Mathura Shyam Chaley (SHOLA AUR SHABNAM – 1959) – Raagmala

Link for Listening:
Mathura Shyam Chaley (SHOLA AUR SHABNAM – 1959)

About the Raagmala:

1. This composition was presented in the form of a ballet on the stage.
2. The singers are MANNA DEY, GEETA DUTT and KAUMUDI MUNSHI.
3. This raagmalika, a unique creation of music director Khaiyyam, is capable of drawing the whole episode before our eyes.  
4. It shows the departure of Krishna from Gokul to Mathura, leaving behind Radha, Gopikas and all his childhood friends forever.
5. There is a hidden pathos in this raagmalika, which begins with the soulful singing of manna de 
6. With more popular numbers like Jeet Hi Lenge Baazi Hum Tum & Jaane Kya Dhoondti Rehti Hain, this masterpiece almost went unappreciated !!

1st in RAAG BHAIRAVI राग  भैरवी:

Mathura chale
मथुरा श्याम चले, मथुरा श्याम चले 
सावन घन सा उमड़ पड़ा ब्रज ,
मथुरा श्याम चले |
रथ से लिपटी, पथ से लिपटी, बावरिया ब्रजनारी ,
बोली राधा प्रेम अगाधा ,ना जाओ गिरधारी ,ना जाओ गिरधारी ,
मथुरा श्याम चले,..||

Raag 2: Now Geet Dutt sings
for Radha: Kaise Jaoge

कैसे जाओगे कन्हाई ,कैसे जाओगे 
जाने नाही दूंगी, पग धरुँगी ना डरूँगी ,
संवारे मैं तेरी राह में मरूंगी ,ना डरूँगी, ना डरूँगी हो ,
कैसे जाओगे कन्हाई कैसे जाओगे | (राग  भैरवी  repeats)

Radha comments on Krishna:

तन के कारे रहे तुम कान्हा ,मन के कारे बनो नहीं श्याम ,
तुम बिन होगा जीवन सूना ,नरक बनेगा गोकुल धाम | 
कैसे जाओगे कन्हाई कैसे जाओगे ,…||

There are some dialogues.
And again, from background Manna Dey sings:

मथुरा श्याम चले, मथुरा श्याम चले ,
सावन घन सा उमड़ पड़ा ब्रज, मथुरा श्याम चले ||

Now for the Bansuri (flute) of Krishna,
singing is done by Kaumudi Munshi as:

बाजूँ राधे जो भगवान बजाये |
वो ही बोली बोलू राधे ,जो भगवान् बुलाये ||

Then Radha says that,
now I have come to know
that we can get close to
God by eliminating ourselves. 

Then Krishna consoles Radha
by saying that her name will always
be taken before his name.
And asks to repeat with him: 

राधे -कृष्ण, राधे -कृष्ण,
राधे -कृष्ण, राधे -कृष्ण ||  

This continues in Kirtan style
reaching to its higher pitch.

Hope you enjoyed this masterpiece!
Here’s more about RAAGMALAS,
& a list of some of the best
Raagmalas from films, including
detailed descriptions and Raags:
Raagmalas in Film Music
More on Indian Classical Music:
The Alchemy of Indian Classical Music

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