Majhe Jeevan Gaane song takes you back several decades. I first heard this classic composition as a child from my father while he would hum it at home in his own ways. The creators of this classic are the legends themselves: Mangesh Padgaonkarji, P L Deshpandeji and Pt Jitendra Abhishekiji, the outcome being such, that every singer would love to try a hand at it.
The song tells a musical tale, a saga of life, thus, teaching us the principles of living, using music as a thread to hold on to during the ups and downs of life.
When Maheshji Kale renders this song with classical finesse, he leaves the audience in awe, adorning every line with aalaaps and his crisp yet never-ending taans only highlight the teachings of the song. He expresses the entire piece with an amazingly melodious presentation of Raga Bhoop, which this song is based on.
He takes you on a virtual flight to the woods to explore the music of the streams, peep into the minds of the deep forests, further look for the songs of the wind and stars. To him, they appear like bountiful taranas flowing through nature. The pictorial sketch starts getting clearer in your head.
Your journey proceeds in a delightful rhythm, swinging on the weaves of silken aalaps and taans as he proclaims to the birds to sing with him in the last stanza, politely asking them to swing on the intricately woven notes. He concludes having discovered that nature in its beauty and music, conveys the same message of love as that his music conveys to the world and, thus, helps you virtually land back to the real world, with a renewed faith and rigour, to face life’s challenges.
It could be sheer coincidence, or as destiny would call it, the tale of this song happens to have actually been lived through by the creators of this song as well as Maheshji himself, who have made music their sole purpose of life. This classic rendition continues to hold good, especially in these challenging times, as it preaches to sing along your pains and progress in life, thus, invoking each of us to search for music within.
A quest for a lifetime.
Note: The above appreciation is based on my understanding of the song, lyrics and rendition by Mahesh Kale. Please note that there is no copyright infringement intended.