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Queen of Thumri

An article by Lakshmi Viswanathan


Shobha Gurtu has a voice that pleads, cajoles, entices, prays and finally drowns you in a sea of emotion. An individual of extraordinary versatility, this doyen of Thumri singing who belongs to an artistic family with a long history from Goa, is the undisputed queen of her genre today. She must have inherited some of her enviable talent including her expressiveness and histrionic capabilities from her mother, who , we are told was one of the most sought after dancers and singers of her time. Apparently Manekabai Shirodkar, the mother, taught her daughter every nuance of singing. The little girl, Shobha, was encouraged to sing at religious festivals and soon her talent came to be reckoned with by all.

The learning process for Shobha Gurtu was full of variety and demanding.She came under gurus of the Atrauli-Jaipur gharana, and later learnt from Bhurji Khan, son of the legendary Alladiya Khan. She does not say a lot about her training, but is keen to emphasise the atmosphere in which music was nurtured... with affection, care and a sensitive eye for detail. Shobha is so modest about her music that she believes, she is a small speck in this vast ocean which has given her life meaning.

When you hear her singing, you cannot but be reminded of some of the other great women who preceded her - Rasoolan Bai, Siddheshwari Devi and Begum Akhtar. Yes, she heard them sing several times, in her younger days, but never got the opportunity to learn from them. After marrying a senior official of the IPS, Shobha continued her music helped by her father-in-law and encouraged by Nathan Khan, a nephew of Alladiya. Her husband too, a sitar player in his own right, indulged in music as both patron and performer. Travelling with her wherever she performed, he became her mentor.

What is special about this style of singing - the purab ang gayaki of Thumri singing?

The Thumri as many know, is an important form of Hindusthani music, which is second only to the weighty Khayal mode which is very elaborate in defining ragas. The text of the Thumri is mainly composed in Brij bhasha, a dialect of the Agra- Mathura region. Naturally the poetic content is mainly shringara -the love themes from the Krishna legend. Like the padams of Ksetragna in South India, Thumris elevate the erotic content by adressing the verses to a god, and bringing in an element of bhakthi. It is like the poetry of Jayadeva and his Geetha Govindam, the human heart longing for Divine love. The emotional content dominates the Thumri and artists are free to roam with their imagination when it comes to the raga. It is thus possible to literally indulge in poetic fancy when it comes to the raga. The mood of the evening dictates the flow of melody. It is not easy to sing Thumris, for they are not textbook versions that one can just learn and reproduce. The individuality of expression, the voice and its dramatic as well as subtle appeal, and the deep understanding by the artist of subtle nuances, creates that unforgettable harmonious taste of rasa.

With the Thumri of the 19th century becoming the essential repertoire of Kathak dancers, its singing developed on the lines of visual music. Folk elements also crept into Thumri singing giving it that rhythm which made the music dance.

However, the ambience of Benares in the 19th century gave the Thumri as we know it today its true character. Dance and music brought together the best talent, and talas from the folk idiom such as dadra and kaharva were used in Thumri compositions which explored lighter melodies. At the hands of great ustads, Thumri singing, as part of a performance of music became more rich in classical characteristics, making it popular with listeners of the mainstream who were unfamiliar with the old lifestyles of dancers and courts of patrons.

This is the purab ang style of singing - the eastern - Benares centric style popularised by artists like Siddheshwari Devi, as opposed to the old Lucknow style of singing.

In purely technical terms the Thumri of the 20th century is what is known as the Bol-Banao Thumri. And undoubtedly, the grand master of this Thumri singing in all its variety and shades of nuances is Shobha Gurtu. She can introduce a raga in thirty seconds and make you feel its essence in an exhilerating, yet fleeting moment.The poetry unfolds like a lotus petal at daybreak, gently but surely. Shobha Gurtu caresses the words, draws out the subtle undertones to elaborate the meaning. With each variation, she can paint pictures of Bhava. She is as much a singer as a devotee. She has a voice which is so expressive that her music dances in the listeners' mind.

Shobha Gurtu is a rare artist. Of another time, another culture. To re- create that feeling in music which was nurtured in her since childhood by a heritage she can call her own, has been her signal contribution to 20th century Indian music. She has taught students. But can they learn an entire culture without living it?

Shobhaji ko gujare dou saal se jayada ho gaye(27 September 2004) lekin lagata nahi ki wo hamare beech
nahin hain.
Bahut sare aur logon ki tarah maine bhi Shobhaji ko pahale pahal 'Main Tulsi Tere Angan Ki' ke
is Dadra se jaana tha...

Saiyan Rooth Gaye Mai Manati Rahi
(3:29@160kbps, Mp3)

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Ek Bhairvi ka dadra 'Hamari Atariya Pe'...
Iska Begum Akhtar version Prabhakarji ne 'Ghazals, Nazms and Geet' me post kiya hai:
http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?show...32587&st=15

Ab Prabhakarji ke liye...

Hamari Atariya Pe Aaja Re Sanwariya Dekha Dekhi Tanik Huyi Jaaye

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Agar mujhe 10 sabse behter Thumriya chunani hon tou mai is Pahadi ki Thumari ko jarur rakhunga.

Mori Chhodo Dagariya Ho Shayam
(17:10@128Kbps, Mp3)

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Thumri-Kafi


Anchara Chhodo Kanhayi
(6:59@160Kbps,Mp3)

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Thumri-Khamaj


Radha Nandkunwar Samjhay Rahi
(6:30@160Kpbs, Mp3)

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Thumri- Khamaj


Kit Gaye Bawari Bana Ke
(13:37@160Kbps,Mp3)


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Thumri-Bihag


Najariya Lage Nahin Kahin Aur
(5:08@160Kbps,Mp3)


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Could u post Shobha Gurtu's hit number from 'Chowki No. 911' - "Kahin ho na mohalle mein halla"?

Hari

Could u post Shobha Gurtu's hit number from 'Chowki No. 911' - "Kahin ho na mohalle mein halla"?

Hari

Thumri-Bibhas



Aaja Re Aaja Re Meet Piharwa
(16:30@128Kbps,Mp3)


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Thumri-Bhairavi



Saiyaan Nikas Gaye Mai Na Ladi Thi
(13:33@160Kbps,Mp3)


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Hariji,

'Chowki No.11' (911?) aur 'Sajjo Rani' ke songs ki talash mujhe bhi hai. Filhal mere paas 'Main Tulasi Tere Angan Ki' ke alawa sirf 'Prahar' 'Pakeeza' aur 'Faasle' ke songs hai.

Thank you, my friend, for this one. I have been listening to it for a while and I can not make up my mind about who has sung it better - Begum Akhtar or Shobha Gurtu. They are both wonderful renditions.

Thank you once again.

Prabhakar

Dear Prabhakarji,
Thank you for yuor feedback.
In donno me koi comparison mumkin bhi nahi hai . Actually Shobha ji aapne se pahle ki thumari singars ki bahut ijjat karti theen. Khaas tuar se Begum Akhtar aur Siddheshwari Devi ki.

Meera ka ek Bhajan...

Mhare Ghar Aao Pritam Pyara
(13:24@160Kbps, Mp3)

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Shobhaji ko yaad karte huye...


Some Songs of Season on her Birthday:
(All@160Kbps)


Rasiya:


Aaj Biraj Me Hori Hai Rasiya

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Chaiti:



Chaitar Chunari Ranga De Piywa


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Kajri:



Sawan Ki Ritu Aayee Ri Sajaniya

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Dadra:Mishr Sarang




Patjhad Aayee Sakhiyaan


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Some more Songs of Season:
(All@160Kbps)


Hori:Gara


Mai To Khelungi Unhi Se Hori Guyiyaan

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Chaiti:



Piya Milan Hum Jaibe Ho Raam


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Kajari:



Tarsat Jiyara Hamar Nayihar Me


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Mere khyal se barsaat ke mausam ke jitne rang hame Shobhaji ke yahan milte hai utne ICM me shayad hi kisi aur yahan milen.


Pesh hai barish ka ek aur rang:



Saawan:


Sakhi Saawan Aayo Maa
(28:28@96Kbps)

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Sur naachte hain. Ji haan sur naachte hain. Agar yakeen na ho tou sirf Sivranjani ka ye Dadra sunne ki zarurat hai...
Aur ji haan sur baraste bhi hain...


Dadra:Sivranjani


Chhai Ghata Ghan Ghore
(16:26@160Kbps)


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Lekin Shyamghan ke saath agar Ghanshyam nahi aaye tou wahi badal jaise jahar barsaane lagate hai...
Saawan ki fuhar aansuwon ki dhaar ban jati hai... Aur jab ye dard Shobhaji ke aawaz ko chhuta hai tou ek Dadara foot nikalta hai...


Ghir Kar Ayee Badariya Kaari Raam
(13:15@160Kbps)


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Mazaa aa gaya Anjvajay sahab. Khaas kar jab Shobha ji Bhairav thaat ke Bibhas mein Marwa thaat ke bibhas ka jhalak dikhaati hain.

Anjvajay

Thank you so much ......the article on Shobha Gurtu was a great read......i always wanted to know a bit more about her.......thanx for the uploads too

Here is both songs of Shobha Gurtu from - SAJJO RANI 1976
Music - Sapan Jagmohan
lyrics - Jaa Nisaar Akhtar
Dil Hai Hazir Lijiye - 2:34
Nathaniyan Ne Hai Raam - 3:35

Thanks ANT for this rare songs by Shobha Gurtu from Sajjo Rani.
Do you have the song "Saiyan Ki Gaon Mein" by Ashaji from the same film?If available, please post in Asha forum.

gop

Thank you Antji,
Main bahut dino se in songs ki talash me tha.
Apke is tohfe ke liye shukriya bahut chhota lafz hoga.

Two more articles are here:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_...103/ai_n9695456

http://aneesh.underscorerecords.info/2006/...0/shobha-gurtu/

From Shobha Gurtu ji's Album "Shobha Gurtu Light Musical", released in 1989.

01-Dil Leke Muijhe Badnaam Kiva


Enjoy

02-Paar Karo Kartar -- Shobha Gurtu - Raga Basant - Light Classical

size 7.4 mb
Bit rate 96 kbps
duration 10.3 mins

03-Aangan Mein Mat Sove --- Shobha Gurtu - Raga Basant - Light Classical

size 8.5 mb
Bit rate 96 kbps
duration 12.3 mins

04-Phagua Brij Dekkan Ko Chali -Shobha Gurtu - Raga Basant - Light Classical

Size 9.33 mb
Bit rate 96 kbps
Duration 13.55 mins

Thanks Serenity,
I hope more from you.

Dear Friends,

Reviving this thread from my old casette collection converted this weekend to digital format.

First is a Thumri in Raga Tilang - Kunjan Mein.

Enjoy.

Prabhakar

Next one is a Dadra - Kanhaiya Se Kahiyo.

Enjoy.

Prabhakar
[/quote]

Next one is Ankhiyan Daro Ji Gulal.

Prabhakar

Here is Chhod Gaya Sajan Mera.

Prabhakar

Continuing uploads of Shobha Gurtu from my collection.

Here are 2 Dadras -

Mora Papi Jiya

Rang Yuveri (??)

Happy listening.

Prabhakar

Thanks Prabhakar

folks
thanks for the wonderful u/l's.tussi sab gr8 ho.BUT THE RAR ARCHIVE OF chod gaya and ankhiyan daro doesnt work.they r corrupt .kinlu re-u/l please

Prabhakar ji,
Shukr hai ki itne din gaayab rahne ke baad bhi aapke uploads mujhe mil gaye. Lekin 'Ankhiya daaro...' ko mai bhi unpack nahi kar pa raha.
Meharbani hogi agar ise fir se upload kar den.

Hariji,
Ab ye talash khatm ho chuki hai.
Chowki No.11 ke songs maine SKS par kuch hi der pahle post kiye hain.

http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?s=&a...st&p=379413

Babul Mora Naihar Chooto Hi Jaay

Wajid Ali Shah ke waqt se aaj tak ye bhairvi ki thumri kabhi purani nahi huyi.
Is jugalbandi me Girija Devi aur Shobhaji ek saath hain, aur ab ye aap ke havale hai.

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(29:12@96Kbps)

Anjvajayji,

Many thanks for this treat.

Shaibaal

Shukriya Shaibaal ji,
Aapki di huyi himmat ka istemal karte huwe is album(Great Jugalbandis : Girija Devi, Shobha Gertu) ke baaki teen track bhi upload kar raha hoo. Shayad kisi kaam ke hon.

Kajri:

Jhini Jhini Atariya Ke Paar Goriya

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(13:11@160Kbps)

Thumri : Sivranjani:


Daga Deke Na Pardesva Sidhare


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(12:33@160Kbps)

Dadra : Kaushi Dhwani:


Nazariya Laag Rahi Kis Aor


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(15:09@160Kbps)

Anjvajayji,

Once again, thank you so much for the wonderful uploads. It is truly a treat.

Shaibaal

Shaibaal ji,
Aaj ek chhota sa dadra.
Shobha ji ki Sabse behater cheezon me se ek:


Andheriya Hai Raat Sajan Rahiyo Ki Jayiyo


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(6:36@160Kbps)

anjvajay

I am looking for shobha gurtu song: nathaniyan ne hai ram bada dukh deena ....from movie sajjo rani. Please can you send me that same . Thanks


woofy