Customer Reviews

Homage to Mahatma Gandhi

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This album is really beautiful. The Raag Mohan Kaus of the first song is used because Gandhi's first name in MOHANdas. The song is long but intricately arranged and simply moving. The last 7 minutes build into a rising crescendo that takes your breath away. This is something that cannot be described in language, it's true worth can only be listened to and experienced. The 2nd song is soft and sweet, embodying Gandhi's nature but underlying it is an indomitable will of the Mahatma. The last is more tabla than anything else, and just a pleasure to listen to. The album is for all Ravishankar fans and for those who have just started listening to him. Just truly wonderful.

The Mahatma was not likely to make a smashing first impression. One look at him (without knowing who he was) it would be hard to believe that this man lead an entire nation to the first ever non-violent struggle for freedom.
The raag Mohan Kauns is not likely to make a big impression on you. But if you hear it several times and get familiar with the introspective and pathetic mood that was probably used during its composition you will find a beautiful performance. Excellent remastering but I am not sure why it took them so long to release it ? If you are a collector of Ravi Shankar's earlier recordings, you will probably buy it. But, if you are new to Ravi Shankar or Gandhi, there are other things (music and books) that you may want to consider first.

I was looking for something specific, regarding an homage to Ghandi, one of the truly greatest human beings.... "Generations to come will scarcely believe that someone such as this ever walked upon this earth in human form", A. Einstein; (I prob mis-quoted, trying to commit to memory). I was hoping for more, other cuts have been better, but maybe there was something in the music I missed. Not my fav work of Ravi, but as I said, maybe you have to be Indian to truly appreciate. The movie Ghandi was wonderful, 5 stars IMHO.