The Thumris of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah are known for their simple language and the emotions that they convey. He was the last Nawab of Awadh and while his administrative skills were average, his love for arts was well known. He was a poet, singer composer and a dancer.<\/p>\n
As his wealth depleted, his popularity increased. His subjects loved him and rejoiced on the streets of Lucknow, singing the songs that he wrote in simple Awadhi dialect.\u00a0 The kingdom of Awadh was at it’s\u00a0 cultural peak during his short regime.<\/p>\n
It is said that the Nawab lived lavishly, he was also known to be generous, kind and compassionate towards his people; so when the British\u00a0 deposed him to exile in Matia-burj near Calcutta the entire town drowned in sorrow. The entire region grieved, cried and bade farewell to the composer king who at the time of exile wrote and composed a Thumri\u00a0 in Raag Bhairavi which is sung even today “Babul mora naihar chuto hi jaye…”\u00a0 My favourite rendition of this Thumri\u00a0 is the one sung by KL Saigal’s for the movie Devdas (1936)<\/p>\n