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Girija Devi’s rendition of a timeless thumri
A friend sent me this beautiful piece rendered by Girija Devi of the Benaras school of music.Â
 She has been described as the last living queen of thumri. Her father Ramdeo Rai was a local Zaminadar and interested in classical Indian music. He initiated his daughter’s musical training when she was five years old. Her gurus were Pandit Sarju Prasad Mishra and Shrichand Mishra.
Found this useful background on Thumri here-
This tragic Thumri was composed by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh who wrote under pen-name Qaisar and “Akhtarpiya”. This was the twilight of Mughal rule and the British exiled him to Calcutta. It is said that this forced departure from Lucknow inspired this thumri:
babul mora naihar chuuto hi jaaye
chaar kahaar mil, mori Doliiyaa uthaaye
more apanaa begana chhuTo hi jaaye
anganaa to parbat bhaye, dehlii bhayi bides
je baabul ghar aapano, mai chali piya ke des
Here is the translation - courtesy Bhirgu
O father, I depart forcibly from my home
Four men gathered to lift my palanquin {see the wedding/funeral analogy here?}
my loved ones will become strangers
the innermost portals of my home will be unreachable
as I leave my father’s home and go to my husband’s country.
Other than Girija Devi, K. L. Saigal sang this thumri in raag Bhairavi (here).
August 27th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
I prefer the version sung by K. L. Saigal. Could be because I’ve always been a fan of his…
Among the movies made about the Wajid Ali Shah era, I quite like Shatranj ke khilaaRi.
August 27th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Another great rendition in classical style of this is by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. Stunning.
August 27th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
it is such deeply moving song
August 28th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
there is nothing like classical music!
August 28th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
i agree
there is nothing like classical music!
except frank zappa and abida parveen-ji and that fellow who tried to play bass guitar in johnny rotten’s band
August 28th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Unfortunately I couldn’t hear the audio…
As for the lyrics, “father’s home and husband’s country”, that is indeed heart rending; no place to call your own… ?
August 28th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
i think dere iz nthing classical in it…
September 4th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
it is such deeply moving song