A Musical Tribute on International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day and Sanjo and Chandrani have just the right song to commemorate this occasion. This is a song from their second album (Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab) and it's called Jaana Kahaan Hai.

The song celebrates the carefree feminine spirit set free... womankind unshackled, unfettered and unbridled... free to discover her own true potential... free to rise... to soar... and to triumph!

You can hear the full song on these music sites:

Gaana

Saavn



And if you'd like to sing along, tap your feet... maybe get up and dance to this infectious beat, here are the lyrics:

JAANA KAHAAN HAI

JAANA KAHAAN HAI NA JAANA DIL YEH
MANZIL NAYI HAI NAYI HAI RAAHEIN


KOHREY MEIN DOOBA THHA MANZAR
DHUNDHLI YAADON KE SAAYE
GHAM SE BHAREY THHEY JO LAMHE
PEECHHEY REH GAYE WOH SAAREY


KEHTA HAI DIL YEH CHALNAA HAI AAGEY
MANZIL NAYI HAI NAYI HAI RAAHEIN
JAANA KAHAAN HAI NA JAANA DIL YEH
MANZIL NAYI HAI NAYI HAI RAAHEIN


TORHEY HAI SAAREY WOH BANDHAN
ARMAANON KO JO ROKEY
JHONKA HAWA KA WOH AAYA
KHUL GAYE SAAREY JHAROKHEY


AMBAR MERA HAI MERI HAI ZAMEEN YEH
MANZIL NAYI HAI NAYI HAI RAAHEIN
JAANA KAHAAN HAI NA JAANA DIL YEH
MANZIL NAYI HAI NAYI HAI RAAHEIN

An Anthem for World Environment Day

It is 5th June once again; World Environment Day – a day to remind ourselves about the havoc that we have wreaked upon the environment. To draw attention to the rampant ecological depredation being wrought on Nature in the name of development, progress and economic growth, Sanjo and Chandrani have created a poignant anthem titled ‘Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab’.

Sanjo The Balladeer, who sings about various social issues says: “We didn’t write this song for World Environment Day. We wrote it for each day of our lives… we need to rededicate ourselves every single day to saving Mother Earth – or else, it will be too late… before we even know it.”  

Chandrani, the songwriter, explains: “Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab has a single-minded message: Save the Earth. That’s all! There’s no 'preachy-ness' here; it’s a message that comes straight from the heart. We are simply reminding everyone that the environment is a part of us, and we are an integral part of the environment. So if we destroy our environment, we are destroying ourselves – and future generations.”

In fact, this is exactly what the refrain of the song states:

Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab

(The environment is an integral part of us)

Sab Mein Hai Ham Hi

(We pervade the environment)

Here are the links to the song – and the lyrics too. Sing along with us. Raise your voices in solidarity with Planet Earth.

Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab on Gaana

Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab on Saavn



HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB
Lyrics by Chandrani

ZARA ZARA AASMAN GUM HO RAHA HAI KAHIN

THORHI THORHI SIMAT RAHI HAI YEH ZAMEEN

SOCHO ZARA KHO JAAYE NA BEHTI NADI

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB

SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI

ANDHERA KAALA DHUAAN WOH CHHOONEY LAGA AASMA

KHONEY LAGA HAI TAARON KA SHAAMIYAANA

OH-HO-HO-HO…

ANDHERA KAALA DHUAAN WOH CHHOONEY LAGA AASMA

KHONEY LAGA HAI TAARON KA SHAAMIYAANA

KAR DO SUBAH KHONEY NA DO APNI ZAMIN

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB

SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI

THAAM LO YEH HAWA GUZAR JAANEY NA DO

BAANDH LO YEH MEHAK BIKHAR JAANEY NA DO

PARCHHAAYIYAAN BAN JAAYE NA BAHAAREIN SABHI

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB

SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI…

If you’d like to get in touch, you can write to Sanjo & Chandrani at: sanjoandchandrani@gmail.com

Behind The Covers

Many people have admired the designs for the covers of both the albums by Sanjo and Chandrani – the new album Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab released in 2015 and Barson Huey released in 2005 and re-released in 2015. The assumption was that the covers were designed by Sanjo, who in addition to being a musician is also a creative professional with an advertising, designing and brand communication background. However, this assumption is wrong. The covers were, in fact, designed by Chandrani.

A lesser known fact about Chandrani is that she is an amateur photographer and an avid traveller. The photographs that adorn the covers of the two albums were taken by Chandrani on her pro camera during her visits to various picturesque locations across India.

When the two albums were being uploaded on OK Listen, the music site required the cover art in a particular format and size. The designs had to be completed and ready for upload overnight. Since no designers were around to work at such short notice, Chandrani stepped up, selected two photographs from her collection and designed the covers.

Drug Addiction… The Darkness Within

The recent brouhaha over the release of Udta Punjab and the subsequent discussions and debates it provoked a few days ago on the occasion of International Anti Drugs Day (26th June) has put the spotlight firmly back on the dark underbelly of the drug addicts’ hellish world.

Interestingly, Sanjo and Chandrani’s second studio album (Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab) has not one but two anti-drugs/addiction songs. We’ve already mentioned one on this blog – Ham Chalein, a positive, upbeat song that affirms: ‘we will not allow drugs to take us down… we don’t need drugs… we are high on life!’

Yes, it’s a powerful, youthful feel-good song – but sadly, the world of the addict isn’t so hunky dory. In the second song – Aisa Kuchh Hua Hai Usse – Chandrani’s lyrics have strong undercurrents of gloom and despair, reflecting the hopeless downward spiral of the addict plummeting to the depths of ruination.

Sanjo’s haunting melody complements Chandrani’s heart-wrenching lyrics, creating a song that is almost menacing, forbidding and undeniably frightening. Why did they descend into such darkness? Chandrani explains: “The horrors of drug addiction can be truly comprehended only by someone who has seen a loved one succumb to it. This is the state-of-mind we have tried to capture. Being face-to-face with the wretchedness of an addict can be a powerful deterrent. This is what we have tapped in to as a way of creating awareness of the seriousness of this issue.”

Here are the hard-hitting lyrics of this song…

AISA KUCHH HUA HAI USSE

Lyrics by Chandrani

Reproduced here with permission from Chandrani

AISA KUCHH HUA HAI USSE NIKLI JAATI HAI JAAN

DHARHKAN JAISE THAM SI GAYI SAANSEIN HAI ANJAAN

JEENA USKA MUSHKIL SA HAI HAR PAL JEEVAN SE DOOR

JEENEY KI HAI CHAAHAT USSE PAR HAI WOH MAJBOOR

SAAYE GEHREY PHAILEY HUEY HAI USKO GHEREY

RAATEIN KITNI LAMBI HUI KHO GAYE HAI SAVERE

AISA KUCHH HUA HAI USSE NIKLI JAATI HAI JAAN

DHARHKAN JAISE THAM SI GAYI SAANSEIN HAI ANJAAN

DARD SE RISHTA JUD NA SAKEY KARLO KUCHH AISA TUM

AANKHEIN KHOLO O DIWAANO HONEY NA DO KHUD KO GUM

AISA KUCHH HUA HAI USSE NIKLI JAATI HAI JAAN

DHARHKAN JAISE THAM SI GAYI SAANSEIN HAI ANJAAN

As regular readers of this blog will know, earlier we used to share short one-minute clips of the songs (on SoundCloud) so that you could get a flavour of the song. But now you can listen to the complete songs on various popular music sites/apps like Saavn and Gaana. Here are some links for Aisa Kuchh Hua Hai Usse.

Aisa Kuchh Hua Hai Usse on Saavn

Aisa Kuchh Hua Hai Usse on Gaana

The song along with the rest of the album is available on more than 700 digital music sites across the world. In India, you can buy the Song/Album here:

Buy Aisa Kuchh Hua Hai Usse and other songsby Sanjo & Chandrani on OK Listen

If you would like to get in touch with Sanjo & Chandrani, you can write to them at: sanjoandchandrani@gmail.com

A Special Song... For Special Children

Of all the songs in Sanjo and Chandrani’s second studio album, Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab, the one closest to Chandrani’s heart is a song called ‘Itni Saari Hansi’. She wrote it with passion and sung it with every fibre of her being.

The song is an entreaty asking people to gain a better, deeper understanding of children with disabilities. However, it chooses to view disabilities in a very different light, seeing them instead as special capabilities that “normal” people do not possess; for instance, the innate ability of visually challenged children to “see” the colours of love, and the ability of verbally challenged children to “speak” with their eyes. Writing about the song in a Hyderabad-based daily newspaper, a journalist pointed out “the powerful lyrics of the song leave you feeling rather inadequate in comparison with these special children who do not let their disabilities get in the way of living joyous lives.”

Here are the extremely stirring lyrics…

ITNI SAARI HANSI

Lyrics by Chandrani

Reproduced here with permission from Chandrani

ITNI SAARI HANSI THORHEY AANSOO KABHI

CHEHREY PE DIL KA HAAL LIKH JATA HAI

ITNI SAARI HANSI THORHEY AANSOO KABHI

IN EHSAASON KA HI HUMKO PATA HAI

HAR LAMHA SAPNA KOI DIL KO KAHIN CHHOO JAATA HAI

ROSHNI KI KAMI PALKON PE HAI NAMI

ANDHERE KA YEH RANG HUMKO PYARA HAI

RANG DIKHTE TUMHE PYAAR DIKHTA NAHI

PYAAR KA PYAARA RANG HUMKO DIKHTA HAI

HAR LAMHA SAPNA KOI DIL KO KAHIN CHHOO JAATA HAI

HOTHON TAK NA KOI KHWAAB AA PAATEIN HAI

DHARHKANON MEIN KAHIN LAFZ KHO JAATA HAI

ANKHON SE HAM SABHI BAAT KEH LETE HAIN

TUM JO SAMJHEY NAHIN HAMEIN KEHNA AATA HAI

HAR LAMHA SAPNA KOI DIL KO KAHIN CHHOO JAATA HAI

SHOR KOI NAHIN AAHATEY GUM HUI

SAAZ KOI NAHIN HAM TAK AATA HAI

SISKIYAAN AURO KI TUM TAK JO NA PAHUNCHI

DIL HAMAARA UNHE SUN HI LETA HAI

HAR LAMHA SAPNA KOI DIL KO KAHIN CHHOO JAATA HAI

Earlier, this blog used to share short one-minute clips (on SoundCloud) so that you could get a flavour of the songs. But now you can listen to the complete songs on various popular music sites/apps like Gaana and Saavn. Here are some links for Itni Saari Hansi.

Itni Saari Hansi on Gaana.com

Itni Saari Hansi on Saavn.com

The song, along with the rest of the album, is available on more than 700 digital music sites across the world. In India, you can buy the Song/Album here:

Buy Itni Saari Hansi and other songs by Sanjo& Chandrani on OK Listen

If you would like to get in touch with Sanjo & Chandrani, you can write to them at: sanjoandchandrani@gmail.com

The Feminine Spirit... Set Free

The creative process is an ongoing endeavour with Sanjo and Chandrani – especially Chandrani, whose lyrics are often triggered by sudden unpredictable bursts of inspiration. It was precisely in such a carefree, exuberant state-of-mind that she penned the lyrics of a song about women’s emancipation.

The song is called Jaana Kahaan Hai. The words capture with inspiring adroitness the sense of sheer exhilaration experienced by the emancipated woman, unshackled from the suffocating restrictions of orthodox society, set free – to follow her heart and her dreams. This sense of freedom rings out loud and clear in every line of the song.

Chandrani wrote this song at a time when Sanjo was away on a multicity tour. Usually, after Chandrani is through with the lyrics the mantle passes to Sanjo who composes the melody and arranges the music. However, in this case the song had shaped up so well that she couldn’t wait till Sanjo returned. Spurred on by her restless creative spirit, she took on the role of the composer; she picked her guitar up and composed the melody.

This song is, therefore, the first published work in Sanjo & Chandrani’s oeuvre where Chandrani has worn both hats – lyricist and composer.

You can listen to a short audio clip of the song here:

Listen to Jaana Kahaan Hai by Sanjo &Chandrani on SoundCloud

JAANA KAHAAN HAI

Lyrics by Chandrani

Reproduced here with permission from Chandrani

JAANA KAHAAN HAI

NA JAANA DIL YEH

MANZIL NAYI HAI

NAYI HAI RAAHEIN

KOHREY MEIN DOOBA THHA MANZAR

DHUNDHLI YAADON KE SAAYE

GHAM SE BHAREY THHEY JO LAMHE

PEECHHEY REH GAYE WOH SAAREY

KEHTA HAI DIL YEH

CHALNAA HAI AAGEY

MANZIL NAYI HAI

NAYI HAI RAHEIN

JAANA KAHAAN HAI…

TORHEY HAI SAAREY WOH BANDHAN

ARMAANON KO JO ROKEY

JHONKA HAWA KA WOH AAYA

KHUL GAYE SAAREY JHAROKHEY

AMBAR MERA HAI

MERI HAI ZAMEEN YEH

MANZIL NAYI HAI

NAYI HAI RAHEIN

JAANA KAHAAN HAI…

You can buy the Song/Album here:

Buy Jaana Kahaan Hai and other songs by Sanjo& Chandrani on OK Listen

If you would like to get in touch with Sanjo & Chandrani, you can write to them at: sanjoandchandrani@gmail.com

A Song for The Planet

Today is World Environment Day. This is a subject that is very close to Chandrani’s heart. And as for Sanjo, almost every show he does has a segment that draws attention to various ecological, conservation, pollution and habitat issues. In fact, as Sanjo The Balladeer, he has an entire show titled Earth Eulogy to spread awareness on sensitive environmental issues.

The title song on Sanjo & Chandrani’s second studio album – Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab – is dedicated to Planet Earth and the urgent need to preserve her fragile ecosystems. It talks about all the damage that humankind is doing to Earth and raises a plaintive cry that says: Stop it – enough is enough!

Chandrani who wrote the lyrics for this moving environmental anthem explains: “The song has a single-minded message: Save the Earth. We aren’t being preachy in this song; we are simply reminding everyone that the environment is a part of us, and we are an integral part of the environment. So if we selfishly destroy our environment, in effect we are destroying ourselves – and future generations.”

The power of this song stems from its honesty and its simplicity. There is no grandstanding or any pontificating. As Chandrani says: “This song is just a cry from the heart; a plea to do our bit to save what we have left today – because if we don’t, all will be lost… we will be lost.”   

Sanjo is gratified by the way the audience responds to this song every time he performs it. “One can clearly see that the song has touched them at some level”, he says. “The wholehearted participation of the audience in the song’s two-line refrain tells me that they identify strongly with the message. And when I see children joining in, it leaves me with hope for the future because these kids are tomorrow’s Change Agents.”

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB

Lyrics by: Chandrani

Reproduced here with permission from Chandrani

ZARA ZARA AASMAN GUM HO RAHA HAI KAHIN

THORHI THORHI SIMAT RAHI HAI YEH ZAMEEN

SOCHO ZARA KHO JAAYE NA BEHTI NADI

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB

SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI

ANDHERA KAALA DHUAAN WOH CHHOONEY LAGA AASMA

KHONEY LAGA HAI TAARON KA SHAAMIYAANA

OH-HO-HO-HO…

ANDHERA KAALA DHUAAN WOH CHHOONEY LAGA AASMA

KHONEY LAGA HAI TAARON KA SHAAMIYAANA

KAR DO SUBAH KHONEY NA DO APNI ZAMIN

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB

SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI

THAAM LO YEH HAWA GUZAR JAANEY NA DO

BAANDH LO YEH MEHAK BIKHAR JAANEY NA DO

PARCHHAAYIYAAN BAN JAAYE NA BAHAAREIN SABHI

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB
SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI...

You can listen to a short audio clip of the song here:

Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab by Sanjo &Chandrani on SoundCloud

If you would like to buy the song online, you can find it here:

Buy Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab by Sanjo &Chandrani on OK Listen

If you’d like to get in touch, you can write to Sanjo & Chandrani at: sanjoandchandrani@gmail.com