Page 53 - Seniorstoday January 2022 Issue
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crore, making it the largest outside the Hindi
film market in India. There were about 400
registered music labels, and observers say
that in Mohali, some 20 songs were released
daily.
Festive songs are de rigueur in Punjabi music
There would be romantic songs, with
folklore-based characters like Jugni,
There were over 400 registered Punjabi music labels Maahiya, Heer and Ranjha, Sohni and
before the lockdown Mahiwal, Mirza and Sahiban. Or there
Things were, of course, affected after the would be songs dedicated to historical
lockdown, especially with most Punjabi characters, or religious songs. The dhol
musicians depending on live shows. Many drum, tumbi stringed instrument, sarangi
artistes took the digital route, releasing bowed instrument, the algoza flute, chimta
their music on streaming platforms or doing tongs and kanjari drum were used. It’s said
online shows on a smaller-scale. However, that while 87 instruments were used earlier
that option seemed to have had mixed by Punjabi folk musicians, only 55 are used
results. Now, though shows have officially now.
started, because of the restrictions and lower Punjab also made a contribution to classical
attendance, it will take a while to return to music, with the Patiala, Shamchorasi,
earlier levels. Kapurthala, Talwandi and Punjab gharanas
Like most forms of regional music, this originating from there. While vocalist Ustad
genre is also rooted in folk and classical Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Pakistani singer
forms. Emotions were expressed through Ghulam Ali represent the Patiala gharana,
songs, and Punjabis had tunes for birth, the Punjab gharana is known for the tabla-
marriage, old age and death. There were playing mastery of Ustad Allarakha and his
songs describing the hard work and bravery son Ustad Zakir Hussain.
of the Punjabi people, and those that Besides that, there was devotional music.
represented its culture and history. There Gurbani Sangeet was sung by the Sikh
are also different songs for different festive community in the form of shabds or hymns
occasions. They have Lohri (on January taken from the preaching of Sikh gurus.
13) and Maghi for change in season, and The rabab and taus stringed instruments,
Baisakhi for harvesting time. There were saranda and dilruba bowed instruments,
special songs and dances for women, called and pakhawaj drum were used. The Punjabi
Giddha. These would celebrate the rains, language was also used in Sufi kaafis by
or the return to their parents’ home for great poets Baba Bulleh Shah and Hazrat
festivals. Shah Hussain. Sufi singers like Pakistan’s
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #31 | JANUARY 2022 53
