TOTW #8 | Folk Songs

Folk songs tell stories, reflect way of life and are a unique representation of culture and traditions.

Obviously, the genre is diverse! Traditional folk music is transmitted orally and composed by unknown people, can be played on traditional instruments, and is associated with cultural and national identity.

It is passed from one generation to another. Sometimes it plays a crucial role in socio-religious reforms. It not just serves it's primary purpose of entertainment but also imparts critical information that could be used in one’s day-to-day life.

It can be cherished and celebrated by people in special events and and festivals, and it can also be source of spirit and strength in hard times.

Contemporary folk music is the more popular and familiar genre that is inspired from the traditional folk music.

So, here is the theme of the week- Folk songs. Join in to share you favorite songs! 🥳

Starting with Coke Studio's Choudhary, a beautiful folk song of recent times, representing Rajasthan's culture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gukvtH_a3I

res

Madhu/Riya, pls tag others whom I have missed

Lavani has been a popular folk music form of Maharashtra and it reflects in the movies and songs.

Lavani was originally performed to entertain the soldiers. The song is usually performed by womenfolk and it conveys information pertaining to society and politics. Lavani is further divided into two types – Nirguni Lavani and Shringari Lavani.

Nirguni Lavani is usually philosophical in nature, and also includes small skits that are mythological tales, most of the times, based on Mahabharata and Shri Krishna. Shringari Lavani is sensual and often deals with erotic subject matter that often induces laughter among its listeners. This musical form is also classified based on its listeners. If Lavani is performed in close quarters by a young girl for a set of dignitaries, it is called Baithakichi Lavani. If it is performed in public in front of a large audience, it is called Phadachi Lavani.

This Lavani Disla Ga Bai Disla is from V Shantaram directorial Pinjara (1972) that was tragic story of a morally righteous school teacher played by Dr Sriram Lagoo, who wants to reform a tamasha performer played by Sandhya, but ends up falling for her and loses his reputation. Ram Kadam's music, Jagdish Khebudkar's lyrics and Sandhya's stellar dance performances ensured that there was not even a single dull song in the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOqlTj_2i-o

Atul Kulkarni's Natarang (2010), is a journey of a common man overcoming his hurdles in the form of family, friends, society to finally realize his unthinkable dream driven by his passion for the art of Lavani and Tamasha. The film also highlights emotions related to gender bias and the sacrifices of an artist for the love of his art. The song Apsara Aali filmed on Sonalee Kulkarni describes the enchanting feminine beauty by equating her to Apsara, a celestial beauty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW67u_hWiSo

Very interesting theme, Rashmi.❤️

Folk music, is a type of traditional and generally rural music that was originally passed down through families from generation to generation, and other small social groups. Typically, folk music, like folk literature, lives in an oral tradition, it is learned through hearing rather than reading.

The oldest surviving folk song of local Anglo-American origin is the ballad "Springfield Mountain," dating back to 1761 in Connecticut.

Here is one of the best folk songs from Bollywood ---

Song ▶ Chadh Gayo Papi Bichua

Movie ▶ Madhumati (1958)

Singer(s) ▶ Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar

Music ▶ Salil Chowdhury

Lyrics ▶ Shailendra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqfspmpwwyM

Originally posted by: goofyCat

Lavani has been a popular folk music form of Maharashtra and it reflects in the movies and songs.

Lavani was originally performed to entertain the soldiers. The song is usually performed by womenfolk and it conveys information pertaining to society and politics. Lavani is further divided into two types – Nirguni Lavani and Shringari Lavani.

Nirguni Lavani is usually philosophical in nature, and also includes small skits that are mythological tales, most of the times, based on Mahabharata and Shri Krishna. Shringari Lavani is sensual and often deals with erotic subject matter that often induces laughter among its listeners. This musical form is also classified based on its listeners. If Lavani is performed in close quarters by a young girl for a set of dignitaries, it is called Baithakichi Lavani. If it is performed in public in front of a large audience, it is called Phadachi Lavani.

This Lavani Disla Ga Bai Disla is from V Shantaram directorial Pinjara (1972) that was tragic story of a morally righteous school teacher played by Dr Sriram Lagoo, who wants to reform a tamasha performer played by Sandhya, but ends up falling for her and loses his reputation. Ram Kadam's music, Jagdish Khebudkar's lyrics and Sandhya's stellar dance performances ensured that there was not even a single dull song in the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOqlTj_2i-o

Atul Kulkarni's Natarang (2010), is a journey of a common man overcoming his hurdles in the form of family, friends, society to finally realize his unthinkable dream driven by his passion for the art of Lavani and Tamasha. The film also highlights emotions related to gender bias and the sacrifices of an artist for the love of his art. The song Apsara Aali filmed on Sonalee Kulkarni describes the enchanting feminine beauty by equating her to Apsara, a celestial beauty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW67u_hWiSo

Disla Ga Bai Disla is from V Shantaram directorial Pinjara (1972), this movie and all the songs from this film are beyond expression, I can't describe it in words. What a paradox in Guruji's life, He has to blame himself for the murder of his own ideals and moral values.

One of my all-time favorite movies, the other two are Sankarabharanam and Pather Panchali.

Rajasthani folk somg Kesariya balam used in many bollywood movies as well apart from ITV serials.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEQ9Vj8lPa4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T15I8epng1s

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tPs-wjE-Er8

Song: Reshami Salawaar Kurta Jaali Kaa

Film: Naya Daur (1957)

Singer: Shamshad Begum, Asha Bhosle

Music Director: Omkar Prasad Nayyar

Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9bB_DwxnqY

Contemporary Bollywood's love for Punabi music has given us some incredible songs ❤️

Song: Lohri

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan, Gurdas Mann

Music: The Late Madan Mohan

Music Recreated by: Sanjeev Kohli

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQE3BPCeuQU

Powada (पोवाडा) is a genre of Marathi poetry that narrates tales of gallantry and bravery in an inspiring and forceful style. Powada dates back right from 13th century to late 17th century. Powada, which means ‘to glorify’, is a traditional Marathi ballad that often glorified and celebrated deeds of popular folk figures and leaders such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Tanaji Malusare and Bajiprabhu Deshpande. Powadas were also written to raise awareness on social issues such as female foeticide, dowry and corruption.

The composer-cum-singers of the powadas are known as Shahirs. During the Maratha Confederacy rule, several celebrated Shahir poet-singers, which include Ram Joshi (1762–1812), Anant Phandi (1744–1819), Honaji Bala (1754–1844) and Prabhakar (1769–1843), Annabhau Sathe (1920-1969), Atmaram Patil and Amar Sheikh composed a number of powadas (Source- Wiki).

This is a non-film Powada by artists shahir Ramanand Ugale and Kalyan Ugale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwDeXJHWyYE

I love the theme ❤️

Here's one of my favourite folk songs, which has been remade as well.

Song: Pallo Latke

Rajasthani Folk Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPllhZJPxLY

And this version as well...

Movie: Nauker (1979)

Singer: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle

Music: R.D.Burman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FrrH2208lk