’!
Abhin Parkhi
Music is something that I grew up with. My mother is an accomplished
Hindustani Classical singer so music was always in the air at home. I myself was
never formally trained in music. What I know or have is just by constantly
listening to classical music. My mother always said, grow or nurture your passion
for music. But I never got around to it until Hidden Gems came into existence.
When did you start singing ?
As a child, I remember having performed on stage only once during annual day
function of my elementary school. However I listened to music a lot. Mom’s
‘riyaaz’, her tuition classes, concerts, and of course, the radio. I was introduced
to karaoke singing by Rajesh Kulkarni sometime in 2004. The first real
performance was during HG’s Tsunami fundraising program in 2005.
What interests you besides singing ?
I was a major fan of cricket (still am) until college days. I played cricket for my school in Nagpur and also while
we were in London. Later I played for my college in Nagpur which won University Championship. I also played
table tennis for college. Now I take interest and follow baseball & football (American). I like reading, watching
movies and relaxing with friends and family. This may come as a surprise to most but I also enjoy cooking and
trying out new dishes.
Who are your favorite singers? When growing up versus now ?
It is difficult to pick a favorite out of all the talented singers that were and are out there. In classical music, I
particularly like my Mom, Kishori Amonkar, Pt. Rashid Khan, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra.
My favorite ghazal singers are Ghulam Ali, Mehdi Hassan and Jagjit Singh. From the film industry, I grew up
when the fantastic 4 were ruling the film industry. However, I would pick Asha Bhosle over Lata Mangeshkar
and Mohd. Rafi over Kishore Kumar. Of the current mix of singers, I enjoy listening to Sonu Nigam, Shreya
Ghoshal, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Kay Kay and Rekha Bhardwaj.
Any specific songs that you particularly enjoy singing? Why?
I generally enjoy singing soft, slow and emotional numbers. It is very difficult to pin point 1 or 2 songs.
What genre/era do you think has made the most significant contribution to Bollywood film
music?
Definitely the 70s. That era gave us everlasting melodious songs.
What is your profession? Was that your dream when you were a child?
I am an IT professional working at Jefferies LLC. I was first introduced to computers during my schooling
years in London. From that point on I knew exactly what I wanted to do after college.
If you had a chance to make one change in society, what would it be?
Try to change the self-centric attitude of society.
Would you like to be added to our mailing list?
Please send us a mail to [email protected] and/or [email protected]
We will not share your information with third parties.
www.hidden-gems.org
HG Insider : October 2013
3 of 12
Meet the ‘Gems’!
Aditi Parulekar
I was lucky to be the chosen Gem for this months' issue - October is my Birth
Month. On the eve of my 40th Birthday, I am reminded of a song from the play and
movie I watched recently: "Who am I?" from Les Miserables. Well, I am on this
journey of evolving. But, instead of answering this question, philosophically and
talking about my purpose and my calling, my raison-d'etre, let me just write from
my experiences and of course keep it simple and real.
Childhood, Siblings, and Music
I am the youngest of 4 sisters. People often say that the youngest ones are the most
rebellious. There is a ring of truth in it, since by the time I was born, the fourth to
my parents, they were too tired going through the same shenanigans of raising
another one; so I was raised primarily by my sisters, and then by my parents. One
can only imagine being the fourth child and being raised by elder sisters. I was
made to do all 'their' chores, wear 'only' hand-me-downs, and become the scapegoat for all their mischief. I
guess these were some of the reasons that I became a rebel, just to survive!!
But in all fairness, as sisters and as being daughters of busy parents who were doctors by profession, we also
would do many things together: trek, cycle, watch movies, dance and sing. We would try harmonies together;
one of the many advantages of being 4 sisters was that we had a variety of ranges in our voices- bass, alto,
soprano and so on. It truly was a riot at social gatherings. I guess that was my first exposure to singing. Of
course, we would sing more of the English soundtracks from classics like Sound of Music, My Fair Lady,
Fiddler on the Roof to name a few, and other English numbers from ABBA and Carpenters. So that's how I
knew: "Hey I love to sing."
Favorite Singers: Then and Now
When I was younger, I used to listen to ABBA, Beatles, Madonna, Cindy Lauper, Tom Petty, Neil Diamond,
Tina Turner to name a few. Come to think of it, it is strange but true, also maybe sad but true, but honestly I
have only started earnestly listening to Hindi cinema songs of yesteryears post marriage. It's only now that I
am actually learning the nuances of those evergreen songs. Such is the impact that Hidden Gems and Bharat
(my better half for 13 years) have had on me. Nowadays, I love listening to Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal
and SEL (Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy).
Favorite Genre?
Oh My God! I am glad to answer this question. I love all the genres of songs be it from Hindi films and English
Films, old and new, fast and slow but,....but....CABARET!!!!! They get my heart racing fast and my feet
stomping. Since childhood, I have loved all Helen songs to put it subtly. They are packed with wonderfully
orchestrated music and beats and, of course, sensational dance.
Other Interests
Since I am a "9 year old" mom of two beautiful daughters, parenting has become my interest too. The mystery
of: "How can two children born, raised and fed in the same way, be sooooo different in their own ways?"
haunts me, and I am on a mission to crack the code! I also love dancing. My latest hobby is Zumba.
If there is a beat, Begin to groove my feet . I love watching movies, and hanging out with friends, and driving
to places, learning new languages.
My Inspiration
It keeps changing with time, age and of course the role I play. As a parent I derive it from my kids.
If you had a chance to make one change in society, what would it be?
Ask more people visit www.hidden-gems.org.
www.hidden-gems.org
HG Insider : October 2013
4 of 12
If you had to choose 3 words to describe yourself, what would they be?
Lives Life kingsize- oooops!! I mean queensize. Zindagi na milegi dobaara!!
My Motto
From The Bhagavad Gita:
कर्मणयेवाधिकारस्ते र्ा फलेषु कदाचन।
You have the right to perform your actions, but you are not entitled to the fruits of the actions.
र्ा कर्मफलहे तर्
ु र्
भम ाम ते सङ्गोऽस््वकर्मणण।
Do not let the fruit be the purpose of your actions, and therefore you won't be attached to not doing
your duty.
This value has deeply been instilled in me by my dear parents. "Kaam karit jaa, phalachi apeksha karu naka".
Meri Pasand
Music Director Special
Click on the links to hear the songs
Top 10 R. D Burman Songs
Bharat Parulekar's Picks
Top 10 Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Songs
Ramana Subramanian's Picks

Tu tu hai wohi

Dil chahata hai

Chingari koi bhadke

Har ghadi badal rahi hai

O hansini

Bol na halke halke

Beeti na beetayi raina

Sapnon se bhare naina

Mere naina saawan bhaadon

Maa

Raina beeti jaaye

Taare zameen par

Naam gum jaayega

Tere naina

Roz roz aankhon tale

Sajda

Bade achche lagte hain

Der lagi lekin

Jaane jaan dhoondta

Bhaag Milkha bhaag
We have introduced a new column this issue called Meri Pasand. In this column, you can write
about any of your favorite artists in the field of music or films: singers, lyricists, music directors,
instrumentalists, actors and so on. In this issue, we are focusing on two sensational music
directors. Please continue reading to learn more about the Pasand of Bharat Parulekar and
Ramana Subramanian. We look forward to hearing from you on your own Pasand at
[email protected].
www.hidden-gems.org
HG Insider : October 2013
5 of 12
Meri Pasand: R.D. Burman
By Bharat Parulekar
It is not a coincidence that I have included a picture of Rajesh Khanna with RD
Burman. Two of my all- time favorites and I am happy to be writing an article on RD
Burman after writing one on Rajesh Khanna. As a child, I was exposed to Hindi film
music and movies naturally as our entire family was fond of Hindi movies. Much of
my growing years were spent at my uncle’s place who used to buy LP records and
play it at home after coming from office. He used to get records of all the movies,
however for some unknown reason; I developed a strong liking for RD Burman songs
(although, at that time I did not know who RD Burman was). When I was barely two,
Jawani Diwani got released, and my parents say that I used to sing Jaanejaan
Dhoondta Phir Rahaa right from then. Not only the singing but it seems I used to
play the music on the bench as well. Guess RD had already cast his influence on my body and soul.
The second phase of his strong influence on me started when Rajesh Khanna started becoming popular, not as
much for his acting abilities, but more for the music in his films. In that sense, I would like to believe that
Rajesh Khanna was lucky and all the readers will agree that RD had a fair share of his contribution in Rajesh
Khanna's success. Rajesh Khanna's film songs composed by RD were hugely popular and since we had no You
Tube or Internet, the only way to watch these songs was to go to the theaters and that contributed to the film’s
success. Thus, I started becoming conscious of the fact that I was becoming one of the thousands of RD fans.
When Sholay was released, the song Mehbooba Mehbooba became a rage, because of RD’s unique grunting
bass singing. If I look at my life retrospectively, it was at this time that I developed a liking for singing, though
never ever thought of making it my career. Secretly, I used to harbor thoughts of singing like Kishore Kumar,
who sang most of RD songs. If it was an RD and KK combination, it was quintessential that I would like that
song. Trust me, even if the song was not as good, I used to like it, such was my bias towards this supreme
combination. In 1978, when Dharmendra’s Azaad was released, I could not stop singing Raju Chal Raju. I
would just listen to the beats of the songs and instantly know that it was an RD composition.
It would not be an exaggeration if I were to say that much of the success gained by actors in 70s
and 80s was because of RD Burman. If the santoor in Chingari Koi Bhadke matched with the
sound of waves in that river in which the song was shot, his Ye Waada Rahaa made you fall in
love. If his Dekha Na Haaye Re made you dance the moment it started, his background music in
Sholay would scare you limitlessly. If his Aaja Aaja and Dum Maro Dum made you wonder if he
really was trained in Hindustani classical, then his Aandhi and Parichay songs would wash away those doubts.
He had a rough patch in late 80s and 90s when his movies flopped one after the other. I am not sure about the
number but I believe he gave music in about 22 films that flopped consecutively. It’s an irony that songs from
films like Mahaan, Samundar, Jawani, Sagar, Manzil Manzil, Zamane ko Dikhana Hain, Zabardast, Shaan
never became as popular because these films bombed at the box office. It is said that Subhash Ghai was to offer
him Ram Lakhan, which he later gave to Laxmikant Pyarelal who used to play music in RD’s orchestra.
The fact that he has won only 3 filmfare awards in his illustrious career from 1961 to 1994 boggles me, the
three movies being Sanam Teri Kasam, Masoom and 1942 a Love Story. How could that be possible? What
about albums such as Teesri Manzil, Yaadon Ki Baraat, Amar Prem, Parinda, Ijaazat, Caravan, Khel Khel
Mein etc? Probably people did not understand his music as he was years ahead of the era he gave music in.
For me if I am “Singing with Passion” and “Supporting a Cause” today, as a member of Hidden Gems, it is only
because of RD Burman. His music helped me appreciate the nuances of good music and developed my liking
not only for his music but also for other music directors. Being a part of Hidden Gems, I consider myself
fortunate to be able to pay tribute to his long and melodious career by organizing and directing a program
‘Yaadon Ki Baraat’ with the help of the entire group on 7th December 2013 which will feature songs
depicting his range of talent right from Romantic to Rock, Jazz to Classical , fun to serious…
A real Guldasta of songs of THE ONE AND ONLY PANCHAMDA…
Don't miss this show on 7th December 2013!!
Check on our website…details coming soon…
www.hidden-gems.org
HG Insider : October 2013
6 of 12
Meri Pasand: Shankar Ehsaan Loy
by Ramana Subramanian
In the past 2 decades, Indian Cinema has seen
several talented music directors provide excellent
music in their films. Undoubtedly, A.R. Rahman's
debut with Roja was the beginning of a new trend for
music and songs in Indian cinema. The use of
unique instruments and sounds in conjunction with
technology and synthetic music certainly set some
musicians apart from the others.
But more
importantly, ability to apply musical knowledge and
understanding and collaborate closely with other
musicians, singers and lyricists to create
heartwarming and soul stirring music is what set the
great ones apart from the good ones.
One such great set of musicians that I am a huge fan
of are the music director trio- Shankar Mahadevan,
Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa (SEL). The
thing that amazes me the most about their music is
the secularity, honesty and pureness- probably a lot
to do with the backgrounds and
personalities of the three.
Whether it is a Ganesha
vandana or a Sufiyana song or
a Christmas carol, the soothing
blend of their music and in
many cases, their voices, is just
a treat to the ears.
How did these three seemingly different personalities
come together? Ehsaan is supposed to have met Loy,
who was working for an ad film composer. From then
on, they joined together and composed several
ad jingles together. They met Shankar when he was
roped in to sing for the famous Pepsi ad directed by
Mukul Anand. Since then, they started to compose
for ads as a trio. Their first venture together was in
late 1990s for Mukul Anand's movie, Dus. Although
the movie was never released, the music album was
released in 1999 and many took notice of it. I
remember hearing Suno Gaur se Duniya Waalon,
Sab se aage honge Hindustani for the first time and
immediately taking a liking for the song and the
music. Little did I know about SEL or that I would
become a huge fan of their music down the road.
Their next two ventures- Rockford and Bhopal
Express didn't receive much attention despite some
very good and different music, especially in
Rockford. Aasmaan Ke Paar Shayad from Rockford
is a real musical treat!
SEL got their big break in 2000 when Vidhu Vinod
Chopra asked them to direct music for Mission
www.hidden-gems.org
Kashmir. The music was a huge hit especially Rind
Posh Maal and Bumbro, both having a touch of
Kashmiri folk music, exhibited the trio's ability to
apply their musical knowledge and experience to
blend different musical genre, cultures and
instruments to generate phenomenal music and
songs. The next big break for SEL came in the form
of Dil Chahta Hai. This was their first film where
every single song was a hit and had huge following
and popularity. The film really brought the trio into
the main stream and set them apart from other
music directors. This venture also set the beginning
of the friendship of the trio with Farhan Akhtar, who
since then has used SEL for all his films.
Dil Chahta Hai was followed by several other hit
albums like Kal Ho Na Ho, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna,
Bunty Aur Babli, Don, Taare Zameen Par, Jhoom
Barabar Jhoom, Rock On, Luck by Chance, London
Dreams, My Name is Khan, Patiyala House and
Zindagi Na Milege Dobaara. There were several other
"not so hit" albums like Kuch Na Kaho, Armaan,
Salaam-e-Ishq, Johnny Gaddar, Wake up Sid, and
Karthik calling Karthik that had a lot of amazing
songs.
Their most recent work- Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and DDay are excellent examples of how the trio adapt to
the movie's plot so well and still create soul stirring
music. Mera Yaar hai Rab Varga and the title track
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag are beautifully arranged and
composed. Maston ka Jhoond is a high energy, foot
tapping song that instantly brings joy and positive
vibes. From D-Day, Murshid Khele Holi, Alvida and
Ek Ghadi are worth listening to and enjoying over
and over again. Undoubtedly, this trio has added
immeasurable, musical contributions to Indian Film
music.
I
was
extremely
fortunate to meet
and watch them
perform recently at a
concert. It was a
dream come true to
be in the company of
such accomplished,
passionate
and
incredibly
humble
artists, who are the embodiment of talent and true,
musical genius. Hope you all enjoy their music as
much as I do.
HG Insider : October 2013
7 of 12
Annual Concert at Beechwoods Park
South Brunswick
www.hidden-gems.org
HG Insider : October 2013
8 of 12
Sangeet Sarita
by Chitra Kumar
The Vividh Bharati (विविध भारती) Service of All India Radio (आकाशिाणी) was launched in 1957 and became a
popular channel of every household. Many programs were introduced including Sangeet Sarita (संगीत सररता).
It was a 10-minute program which comprised of a Rāga for the Day, with a brief explanation of the Rāga, a
film song, followed by a composition either in Hindustani or Carnatic classical Music. This program was one
of my favorites, as it helped me understand classical music from the Classical as well as from the Film Music
perspective! This is a humble attempt to bring to you a similar version of the Classical approach to Indian Film
Music, the most popular Music of India! In each issue, I will explore one Rāga, discuss the classical
background and share some filmi and non-filmi songs that are based off of the Rāga.
Rāga for this Issue
Yaman (यर्न) or Kalyani (कल्याणी)
An important rāga in Hindustani (ह द
ं स्
ु तानी संगीत) Classical Music is Yaman (यमन), It belongs to the Kalyan
Thaat (कल्याण थाट). Its equivalent is rāga Kalyani, also called Mecha Kalyani (कल्याणी / मेचकल्याणी) in
Carnatic Classical Music (कनााहटक/ कनााटक संगीत). Yaman is regarded as one of the grandest and most
fundamental rāgas in Hindustani Music. It is one of the first rāgas taught to students. Yaman is not an ancient
rāga. It was first mentioned in the literature in the late 16th century, by which time it was very popular.
Kalyani was also considered a favorite melody to the Arabs, and has been included in several 'Persian' rāgas. It
was called “Emaan” in West Asia.
The notes for Yaman are:
Sa Re Ga Ma* Pa Dha Ni Sa.
(All the swaras in the rāga are Shuddha, the exception being Teevra Madhyam (Ma*).
Kalyani in Carnatic music is a a prominently played rāga especially in south-indian weddings. It is the 65th
melakarta or parent rāga.
The notes for Kalyani are:
S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N3.
The western equivalent of this rāga is the “Lydian mode”.
The modern Lydian musical scale is a rising pattern of pitches comprising of three whole tones, a semitone,
two more whole tones, and a final semitone.
Personally, Rāga Yaman or Kalyani appealed to me from the very beginning and stood out as a very bold,
dynamic and bright rāga with the Teevra Swaras. I realized soon that this was one rāga that lingered in my
ears and stayed on my mind for long even after listening to an entire concert blended with varied kind and
types of ragas. It has been one of my all-time favorite rāga.
www.hidden-gems.org
HG Insider : October 2013
9 of 12
Sangeet Sarita contd.
Listen to Some Popular Songs based on Rāga Yaman/Kalyani
Click on the links to hear the songs
Hindi Film Songs
Aansoo bhari hai ye jivanki raahein
Parvarish, Music by Dattaram
Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi
Khamishi, Music by Hemant Kumar
Chandan sa badan, chanchal chitwan
Saraswati Chandra, Music by Kalyanji Anandiji
Inhi logon ne
Pakeezah, Music by Ghulam Mohammad
Jiya le gayo ji mora savariya
Anpadh, Music by Madan Mohan
Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par
Junglee, Music by Shankar Jaikishan
Abhi na Jaao chodkar
Hum Dono, Music by Jaidev
Jhumka gira re
Mera Saya, Music by Madan Mohan
Zindagi-bhar nahin bhulegi
Barsaat Ki Raat, Music by Roshan
Is mod se jaate hai
Aandhi, Music by RD Burman
Paan khaaye saiyan hamaro
Teesri Kasam, Music by Shankar Jaikishen
Huzur is kadar bhi na itara ke chaliye
Masoom, Music by RD Burman
Non-Filmi Songs
Koi jo mila tha mujhe "Breathless"
sung by Shankar Mahadevan
Ranjish hi sahi, dil hi dukhane ke liye aa
sung by Mehdi Hassan
Damadum Mast Kalandar
sung by Runa Laila
Some Regional Songs
Dorakuna
Movie: ShankarAbharaNam, Telugu
Tunturu Alli Neera Haadu
Movie:Amruthavarshini, Kannada
kalai vANiyE
Movie: Sindhu Bhairavi, Tamil
Tuj Magato Mee Aata
Bhajan, Marathi
What are your favorite "yaman/kalyani" based songs?
If you have other ideas and suggestions that can help to make this column more informative and/or
entertaining, please do write to us at [email protected] share your thoughts.
www.hidden-gems.org
HG Insider : October 2013
10 of 12
Sun Sun Sun, "Bhatiyali" Dhun Sun
by Sandeep Chitre
Childhood has such a magical power that it transforms ordinary moments to special
memories! And the best part is that everyone’s personal moments are different from other
person’s moments yet everyone’s moments have a strong common thread connecting these
moments. Childhood – what a strong golden thread it is!
From my childhood memories, Bhatiyali dhun, has such a special place in my heart. This
article intends to share those memories rather than talking about musical aspects of
Bhatiyali dhun. Honestly speaking, I don’t have the knowledge and expertise to talk on
music! Wikipedia tells us that Bhatiyali is a traditional boat song, sung by boatmen while going down streams
of the river, as the word Bhatiyali comes from Bhata meaning ebb or downstream. Sure enough, one feels like
floating on the waves when listening to this tune. This dhun is particularly popular in West Bangal region. The
beauty of folk tunes is that the music strikes a chord with the listeners right the first time because of it’s
simplicity on listeners’ ears! Bhatiyali is also no exception for the same. (Perhaps my HG friends -- talking
about folk tunes, we should put together a show primarily comprising of folk songs from different parts of
India!)
I vividly remember that I was in 7th or 8th grade when I heard it the first time. It all started on an
ordinary Saturday morning! Right from first to tenth grade, I went to a school that started very early in the
morning. I used to be out of my home at 6:30 AM for the school that started exactly at 5 minutes shy of 7:00
AM! The ones who grew up at Pune in mid-eighties would know how we all longed for that extra 10 minutes of
sleep at break of the dawn. Some habits stay with one for life and I still long for that extra 10 minutes of sleep
early in the morning, especially during the winter! A button called ‘snooze’ on alarm clock is a blessing for
people like me who always let the Sun win the race of arriving first on the horizon!!
Saturday was the only day when my school started after 11:00 AM! You already know what this means, don’t
you? Not just 10 minutes but getting an extra hour to sleep that morning….yoohoo! The Sun would not even
compete with me and just showed up cheerfully on the horizon knowing that he is a clear winner that day! But
to gain something one has to lose something also, no? I too had to give up part of precious "me" time on
Saturday mornings for school homework! Oh, let’s not even start that topic as "homework" is a dreaded word
in normal people’s minds!!!
So on Saturday mornings, I would be doing something or the other at home and ‘Aappaa’, i.e. my dad, would be
busy getting ready to leave for his workplace – Bank of India. Aappaa was fond of music in general and Indian
classical music, Marathi "naaTya-sangeet" (musical plays) in particular. Radio was the prime source of
entertainment then as TV was a luxury and not considered as "necessity" like today! (For the benefit of
younger generation -- radio does not mean "Pandora" but there used be an actual gadget called "Radio"!) On
many of Saturdays, the announcer on radio, not known as RJ then, would almost ‘order’ us to listen to
Bhatiyali dhun! And for next 10 minutes or so, an ordinary morning would be transformed into a magical
one! I used to like the sweet tune being played on radio and would keep listening to the tune. To my utter
surprise, I started to notice that I used to even like "homework" during that time when I was listening to the
tune. (This was not Facebook type ‘Like’ where you just do thumbs up!) I used to enjoy doing homework during
those 10 minutes or so. This was the time when I realized that listening to good music can actually help one on
concentrating / focusing better on the job at hand!
I’m sure that it was around the same time when I started to get fascinated by music and personality of the
person who played that ‘Bhatiyali’ dhun – the one and only Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia! When I was
approaching college graduation, I started to learn to play flute, called as ‘baaasaree’ in Marathi or ‘baansuri’ in
Hindi, but the seed was sowed sometime while listening to Harijee’s Bhatiyali dhun in my childhood. It will be
one of the greatest pleasures of my life if I will be able to play even 5% of what’s been treasured in my mind!
You can also click here to enjoy ‘Bhatiyali’dhun played by Harijee. Let the magic of transforming ordinary
moments into special memories begin!
www.hidden-gems.org
HG Insider : October 2013
11 of 12
Special Interview with Aara Chandrashekaran
Author of A Matter of Time
How absolutely incredible and praiseworthy when the daughter of one of the Gems
publishes her own novel! The fact that she is only 13 years old is definitely icing on the
cake, with a huge cherry on top!
Aara Chandrashekaran, daughter of Rajesh and Vidya Chandrashekaran, recently
published her first novel, A Matter of Time. A voracious reader and a passionate
writer, Aara has been writing short stories since she was six. A Matter of Time is
Aara’s first novel, which she began planning when she was ten. Hidden Gems is
exceptionally proud of Aara not only for her talent and creativity, but also for her
compassion. She is donating all author proceeds to a children's charity that is
committed to granting wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Now
that's what we call: Write with Passion, Support a Cause. Congratulations Aara!
Aara shared her love for writing, her inspiration, and passionate engagement in the writing process with
Jahnvi Seshadri (11) and Siya Seshadri (9) in this interview.
Who or what was your inspiration? I have always loved to write. I like fantasy and adventure. My parents
have always encouraged me to write. For years, my father used to give me writing exercises and we used to
discuss my stories. After some time, I started writing on my own.
How did you get the idea for your book?
It happened over a period of time. When we went on long drives, we used to sometimes talk about different
story ideas. The idea for this story probably came during one of those drives. I started making notes in my
writing book and slowly built on it.
Do you follow any specific method when you sit to write? Do you have a time slot or certain
amount of time in day when you write or do you pick up and write as and when time and
interest allows? I tend to prefer handwriting my stories before typing them out. I do not have any specific
time slot for writing, but I write whenever the ideas come, and as often as I can. In the early stages, my father
and I often bounce ideas back and forth. Later I expand on those ideas and weave together my story.
How many hours would you estimate you spent on the book from initial outline to final copy?
Countless. Initial parts of the story were developed during random conversations in the car when we went on
long drives. The ideas for this story probably were born when I was in 5 th grade. Initially, I wrote it out as a
short story, but later saw that it had the potential to become a longer and richer story. After I became serious
about writing it as a novel, the writing process alone took me in excess of 6 months. After the first editorial
review, I revised and lengthened the story. The book finally appeared in print about 2 months later.
Is there anything in the book/story that you might change?
It is hard not to look back and second guess certain choices that I made in the story. There are many ideas that
my father and I discuss even today that might have made the plot richer. Maybe some of these ideas will be
included in the sequel that I'm currently working on.
How do you feel now that your book is published? I am happy, proud, and excited
to see my name on a book that is in print and being sold on amazon.com. I was keen on
publishing a book before I left Middle School. I was hoping that the book would be
completed before I became a teenager. Though it did not happen as I had imagined, I am
still pleased that the book was published before I entered High School.
According to you, how can kids your age develop the discipline to engage and
persist in creative writing? I have always been a voracious reader. I believe that good
reading habits produce good writing. I do not believe that there is any discipline involved,
if one loves what they do. If they do not love what they do, they should not be doing it.
A Matter of Time is now available online on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
What are you waiting for? Order your copy today!
www.hidden-gems.org
HG Insider : October 2013
12 of 12