Lamakaan invites you to an evening of unearthing RAGA ELEMENTS IN HINDI FILM MUSIC - A presentation by sri K.L.Pandey who wrote a book aptly titled HINDI CINE-SANGEET RAGOPAEDIA.

With the first Hindi talkie movie ‘Alam Ara’ in 1931, songs were introduced in Hindi films and after that they have become an integral part of them for all the times to come. With a variety of songs of different moods and for all the occasions , they have subconsciously found place in our minds and have become a part of life for almost every class of the society in some form or the other.

         In music, there are 7 Shuddha Swaras (Pure notes) , 4 Komal Swaras (flat notes) and one Teevra Swar i.e. 12 Swaras when put together.   We have an equivalent 12 notes in western system as well. The well defined structure of these Notes to create a melody makes Ragas, which are an important part of the grammar of singing or playing instruments in any form of music.  In Hindi film songs also therefore,  there cannot be any composition  which does not follow the grammar of one or more than one Ragas. Although, in initial movies, all the songs were based on pure Ragas but to create melodies for the masses and to suit the requirements of the film, more than one Ragas have been used subsequently. 

In this analytical research, the Mr. Pandey has worked with a team of experts and scholars of Hindustani classical music and the Ragas have been identified only after complete listening to the songs and also playing them on various instruments. The eminent professors and musicians in classical music and from the film industry have also been consulted wherever required.

The purpose of this effort by him is to make the music lovers understand our heritage of Hindustani Music through the examples of easily accessible and understandable Hindi film music and in a way, to bridge the gap between Hindustani Classical and Hindi film music.

Entry - Free