This post is dedicated to some music directors who have skilfully used ‘tonga beats’ in their compositions and brought in a melodious style. While riding horse, rhythm is the rider’s ability to feel the movement of the horse, and that comes from the horse’s feet. Each gait of the animal has its own rhythm. This is excellently captured by some music directors like O.P.Nayyar, Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan; these music directors used the ‘tonga beats’ and created some great gems which are still loved by listeners decades of their creation. They pep up the listener’s mood.

These and many great composers like S.D.Burman, R.D.Burman, LP, Chitragupta, Salilda drew their inspiration from everyday life; they found music in flowing water, lightening, air, flying of birds, running, walking in many chores of our daily lives. They had a vision. Even we see things, but we don’t imagine music out of it. Composers like O.P.Nayyar or R.D.Burman could feel profoundness in each beat.

We are all aware that music and atmosphere are interwoven – they go together. When we listen to relaxing music for a quiet dinner, we digest food easily. And, when we listen to something livelier while doing some physical work or exercise or when out socialising in larger groups, our moods pep up. It’s been observed that when music is played on farm lands, the production or yield increases. Yes, these are few evidences of what music can do to us.

In 40s, 50s and 60s Victoria which was also called a Tonga or Baggi which was pulled by or trotted by one or two horses – it was common scene. You would see tongas, cycles and few cars on the roads. The Tongawala (baggi driver) would hold the reigns and 3 to 4 travellers would be accommodated in the baggi. As a child, I remember enjoying tonga rides in Kalyan, Thane District where my maternal grandfather lived in a wada (big chawl-like mansion) and we kids would visit him in vacations. Those childhood memories and the musical notes of a horse’s galloping have remained etched in my memories even today.

Horse beats or Tonga beats are synonymous with speed, happiness and joy. You will rarely find a sad song composed in horse beat background. These songs simply lift your mood. The horse’s hooves make a musical note as they plod along the cobbled/paved roads. “Tic toc,tic toc,tic toc or tabdik, tabdik,tabdik.”

I am listing herewith some very nostalgic golden numbers which I am sure even you will enjoy:

• Piya, piya, piya mera jiya pukare Film Baap Re Baap (1955) Music Director O.P.Nayyar

• Maang ke saath tumhara Film Naya Daur (1957) Music Director – O.P.Nayyar

• Yeh kya kar dala tune – Film: Howrah Bridge (1958) Music Director – O.P. Nayyar

• Mein Rangeela pyar ka rahi – Film: Choti Bahen (1959) Music Director: Shankar Jaikishen

• Banda parwar thamalo jigar Film: Phir wohi dil laya hoon (1963) Music Director O.P.Nayyar

• Chand ko kya maloom, chahta hai use koi chakor Film: Lal Bangla (1966) Music Director – Usha Khanna

The feel of this song is unmatched. It seems when this song was being recorded, R. D. Burman was crying profusely and beating his hand on the wall praising Kishore Kumar’s versatility for singing this song so soulfully. On screen, you see Jitendra simply dressed, with spectacles standing on the boat and rendering this great number; there is no romancing, no glamour, no heroine in the scene (except twice Sari-clad simply dressed Hema Malini is shown separately in different shots) the song is just shot on a boat, rowed by a boatman(mazi).

River has a magical beauty, and it lends itself to a variety of metaphors. Its timeless flow denotes jeevan ki dhara. The river plays an important role in the country side. The rivers mark boundaries of villages; and are usually meeting place of lovers. Rivers play a significant role in our life. We therefore see many songs with river themes. Also, river water can inspire, soothe, cuddle and calm a person. I think river water has a musical feel which great composers like S.D.Burman, Salil Chowdhary, Hemant Kumar, R.D.Burman, Kalyanji Anandaji and Bhupen Hazarika have captured in their songs.

This song is from film Kushboo, based on the Bengali novel “Panditmashai” by Sharat Chadra Chattopadhyay. The film was released in 1975, produced by Prasan Kapoor and directed by Gulzarsab. The film’s music was composed by the great R.D.Burman.

The genre of the song is “Bhatiyali folk song.” Bengal has a vast coastal land with long rivers and sea. Hence you will see many Bhatiyali songs sung by boatmen. S.D Burman used to say that Bhatiyali has its roots in earth, flowers, sky, and river. The notations of Bhatiyali songs, its words, and its pathos have an enchanting interpretation reminding the listeners of the river, and the journey by river. Bhatiyali’s mood and its passion are immersed in philosophies of life.

‘O mazi re’ song is written by Gulzar Sab. The song is about life’s unstoppable journey without a shore and an anchor. The river has eroded many shores which are now flowing with the river. Life is like a paper boat which flows directionless and it can’t reach any shore. The lyrics are awesome describing the solitude and yearning of the protagonist of the film Jitendra (Dr. Brindavan) who is separated from his childhood love Hema Malini (Kusum). He is married but loses his wife and is lonely.

The song is sung by Kishore Kumar and is has a magical hollow effect on the listeners.  It seems when this song was being recorded the people present for recording were so much moved by Kishore Kumar’s singing that most of them burst into tears like R.D.Burman did. Kishore Kumar’s voice full of twinge and pathos had that magic effect on them. R.D always said that though Kishore was an untrained singer, he was like a volcano of talent, who could improvise any song incredibly and he would provide vocal insights and expression beyond the composer’s imagination.

Watch this soulfully magical song and enjoy few stirring moments.