Singer, Kaumudi Munshi, 93, known as the ‘Nightingale of Gujarat’, breathed her last on October 13, 2020, at Somaiya Hospital in Sion. Munshi was born in 1928 in Varanasi to a bilingual family, speaking Hindi and Gujarati. Her uncle, Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai was a notable Gujarati novelist in pre-Independent India. Though she started as a chorus member, she soon started singing solo. She moved to Mumbai in 1951 with the dream of becoming a singer on radio. The following year she came in touch with Ninu Mazumdar, a composer and lyricist, associated with film industry and the All India Radio (AIR) and became one of the most beloved voices in India, gracing homes and concerts alike with her sugam sangeet, and became a guru (trainer) in her own right.
A versatile singer, she could shift effortlessly between the needs of different stages and genres, such as classical, light music, a garba, or a ghazal. She would capture the hearts of her audiences in Gujarati, Hindi, and Urdu. With numerous songs to her credit, Munshi not only popularised the genre but also loaned it a serious devotion, the kinds that were reserved for classical music alone. Her chorasi rangno saathiyo re mandyo will remain the lilting hum for generations of Gujarati fans.
Sugam Sangeet is a form of music, which combines classicism and modernity in right balance. It is of great lyrical quality, and a Gujarati form of the Ghazal and is extremely popular. It is not constrained by the strict disciplinary standards of Hindustani Classical Music, but is based on soft lilting tunes in its rendition, and thus maintains a classical touch as well.
Avinash Vyas, Kshemu Divetia, Rasiklal Bhojak, Bhailal Barot, Raasbihari Desai, Gaurang Vyas, and Kaumudi Munshi are to name but a few who contributed extensively to the genre for a long period of time. It is a ‘must listen to’ for any traveller to Gujarat. It is capable of calming the mind and soul with the power of wonderful poetic verses and the lyrical quality.
Courtesy: India Express