horikhela - A Game of Holi
- Bivash Sengupta (Music) and Dipa Choudhuri (Dance)
- May 13, 2016
- 4 min read
A Musical adopted on a poem by Rabindranath Tagore
Horikhela is based on a historic account of seven hundred years ago. Perched on the bank of the river Chambal, Kota was seized by Kesar Khan, the Pathan ruler from Malwa. King Bhunag was incapacitated with the excessive use of wine and opium and was banished to Bundi. His wife, with his household vassals and sixty villagers retired to Kaitun. When spring came the queen planned to organize Holi and invited the Pathans who were elated by the invitation to play holi with the charming queen and her Rajputani maidens.
The musical renders 9 Tagore songs (all translations available) and two classicals and a folklore in Hindi.
Scene – 1
Starts with Sad Music (D)
Changes to Revenge Music (D)
1. Song: Sankochero Biobhalata…
Light music 1 start with the flute… (D)
[Recitation]
Lost in the battle, having ceded the town of Kota to the pathans
King Bhunag’s queen sends a missive to the mighty Kesar Khan
“We had enough of fighting my dear and the spring is here
Kindly join us Rajputanis with your pathan kinsmen
To play holi together at the Kaitun’s charming garden”
Ending part of the light music 1 with Tihari …
Scene – 2
King’s Courtyard Music (Bhairavi) (D)
2. Song: Chancala Chapala Ana Tarana (A Sharp)
Tabla bol for messenger’s entry (A Sharp)
3. Song: De Pore De Amay Tora (A Sharp)
Satire music
[Recitation]
Reading the letter, Kesar was happy
Twirling his moustache and fixing his colourful pagdee
Perfumed and groomed, a smile crossed his lips
With his Pathan men the queen will play a game of holi
King’s journey to the queen’s place with Afghan music (D)
Scene – 3
Prelude music to “Ore Bokul Parul” (A)
[Recitation]
Spring morn of April brought the southern breeze
At the fragrant woods inebriated were the humming bees
4. Song: Ore Bokul Parul (A)
5. Song: Bawara / Ayori Basant (A sharp)
6. Song: Aji Bosonto Jagroto (A sharp)
Afgan music… (D)
7. Song: Keshariya Balma (A sharp)
Scene – 4
Multani music on harmonium for following lines (A)
[Recitation]
Listening to none, the bees raved at the blooming groves,
As the Pathan army came in droves
To play Holi with the maidens at the Kaitun’s court.
Lights and shades danced their ways,
The melody of flutes rang the place,
The Pathans waited with patience
As dressed in their best strode in the maidens.
The melting sun by then had put the skies in flames.
8. Song: De Tora Amaye (A)
Background music (comedy type)
7 bts rhytm on percussion (8 cycles) (D)
[Recitation]
With each steps of the maidens, swayed the ghagras
By the southern breeze blew the colourful ornas
Plates of faag at one hand, at the start of the fun,
At the waists hung strings of colour-filled water-guns
Rose petal filled baskets held by the other hand
Lusciously entered the Rajputani lady band.
Comedy Music (D)
9. Song: Aji Dokhino Duar Khola (A)
Holi music with the lines on flute (D)
[Recitation]
Drawing closer to the damsels, Kesar joked with a sly smile
“Having survived many a battle, today we might die in style”
The maids burst out in laughter
As Kesar bows to them like a court-jester.
The game of holi started in great flurry
As colours were thrown in a big hurry.
10. Song: Aayo Phagun Hatilo (A)
Suspense music with the lines… / Effects on keyboard
[Recitation]
The flowers started changing their tint
Dusts under the trees turned into pink
The shrill Rajputani revelries
Made the birds even quiet on the tree,
As a crimson mist overcame the spree.
11. Song: Oray Bhai Phagun Legeche (A)
Suspense music from the lines… /Effects on keyboard
[Recitation]
Kesar Khan was not feeling too high.
Why is not his heart thrilled by the sight?
Why are not the ankle bells ringing right?
Kesar wondered about his subdued plight.
Rajasthani music (D)
Scene – 5
Gorgeous music with the lines… (D)
[Recitation]
The hands of the girls weren’t soft like the lotus
The thunder was shamed by their throaty chorus.
Could not the Rajputanis be tender and not be dry and dreary?
In body and spirit, they were like the desert, rough and weary.
Kesar Khan could hardly be any cheery.
Suddenly the music reached a high.
At her firm hands sparkled gold bangles
Across her chest pearl necklaces dangled.
With maids carrying faag by her side,
Finally, the queen arrived at the site.
12. Eto Din Je Boshe Chilem (A Sharp)
13. Ohe Sundor Mori Mori (A Sharp)
Duet Dance of the King and the Queen
[Recitation]
“Looking out for you, my eyes were almost scorched” said Kesar, the sire.
The queen coyly quipped, “I too was in the same state of desire”
(As) The hundred maids broke out in loud laughter.
Rajasthani Music
Sargamgeet Music (D)
With Tihai ...
[Recitation]
The queen swiftly flung a brass plate striking the Pathan on his head
A torrent of blood gushed out and Kesar Khan was almost blinded
Tabla rela (from low to loud)… (D)
[Recitation]
Like thunderclaps without a trace of cloud
Suddenly roll of war drums were all over abound
Battle music starts with the narration… (D)
[Recitation]
Glittering swords flashed under the moonlit sky
Ghagras were shed and Ornas were in flight
Out came from the dresses of damsels a hundred Rajput soldiers
Like hundred snakes out of a bouquet of blooming flowers.
Music will continue and end with tihai..
No music
[Recitation]
যে পথ দিয়ে পাঠান এসেছিল সে পথ দিয়ে ফিরল নাকো তারা
The Pathans did not return by the road they took to come…. 2 times
Sad music.. (D)
[Recitation]
At the gardens of Kaitun, the game was over for Kesar Khan
By the spring eve, the cuckoos cooed in drunken trance
The Pathans did not return by the road they took to come.
যে পথ দিয়ে পাঠান এসেছিল সে পথ দিয়ে ফিরল নাকো তারা
Abhishek Music ( crowning the Queen).. (D)
The End
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