'Singing with the Guru: Prahlad Tipanya meets Chenaji Maru'

The flesh withers. The notes falter. The world loses interest. We focus on the strong, the vigorous and the shining. Do we pause to sense the beauty of the aging? On a hot afternoon in the Malwa summer of 2004, a precious encounter unfolds between the older (now deceased) Chenaji Maru and renowned folk singer Prahlad Singh Tipanya as they sing together, reminisce and recall (and also forget) the songs of Kabir and other mystics!

(Click on Settings for subtitles in English & Hindi)

Chenaji Maru was one of an older generation of folk singers of Kabir in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, from whom Prahlad Singh Tipanya imbibed many songs. Prahladji is one of the most popular and respected folk singers of Kabir in the country. A school teacher by profession, Prahladji’s life took a deep and profound turn when he first heard the tambura – the five stringed folk instrument. That became the gateway for him into the world of Kabir, and since then he has been tirelessly sharing the power of Kabir with countless rural, urban and international audiences for over 3 decades. Contact Prahladji at +91-94250-84096.
 
This encounter was edited into 'Koi Sunta Hai: Journeys with Kumar & Kabir', one of several films on Kabir made by Shabnam Virmani,  filmmaker, singer and director of the Kabir Project, located at the Srishti School of Art, Design & Technology in Bangalore, India. Write to her at [email protected]. View the full film at https://www.cultureunplugged.com/play....
 
This is one of a series of uploads for Ajab Shahar, a webspace featuring songs, images and conversations around Bhakti, Sufi and Baul poetry from India and thereabouts, created by the Kabir Project team. www.ajabshahar.org, www.kabirproject.org
 
Song Credits:
Vocals & Tambura: Chenaji Maru & Prahlad Tipanya 
Manjira: Dayaram Saroliya

Translations: Shabnam Virmani

Video Credits:
Camera & Interview: Shabnam Virmani
Editing: Shruti Kulkarni
Subtitling: Prashant Parvatneni
Collection: Kabir Project

Place of Recording: Kalukhedi village, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh
Date: March 2004