Mahisasuramardini (radio programme)

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Mahishasuramardini
Other namesChandipath
Mahalaya
Genrereligious
Running time1 hr 29 mins
Country of origin India
Language(s) Bengali, Sanskrit
Home station Akashvani
Written by
Narrated by Birendra Krishna Bhadra
Original release1931
Opening themeConch blowing sound and Ya Chandi Song
Ending themeShanti Dile Bhori song and Conch blowing sound

Mahishasuramarddini [a] 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. Due to its increasing popularity, now-a-days it is also broadcast by many other stations of All India Radio across India. 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 93 years later. [6] [7] [8] [9]

Contents

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, one of 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 theological 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: [16]

Seq#SingerSongEnglish Transliteration
1Chorusযা চণ্ডীYa Chandi
2ChorusSimhastha Sashisekhara
3Supriti Ghoshবাজলো তোমার আলোর বেনুBajlo Tomar Alor Benu
4Dwijen Mukhopadhyayজাগো তুমি জাগোJago Tumi Jago
5Shipra Boseওগো আমার আগমনীOgo amar agomoni
6Manabendra Mukhopadhyayতব অচিন্ত্য়Tabo Achintya
7Chorusঅহম্Aham Rudrebhirvasubhischara
8Krishna Dasguptaঅখিল বিমানে তব জয়গানেAkhilo Bimane Tabo Jayagaane
9ChorusJayanti Mangala Kali
10Shyamal Mitra/ Arati Mukherjee/ Ashima Bhattacharyaশুভ্র শঙ্খ রবেSubhro Sankha Robe
11ChorusJatajutasamayuktamardhendukrita-Sekharam
12Bimal Bhushanনমো চন্ডী নমো চন্ডীNamo Chandi Namo Chandi
13Sumitra Senমাগো তব বিনেMago Tabo Bine
14Sandhya Mukhopadhyayবিমানে বিমানে আলোকের গানেBimane Bimane Aloker Gaane
15Chorusজয় জয় হে মহিষাসুর মর্দ্দিনীJaya Jaya He Mahishashur Mardini
16Tarun Bandopadhyayহে চিন্ময়ীHey Chinmoyi
17Pratima Bandopadhyayঅমল কিরনেAmala Kirane
18Pankaj Kumar Mullick, Chorusরুপং দেহী জয়ং দেহীRupam Dehi Jayam Dehi
19Utpala 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)

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References

  1. ↑ Sanskrit pronunciation: [mɐ.ɦi.ʂaː.su.rɐ.mɐrd̪.d̪i.niː] , Bengali: মহিষাসুরমর্দ্দিনী, romanized: Môhiṣāsurômôrddinī, lit.  'The Annihilator of Mahishasura ', Bengali pronunciation: [mɔ.ɦi.ʃa.ʃur.mor.d̪i.ni]
  1. ↑ "Biography of Birendra Krishna Bhadra". Archived from the original on 26 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "durga_puja : Mahalaya". www.netglimse.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  3. ↑ "Mahalaya: Invoking the Mother Goddess". hinduism.about.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  4. ↑ [Birendra Krishna Bhadra: A Legend, A Nostalgia (Original in Bangla) ©Ajit Basu, Publisher:Sahayatri, 8, Patuatola Lane, Kolkata 700009.]
  5. ↑ "History of first broadcast of Mahishasur Mardini".
  6. ↑ "Biography of Pankaj Kumar Mullick - the versatile musical genius". www.pankajmullick.org. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  7. ↑ Mahalaya ushers in the Puja spirit The Times of India, TNN 19 September 2009.
  8. ↑ Morning Raga Archived 2012-09-30 at the Wayback Machine Indian Express, PiyasreeDasgupta, 18 Sep 2009.
  9. ↑ Tanya Basu (23 September 2014). "An 83-Year-Old Song Dominates India's Airwaves Every Year". The Atlantic. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Mahisasura Mardini by Birendra Krishna Bhadra (AIR Recording) – Details of tracks and artists". QuiQinQ. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  11. ↑ Ray, Dolna (24 September 2022). "Birendra Krishna Bhadra: Divine voice heralding Mahalaya chant for generations of Bengalis for more than 90 years". The Economic Times.
  12. ↑ "Mahalaya : Durga Puja mahalaya : Durga Puja". www.bangalinet.com. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  13. ↑ Timeless Tunes Indian Express, 29 Sep 2008.
  14. ↑ "Mahalaya : Durga Puja mahalaya : Durga Puja". www.bangalinet.com. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  15. ↑ "Biography of Pankaj Kumar Mullick - the versatile musical genius". www.pankajmullick.org. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  16. ↑ . 1 October 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241001181757/https://calcuttarecords-com.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MahisasuramardiniAnOratarioInvokingTheGoddessDurgaAnAllIndiaRadioProductionBaniKumarUsedVinylLPRecord_image2_1691870368279.png. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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