Mahisasuramardini (radio programme) explained

Show Name:Mahishasuramardini
মহিষাসুরমর্দ্দিনী
Other Names:Chandipath
Mahalaya
Format:religious
Runtime:1 hr 29 mins
Country:India
Language:Bengali, Sanskrit
Home Station:Akashvani
Narrated:Birendra Krishna Bhadra
First Aired:1931
Opentheme:Conch blowing sound and Ya Chandi Song
Endtheme:Shanti Dile Bhori song and Conch blowing sound

Mahishasuramarddini 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]

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

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

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#SingerSongEnglish Transliteration
1Chorusযা চণ্ডীYa Chandi
2Supriti Ghoshবাজলো তোমার আলোর বেনুBajlo Tomar Alor Benu
3Dwijen Mukhopadhyayজাগো তুমি জাগোJago Tumi Jago
4Shipra Bose ওগো আমার আগমনীOgo amar agomoni
5Manabendra Mukhopadhyay তব অচিন্ত্য়Tabo Achintya
6Chorus অহম্aham
7Krishna Dasgupta অখিল বিমানে তব জয়গানেAkhilo Bimane Tabo Jayagaane
8Shyamal Mitra/ Arati Mukherjee/ Ashima Bhattacharyaশুভ্র শঙ্খ রবেSubhro Sankha Robe
9Bimal Bhushan নমো চন্ডী নমো চন্ডীNamo Chandi Namo Chandi
10Sumitra Sen মাগো তব বিনেMago Tabo Bine
11Sandhya Mukhopadhyay বিমানে বিমানে আলোকের গানেBimane Bimane Aloker Gaane
12Chorus জয় জয় হে মহিষাসুর মর্দ্দিনীJaya Jaya He Mahishashur Mardini
13Tarun Bandopadhyay হে চিন্ময়ীHey Chinmoyi
14Pratima Bandopadhyay অমল কিরনেAmala Kirane
15Dhananjay Bhattacharya, Chorus রুপং দেহী জয়ং দেহীRupam Dehi Jayam Dehi
16Utpala Senশান্তি দিলে ভরিShanti 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

Main Artists

Singers

Musicians(Instrument)

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biography of Birendra Krishna Bhadra. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140926092312/http://www.freewebs.com/airkolkata/birenda1.html. 2014-09-26.
  2. Web site: durga_puja : Mahalaya . www.netglimse.com . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090629010504/http://www.netglimse.com/holidays/durga_puja/mahalaya.shtml . 2009-06-29 .
  3. Web site: Mahalaya: Invoking the Mother Goddess. hinduism.about.com. 2009-06-13. 2009-06-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20090606001923/http://hinduism.about.com/cs/audiomusic/a/aa092003a.htm. dead.
  4. Birendra Krishna Bhadra: A Legend, A Nostalgia (Original in Bangla) ©Ajit Basu, Publisher:Sahayatri, 8, Patuatola Lane, Kolkata 700009.
  5. Web site: History of first broadcast of Mahishasur Mardini .
  6. Web site: Biography of Pankaj Kumar Mullick - the versatile musical genius . www.pankajmullick.org . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090417032114/http://pankajmullick.org/bio.htm . April 17, 2009 .
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025001100/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-19/delhi/28094751_1_mahalaya-durga-puja-goddess-durga Mahalaya ushers in the Puja spirit
  8. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/morning-raga/518591/ Morning Raga
  9. Web site: An 83-Year-Old Song Dominates India's Airwaves Every Year . The Atlantic . Tanya Basu. Sep 23, 2014. 2014-09-24 .
  10. Web site: Mahisasura Mardini by Birendra Krishna Bhadra (AIR Recording) – Details of tracks and artists . QuiQinQ . 2012-10-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121024064649/http://quiqinq.com/mahisasura-mardini-by-birendra-krishna-bhadra-air-recording-details-of-tracks-and-artists/ . 2012-10-24 . dead .
  11. Web site: Birendra Krishna Bhadra: Divine voice heralding Mahalaya chant for generations of Bengalis for more than 90 years.
  12. Web site: Mahalaya : Durga Puja mahalaya : Durga Puja . www.bangalinet.com . 2009-06-13 .
  13. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/timeless-tunes/367193/ Timeless Tunes
  14. Web site: Mahalaya : Durga Puja mahalaya : Durga Puja. www.bangalinet.com. 2009-06-13.
  15. Web site: Biography of Pankaj Kumar Mullick - the versatile musical genius . www.pankajmullick.org . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090417032114/http://pankajmullick.org/bio.htm . April 17, 2009 .