BHAJAN PARAG : THE DEFINITIVE BHAJAN COLLECTION OF PURSHOTTAMDAS JALOTA

This is the ultimate collection of devotionals brought out in the shape of a photo album containing 16-CDs and around 150 bhajans by the Bhajan Samrat Purshottamdas Jalota. The Album was issued by NA CLASSICAL most probably in 2007 and perhaps the definitive collection of bhajans by Purshottamdas Jalota.

It is a treasure trove for all the connoisseurs of devotional music.The album is also accompanied by a bound book containing all the lyrics.Priced at Rs.2500/- ,it is a must-buy for all the fans of Purshottamdas Jalota..The recording quality as well as the presentation of the album makes it a collector’s item.

The significance of this collection is that it contains the famous devotionals of the mystics and poet-saints as Meerabai, Kabir,Nanak, Tulsidas, Surdas and many others. It has the delightful Madhurastakam and devotionals of Astacchap poets as well. Other gems include JHUNAK SHYAMKI PYANJANIYA /HO RASIYA MAIN TO SARAN TIHARI/NAHIN AISO JANAM BARAMBAR and many more. 

Given the recordings of Bhajan Samrat are not available in prolific numbers, it is a commendable venture by NA CLASSICAL to bring out this collection for all the discerning fans of devotional music.

JAHAN-E-KHUSRAU -2011 : CHOICEST SELECTION OF SUFI POETRY

‘Jahan-e-Khusrau’ , the annual festival on Sufi Music is being organized by Muzaffar Ali since more than a decade. Selections of its live recordings are available through his music label ’SAMA’ which presents choicest selections of Sufi Masters ranging from Rumi to Bedam Shah Warsi. However every annual festival is not followed by release of music album for the respective years, selections from annual festival from 2002 to 2004 and 2009 to 2012 is available. 

The Album under review is the compilation from the Festival of 2011. Abida Parveen has been a constant fixture at Muzaffar Ali Festivals and she has a long association with Muzaffar Ali starting with ‘Raqs-E-Bismil’ released by MUSIC TODAY. The compilation for 2011 does not feature her renditions. 

Disc I features Hans Raj Hans with his popular ‘Nit Khair Sohniya…’ rendered for almost half an hour and is a listening pleasure. Disc II features another favourite singer of Muzaffar Ali Shafqat Ali Khan with whom he has earlier released ‘Kaj Kulaah’ featuring Persian poetry of Amir Khusrau. Two songs in this Disc also features the Sitar Maestro Shujaat Hussain Khan lending his voice and sitar renditions. Disc III features Malini Awasthi and Azalea Ray. Both of them support the poetry of Bedam Shah Warsi and Turab Ali Shah with their strong vocals. Disc IV features Qawwalis by renowned masters of the art as Chand Nizami & Group, Wajahat Husain & Group and Sami Brothers. 

The compilations include a beautifully produced booklet giving English translation to the featured poetry in the Album which is a bonus. The ‘SAMA’ Albums are difficult to find even from the online stores .However one can easily buy the entire collection of the label from  Kotwara Studios, Jaunapur Main Road, Mehruali, New Delhi-110047, Phone No- 011- 26658614.