The trigger.
I got this message forwarded to me in WhatsApp by a friend “Sonu Nigam singing Mohd. Rafi’s famous song “Dil ke jharoke mein” in a concert in London… All instruments are played by foreigners except the singing by Mr Sonu Nigam ! The song is from movie “Brahmachari” released in 1968 composed by the great Shankar Jaikishan! A marvellous song enjoyed even today (after 50 years!) in its full spirit and melody by the mass!”
Sonu Nigam is a contemporary singer in our Hindi films and other programmes. This was obviously aimed at the Indian diaspora in London.
The Original clip from the film showing the song as originally sung by Mohd. Rafi with Shammi Kapoor lipsynching the song.
The memory.
The film Brahmachari was released in 1968 just before our wedding. After our marriage, Urmeela and I had set up home in Delhi in December of 1968, during the midst of the wedding season. In North India, weddings are preceded by the groom arriving on horseback escorted by his family and a brass band. This is called a barat. Since this song was very popular and all about a man declaring his love for a girl, this was the choice song for the brassbands throughout the season. Not a day passed without our being exposed to this noisy band music coming up from the streets till quite late in the nights.
Unfortunately, I am unable to locate a brass band playing the tune but to give you an idea of such music here is a clip showing a barat but, with a different tune.
I wish I was there to attend your barat
My Barat was in Hyderabad. I reached the venue in a black and yellow Ambassador taxi.
What a (noisy) memory! That’s a lot different from weddings here.
Indian weddings can be quite noisy. https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/columnists/shobhaa-de/the-days-of-the-big-fat-indian-wedding-are-numbered-/articleshow/63851285.cms
The baret sounds like a wonderful idea! A joyous way to celebrate a successful union! I know nothing about Indian weddings except for the ones I’ve seen in movies, but they do all seem to be filled with exuberance, lots of music and dancing. Good times, and may the bride and groom have a lifetime of happiness!
Not all Indian weddings are as exhuberent. It depends on which part of India and what community the couple belong to. There are many weddings that are simple, quiet and conducted in temples.
how interesting – and also your last reply that it’s not all over – some communities do vastly different marriage styles…