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Thursday, December 16, 2004
 
Bulleh Shah!
Recently heard a Punjabi song called "Bullah ki jaana main kaun" by a guy called Rabbi Shergill.. Quite interesting (No kudi, soniye, rabba, balle balle etc), with an exciting video.. Searched and found the following:

"The highlight of his self-titled debut is undoubtedly first single, Bulla Ki Jaana, a captivating tune based on a kafi by 18th century Sufi saint Bulla Shah. But of each of the nine tracks leave a lasting impact. Thankfully, English translations have printed alongside the Punjabi words, and lyrically, both the originals and the interpretations impress. Musically, acoustic and electric guitars, drum n bass beats, dholaks and flutes all contribute to creating an undeniably folksy feel on this genre-busting record"

"Bulleh Shah’s style of writing is called Kafi (Refrain) – an established style of Punjabi poetry used by Punjabi Sufis and Sikh gurus (from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh)...Sufi poets generally did not adapt the courtly languages of Persian and Urdu, and tended to write their verses in Punjabi, Sariaki, Sindhi etc. – languages of the common folk, amongst whom they lived. Though the number is disputed, Bulleh Shah is credited with authoring anywhere from fifty to one hundred and fifty Kafi, one Athwara, one Baramah, three Siharfi, forty-nine Oeodh and forty Gandhan... The simplicity with which Bulleh Shah has been able to tackle the basic issues of life and humanity is extremely appealing. Everyone has, thus, put his kafis to music - from simple street-singers, to the folk-tunes of Wadalis and Abida Parveen, the synthesised techno qawwali remixes of Nusrat Fateh Ali, to the electric rock guitars of Junoon."

A sample from the song:

Na maen andar ved kitaabaan,
Na vich bhangaan na sharaabaan
Na vich rindaan masat kharaabaan
Na vich jaagan na vich saun.
Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun.

[Translates roughly to:]
Not in the holy Vedas, am I
Nor in opium, neither in wine
Not in the drunkard`s intoxicated craze
Niether awake, nor in a sleeping daze
Bulleh! to me, I am not known

http://www.chowk.com/show_article.cgi?aid=00004026&channel=leafyglade%20inn

- posted by Rallix @ 5:13 AM
Comments:
You shoudl listen to some recordings from Nusrat Fateh Ali (Live in New York esp). Mind blowing renditions of Shah's works!
# posted by Blogger Pushkar : Mon Dec 27, 11:13:00 AM
 
A few other links for bulleh shah
http://www.apnaorg.com/poetry/bulleheng/

More links on http://www.apnaorg.com/
:)
# posted by Blogger Pushkar : Mon Dec 27, 11:16:00 AM
 
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