Moods of the Monsoon

BHARATI PAWASKAR

It’s a 5.27 minute Konkani song in the voice of the popular Goan singer Gautami Hede Bambolkar which is making rounds on the social media after she uploaded this music video on her YouTube channel on July 14. The video has received 8000 views so far. Penned by Hrishikesh Kadam, the song ‘Pavs Piso’ celebrates the monsoon mood that Goa and Goemkars are fully into. Written by him specially for an annual rain poetry recitation event ‘Pavali’ organized by ‘Antruz Ghudyo’, Bandora, Gautami first sang the song three years ago.   

Speaking on the process of how the song was born Gautami briefs, “We thought that we would create a welcome song for ‘Pavali’ which can be played as a title song each time the event was organized. Hrishikesh wrote the song, I composed it. Within ten days we performed the song live at the event. The audience enjoyed our performance so much that requests poured in for making an audio record of the song which we did eventually. However, it was only when I decided to create a channel on the YouTube that we recorded and released it as a video at this year’s ‘Pavali’ event on July 14. Konkani lovers from Mangaluru, Karnataka and Konkan treated this song as their own. Thankfully our team got so much appreciation.” The tune is same as the previous one, only extra instruments, voice modulations and harmonies added. It’s a welcome song inviting rain to shower his blessings on the Earth. Rain did play mischief while shooting. “ During the shooting, sometimes the rain totally vanished. Luckily westill managed to get some good shots. And as the song was shot first and audio was added later, credit for lip sync goes to cinematographer Palash Agni,” recalls Gautami. While she has sung hundreds of Bollywood numbers over the years, her original songs in Konkani or Hindi come to over two dozen. Since the past few years Gautami has also begun composing too. She recalls the songs composed by her and sung with her singer friend Mugdha Gaonkar at Yuva Mahotsava. She composed a patriotic song for a CD ‘Shani masti’ which was a collection of children’s songs. “It’s easier to sing than to compose a song,” she claims.  

While composing the lyrics may require some changes, like shortening the length or tweaking some words. Some writers give liberty and allow the composer to do that, and some don’t. It is here that it becomes difficult for the composer to do their job.   

Speaking of her journey as a composer, Gautami who has composed a dozen songs, mentions, “When a song comes to me for composinge, I read the poem and apply the tune that comes first to my mind. Then I record it, and show it to the family. After getting their feedback I finalise the song and send it away before the deadline.I have been a singer for 15 years. However, I now enjoy my role as a composer too. Currently I am working on some songs and will release them on my channel soon. I have realised that the people do not wish to buy a CD now. Whatever is uploaded on the social media gets viral and people follow the trend. This seems to be a good way to reach out to people with your art, music or social messages.”