Girija Devi, 8 May 1929 – 24 October 2017, is regarded as the "Queen of Thumri" or "Thumri Samraggi" of this era.
Thumri is one of the most important forms of North Indian music after
khayal. Its exact origins are not very clear, given that there are no
historical references to such a form until the 15th century. First
appearance of Thumri go back to 19th century, this has link with the
classical dance form Kathak.The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb thumakna, which means "to walk with dancing steps so as to make the ankle-bells tinkle."Other famous singers of thumri are Gauhar Jan, Begum Akhtar, Shobha Gurtu, Noor Jehan and Prabha Atre.Some khyal singers took an interest in thumrī and sang it their own way, as in the case of Abdul Karim Khan, Faiyaz Khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Nazakat-Salamat Ali Khan, Barkat Ali Khan.
Devi was born in Varanasi, on 8 May 1929, to Ramdeo Rai, a zamindar.Her father played the harmonium and taught music, and had Devi take lessons in singing khyal and tappa from vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra starting at the age of five.She starred in the movie Yaad rahe aged nine and continued her studies under Sri Chand Misra in a variety of styles.
''ab naa baajaao shyaam
ba.nsuriyaa naa baajaao shyaam
(e rii) vyaakul bhaayii brajabaalaa
ba.nsuriyaa naa baajaao shyaam
nit merii galii.n me.n aayo naa
aayo to chhup ke rahiyo
ba.nsii kii terii sunaaiyo naa
ba.nsii jo sunaaiyo to suniye
phir shyaam hame.n aapnaaiyo naa
aapnaaiyo to suniye laalan
phir chhoDo hame.n kahii.n jaaiyo naa
ba.nsuriyaa naa baajaao shyaam''
''Enough! Now stop
playing on your flute, dark lover
this Braja girl's heart is aflutter,
I ask you, please stop playing
don't come to my lane all the time
and if you have to come,
just don't play your flute
I am warning you now:
if you have to play that flute
then you'll have to be mine
you won't be able to go elsewhere
so will you please stop playing now?''
Source : Wiki, Youtube
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| Devi performing in Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal (July 2015) |
Devi was born in Varanasi, on 8 May 1929, to Ramdeo Rai, a zamindar.Her father played the harmonium and taught music, and had Devi take lessons in singing khyal and tappa from vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra starting at the age of five.She starred in the movie Yaad rahe aged nine and continued her studies under Sri Chand Misra in a variety of styles.
''ab naa baajaao shyaam
ba.nsuriyaa naa baajaao shyaam
(e rii) vyaakul bhaayii brajabaalaa
ba.nsuriyaa naa baajaao shyaam
nit merii galii.n me.n aayo naa
aayo to chhup ke rahiyo
ba.nsii kii terii sunaaiyo naa
ba.nsii jo sunaaiyo to suniye
phir shyaam hame.n aapnaaiyo naa
aapnaaiyo to suniye laalan
phir chhoDo hame.n kahii.n jaaiyo naa
ba.nsuriyaa naa baajaao shyaam''
''Enough! Now stop
playing on your flute, dark lover
this Braja girl's heart is aflutter,
I ask you, please stop playing
don't come to my lane all the time
and if you have to come,
just don't play your flute
I am warning you now:
if you have to play that flute
then you'll have to be mine
you won't be able to go elsewhere
so will you please stop playing now?''
Source : Wiki, Youtube
