Mahisasuramardini (radio programme)
Mahishasuramarddini [a] is a widely popular early Bengali special dawn radio programme that has been broadcasting since 1931[1] on All India Radio (AIR) in Indian state West Bengal. It is a one-and-a-half-hour audio montage of Chaṇḍipāaṭh (chanting from Chaṇḍi) recitation from the scriptural verses of Śrī Śrī Chaṇḍi or Durga Saptashati,[2] Bengali devotional songs, classical music and a dash of acoustic melodrama. The program has been translated into Hindi set to similar orchestration and is broadcast at the same time for a pan-Indian audience.[3] This programme is aired every year at day-break on Mahalaya. The programme, which started off as a live-performance, has been broadcast in its pre-recorded format since 1966.[4][5] However, its great popularity remains undiminished even today over 90 years later.[6][7][8][9]
| Other names | Chandipath Mahalaya |
|---|---|
| Genre | religious |
| Running time | 1 hr 29 mins |
| Country of origin | India |
| Language(s) | Bengali, Sanskrit |
| Home station | Akashvani |
| Written by |
|
| Narrated by | Birendra Krishna Bhadra |
| Original release | 1931 |
| Opening theme | Conch blowing sound and Ya Chandi Song |
| Ending theme | Shanti Dile Bhori song and Conch blowing sound |
This program has become synonymous with Mahalaya which is celebrated to usher the Devipaksha lunar fortnight and the Durga Puja. To this day, most of Bengal and East Indians fond of the programme wakes up in the breezily pre dawn hours, 4 am to be precise, on the Mahalaya day to tune into the Mahishasuramarddini broadcast. Presently the recordings are available as audio cassettes and Compact Disks from HMV-RPG which has obtained the rights from All India Radio. The CD version (as of 2002) contains 19 tracks.[10]
Birendra Krishna Bhadra edit
Birendra Krishna Bhadra, who will always be remembered for making Mahalaya memorable to one and all, is the voice behind the “Mahisasura Mardini.”[11] He recites the holy verses and tells the story of the descent of Durga to earth. It was on the day of Mahalaya, the beginning of "Devipaksha", that the gods and goddesses woke up to prepare themselves for Durga Puja. In 1931, Mahalaya was first broadcast over the radio in Akashvani, Calcutta. The programme was organised by Pankaj Kumar Mallik, Premankur Aatorthi, Birendra Krishna Bhadra, Nripendra Krishna Mukhopadhyay and Raichand Boral.[12]
So popular was his version of the recitation that when in 1976, the voice of noted Bengali actor, Uttam Kumar was employed for the programme and renamed it as Durga Durgatiharini did not get favorable response from the audience and it was shifted back to the original version of Birendra Krishna Bhadra.[13]
Bhadra died long ago, but his recorded voice still forms the core of the Mahalaya program. In a sonorous voice Bhadra renders the Mahalaya recital for one and half thrilling hours, mesmerizing every household with the divine aura of his narration, as the Bengalis submerge their souls in quiet moments of prayer.
Musical composition edit
Though the theme is mythological and the mantras Vedic, this program is a landmark composition. It is scripted by Bani Kumar, and narrated by Birendra Krishna Bhadra while Pratima Bandopadhyay (Amala Kirane), Dwijen Mukhopadhyay (Jago Durga Jago Doshoprohoronodharini), Manabendra Mukhopadhyay (Tabo Achinta), Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Arati Mukhopadhyay, Utpala Sen, Shyamal Mitra and Supriti Ghosh (Bajlo tomar alor benu) sang in their melodious voices.[14] The enchanting music is composed by Pankaj Mullick.[15] The songs/chants in the order they appear in the programme are as follows:
| Seq# | Singer | Song | English Transliteration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chorus | যা চণ্ডী | Ya Chandi |
| 2 | Supriti Ghosh | বাজলো তোমার আলোর বেনু | Bajlo Tomar Alor Benu |
| 3 | Dwijen Mukhopadhyay | জাগো তুমি জাগো | Jago Tumi Jago |
| 4 | Shipra Bose | ওগো আমার আগমনী | Ogo amar agomoni |
| 5 | Manabendra Mukhopadhyay | তব অচিন্ত্য় | Tabo Achintya |
| 6 | Chorus | অহম্ | aham |
| 7 | Krishna Dasgupta | অখিল বিমানে তব জয়গানে | Akhilo Bimane Tabo Jayagaane |
| 8 | Shyamal Mitra/ Arati Mukherjee | শুভ্র শঙ্খ রবে | Subhro Sankha Robe |
| 9 | Bimal Bhushan | নমো চন্ডী নমো চন্ডী | Namo Chandi Namo Chandi |
| 10 | Sumitra Sen | মাগো তব বিনে | Mago Tabo Bine |
| 11 | Sandhya Mukhopadhyay | বিমানে বিমানে আলোকের গানে | Bimane Bimane Aloker Gaane |
| 12 | Chorus | জয় জয় হে মহিষাসুর মর্দ্দিনী | Jaya Jaya He Mahishashur Mardini |
| 13 | Tarun Bandopadhyay | হে চিন্ময়ী | Hey Chinmoyi |
| 14 | Pratima Bandopadhyay | অমল কিরনে | Amala Kirane |
| 15 | Dhananjay Bhattacharya, Chorus | রুপং দেহী জয়ং দেহী | Rupam Dehi Jayam Dehi |
| 16 | Utpala Sen | শান্তি দিলে ভরি | Shanti Dile Bhaari |
As the recital begins, the serene morning air resonates with the long drawn sound of the sacred conch shell, followed by a tune in Raga Malkosh, which ultimately leads to the start of the programme with the prayer to Goddess Chandi. Immediately an atmosphere is created full of assurance, respect and universal love and peace. This way, Mahisasurmardini took a permanent place in the heart of Bengali as well as Indian culture.
Artists edit
Main Artists edit
- Bani Kumar - Script Writing
- Pankaj Mullick - Music Composition
- Birendra Krishna Bhadra - Narration and Recitation of Scriptures
Singers edit
- Dwijen Mukhopadhyay (Jago Tumi Jago, Jago Durga, Jago Dashoprohoronadharini)
- Pratima Bandopadhyay (Amala Kirane)
- Shyamal Mitra (Subhro Sankha Robe)
- Sandhya Mukhopadhyay (Bimane Bimane Aloker Gaane)
- Manabendra Mukhopadhyay (Tabo Achintya)
- Arati Mukhopadhyay (Subhro Sankha Robe)
- Supriti Ghosh (Bajlo Tomar Alor Benu)
- Pankaj Kumar Mullick (Jayanti Mangala Kali & Aham Rudrebhirvasubhischara)
- Utpala Sen (Shanti Dile Bhori)
- Tarun Bandopadhyay (Hey Chinmoyi)
- Krishna Dasgupta (Akhilo Bimane Tabo Jayagaane)
- Sumitra Sen (Mago Tabo Bine)
- Ashima Bhattacharya (Subhro Sankha Robe)
- Shipra Bose (Ogo amar agomoni)
- Bimal Bhushan (Namo Chandi Namo Chandi)
- Dhananjay Bhattacharya (Rupang Dehi, Jayang Dehi)
- Haimanti Shukla (Aham Rudrebhirvasubhischara, Jago Dashoprohoronadharini)
Musicians(Instrument) edit
- Bibekendra Deb Roy violinist
References edit
- ^ Sanskrit pronunciation: [mɐ.ɦi.ʂaː.su.rɐ.mɐrd̪.d̪i.niː], Bengali: মহিষাসুরমর্দ্দিনী, romanized: Môhiṣāsurômôrddinī, lit. 'The Annihilator of Mahishasura', Bengali pronunciation: [mɔ.ɦi.ʃa.ʃur.mor.d̪i.ni]
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2014-09-26.
- ^ . www.netglimse.com. Archived from the original on 2009-06-29. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ . hinduism.about.com. Archived from the original on 2009-06-06. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ [Birendra Krishna Bhadra: A Legend, A Nostalgia (Original in Bangla) ©Ajit Basu, Publisher:Sahayatri, 8, Patuatola Lane, Kolkata 700009.]
- ^ "History of first broadcast of Mahishasur Mardini".
- ^ . www.pankajmullick.org. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ The Times of India, TNN 19 September 2009.
- ^ Morning Raga 2012-09-30 at the Wayback Machine Indian Express, PiyasreeDasgupta, Sep 18, 2009.
- ^ Tanya Basu (Sep 23, 2014). "An 83-Year-Old Song Dominates India's Airwaves Every Year". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2014-09-24.
- ^ . QuiQinQ. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
- ^ "Birendra Krishna Bhadra: Divine voice heralding Mahalaya chant for generations of Bengalis for more than 90 years".
- ^ "Mahalaya : Durga Puja mahalaya : Durga Puja". www.bangalinet.com. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ Timeless Tunes Indian Express, Sep 29, 2008.
- ^ "Mahalaya : Durga Puja mahalaya : Durga Puja". www.bangalinet.com. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ . www.pankajmullick.org. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- Pragya Paramita. "Heralding The Goddess[dead link]", expressindia.com, Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd, 15 September 2006. Retrieved on 6 May 2007.
- Indranil Chakraborty. "Saregama gets going on Bhadra royalty[dead link], expressindia.com, Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd, September 26, 2006. Retrieved on 6 May 2007.
- "", Mahalaya - Its Relation with the Durga Puja, NetGlimse.com. Retrieved on 6 May 2007.
- "Mahalaya", bangalinet.com. Retrieved on 6 May 2007.
- "", quiqinq.com. Retrieved on 21 October 2012.
External links edit
- Official Website of Kanaka Durgamma Temple 2015-03-12 at the Wayback Machine