Jugni
Encyclopedia
Jugni is an age-old narrative device used in Punjabi
folk music
and sung at Punjabi weddings in Pakistan, India, US, Canada, Australia and UK. The word literally means 'Female Firefly', in folk music it stands in for the poet-writer who uses Jugni as an innocent observer to make incisive, often humorous, sometimes sad but always touching observations. In spiritual poetry Jugni means the spirit of life, or essence of life. The late Legendary Alam Lohar
(Punjab, Pakistan) and late Singer & Humorist Asa Singh Mastana (Punjab, India) are credited with popularizing this poetry from early sufi spiritual writings and then subsequently later on it was transformed by other singers as a female girl just like prefixes like Preeto.
Much of early Jugni writing is spiritual in nature and relates to one's understanding of the world and one's relationship with God. Many poet philosophers have used the Jugni device, which is in the public domain, to make social, political or philosophical, often mildly subversive, commentary. Jugni is cross religious and depending on the writer, invokes the name of God
(often using the word "Saeen", the vernacular word for Lord), Ali
or the Guru
s. A kernel of truth is an essential and integral part of every Jugni composition.
The narrative style relies on Jugni landing up unexpectedly in diverse places and, wide-eyed, learning something new. Jugni makes her comments in three or four well wrought verses which may or may not rhyme but can always be sung in a rudimentary Punjabi folk style. The object could be a city, a state, a market place, a school, a religious place or a saloon, Jugni's non-malicious commentary catches the essence of the place and produces in the listener a chuckle and sometimes a lump in the throat. Alam Lohar is the writer or introducer of this term from reading Baba Bulleh Shahs writing, in a spiritual sufi theme.
The Indian artist to make a mark was Asa Singh Mastana
. More recently, Kuldeep Manak, born Latif Mohammad, has made notable Jugni contributions. Apart from that every other pop or folk singer from Harbhajan Mann
, Arif Lohar
, Gurdass Mann, Gurmeet Bawa to Rabbi Shergill
has had his Jugni moment. Bollywood movie Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye has at least three songs that use the word Jugni. The song was sung by Des Raj Lachkani (basically a dadi singer), Lachkani is a village near Patiala, India.
In Pakistan, Jugni was popularized by the late folk music
singer Alam Lohar
. He received a gold disc LP for his Jugni in 1965. After that Saleem Javed and Arif Lohar
, Alam Lohar's son, among others, have kept the tradition alive. Arif has brought in a more contemporary touch by incorporating modern vibes and rock influence in his versions of Jugni with Mukhtar Sahota
(notably in his album "21st century Jugni"). In popular Pakistani culture Alamgir
's Jugni is often the most-commonly recognized, which, in the mid-80's, encouraged young college students, most notably Saad Zahur, an architecture student at Lahore's NCA, who popularized the song with their own renditions. Arif Lohar has currently sang it for Coke Studio in Pakistan along with Mesha Shafi, a popular Pakistani youth, a version that will help this iconic song to further live on and on. This version of Jugni has crossed three million views and is most popular Punjabi video on YouTube.
[edit] Story
The movie revolves around Nihal Singh who fall in love with the girl, Jugni
[edit] Music
Music has been composed by Sukh D and Stefan & RDB
This came out in June 2010. Lately, it is Rabbi Shergil of the “Bhulla Ki jaana main kaun” fame who again sang a beautiful Jugni and its Rabbi’s Jugni which shows the revolutionary and political color of Jugni, he sang that with reference to Kashmir.
Jugni according to the Punjabi folk music is "Fair and beautyful lady" who is very impatient and wants to travel places.
The other story is that two folk singers " Bishna" and " Manda" use to follow the British torch " Jubilee".
They could not say its name properly , so they called it "Jugni" . They used to follow it everywhere around India and sang to awaken the masses against British rule in India ,ultimately they were hanged by the British.
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and sung at Punjabi weddings in Pakistan, India, US, Canada, Australia and UK. The word literally means 'Female Firefly', in folk music it stands in for the poet-writer who uses Jugni as an innocent observer to make incisive, often humorous, sometimes sad but always touching observations. In spiritual poetry Jugni means the spirit of life, or essence of life. The late Legendary Alam Lohar
Alam Lohar
Muhammad Alam Lohar was a prominent Punjabi folk music singer of Pakistan.He died in 1979 in an accident. He is also credited with popularizing the term and song Jugni.-Early life:...
(Punjab, Pakistan) and late Singer & Humorist Asa Singh Mastana (Punjab, India) are credited with popularizing this poetry from early sufi spiritual writings and then subsequently later on it was transformed by other singers as a female girl just like prefixes like Preeto.
Much of early Jugni writing is spiritual in nature and relates to one's understanding of the world and one's relationship with God. Many poet philosophers have used the Jugni device, which is in the public domain, to make social, political or philosophical, often mildly subversive, commentary. Jugni is cross religious and depending on the writer, invokes the name of God
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
(often using the word "Saeen", the vernacular word for Lord), Ali
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
or the Guru
Sikh Gurus
The Sikh Gurus established Sikhism from over the centuries beginning in the year 1469. Sikhism was founded by the first guru, Guru Nanak, and subsequently, all in order were referred to as "Nanak", and as "Lights", making their teachings in the holy scriptures, equivalent...
s. A kernel of truth is an essential and integral part of every Jugni composition.
The narrative style relies on Jugni landing up unexpectedly in diverse places and, wide-eyed, learning something new. Jugni makes her comments in three or four well wrought verses which may or may not rhyme but can always be sung in a rudimentary Punjabi folk style. The object could be a city, a state, a market place, a school, a religious place or a saloon, Jugni's non-malicious commentary catches the essence of the place and produces in the listener a chuckle and sometimes a lump in the throat. Alam Lohar is the writer or introducer of this term from reading Baba Bulleh Shahs writing, in a spiritual sufi theme.
The Indian artist to make a mark was Asa Singh Mastana
Asa Singh Mastana
Asa Singh Mastana was a Punjabi musician and singer, best known for lending his voice to the hit Bollywood film Heer...
. More recently, Kuldeep Manak, born Latif Mohammad, has made notable Jugni contributions. Apart from that every other pop or folk singer from Harbhajan Mann
Harbhajan Mann
Harbhajan Mann is a Punjabi singer and actor. Although not known much for his singing he soon became a Punjabi all rounder star in the entertainment industry. He got spotlight in Punjabi music industry with his astonishing performance and miraculous voice in "Husn Jawani"...
, Arif Lohar
Arif Lohar
Arif Lohar is a Pakistani folk singer. He usually sings with native musical instrument resembling tongs . His folk music is representative of traditional folk heritage of the Punjab...
, Gurdass Mann, Gurmeet Bawa to Rabbi Shergill
Rabbi Shergill
Rabbi Shergill in Jatt Sikh family is an Indian musician well known for his debut album Rabbi and the chart-topper song of 2005, "Bulla Ki Jaana"...
has had his Jugni moment. Bollywood movie Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye has at least three songs that use the word Jugni. The song was sung by Des Raj Lachkani (basically a dadi singer), Lachkani is a village near Patiala, India.
In Pakistan, Jugni was popularized by the late folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer Alam Lohar
Alam Lohar
Muhammad Alam Lohar was a prominent Punjabi folk music singer of Pakistan.He died in 1979 in an accident. He is also credited with popularizing the term and song Jugni.-Early life:...
. He received a gold disc LP for his Jugni in 1965. After that Saleem Javed and Arif Lohar
Arif Lohar
Arif Lohar is a Pakistani folk singer. He usually sings with native musical instrument resembling tongs . His folk music is representative of traditional folk heritage of the Punjab...
, Alam Lohar's son, among others, have kept the tradition alive. Arif has brought in a more contemporary touch by incorporating modern vibes and rock influence in his versions of Jugni with Mukhtar Sahota
Mukhtar Sahota
Mukhtar Sahota is a British Music Composer/Producer popularly associated with the group Sahotas. Born into a musical family, Mukhtar plays multiple instruments, all of which are self taught....
(notably in his album "21st century Jugni"). In popular Pakistani culture Alamgir
Alamgir
Alamgir may refer to:*Alamgir I, also known as Aurangzeb, ruler of the Mughal Empire 1658–1707*Alamgir II, ruler of the Mughal Empire 1754–1759*Alamgir Hashmi, English avant-garde poet*Alamgir , a pioneer of pop music in Pakistan...
's Jugni is often the most-commonly recognized, which, in the mid-80's, encouraged young college students, most notably Saad Zahur, an architecture student at Lahore's NCA, who popularized the song with their own renditions. Arif Lohar has currently sang it for Coke Studio in Pakistan along with Mesha Shafi, a popular Pakistani youth, a version that will help this iconic song to further live on and on. This version of Jugni has crossed three million views and is most popular Punjabi video on YouTube.
Jugni , Back To Roots , Canadian Punjabi Film
Jugni,Back to Roots is a Canadian Punjabi film, directed by Navalpreet Rangi. The film brought Hollwood Stars back on the silver screen. The film also stars Om Puri, Hana Lee , Vikram Rangi , Noor Ahemad , James Cook ,Julia Thomas ,[edit] Story
The movie revolves around Nihal Singh who fall in love with the girl, Jugni
[edit] Music
Music has been composed by Sukh D and Stefan & RDB
This came out in June 2010. Lately, it is Rabbi Shergil of the “Bhulla Ki jaana main kaun” fame who again sang a beautiful Jugni and its Rabbi’s Jugni which shows the revolutionary and political color of Jugni, he sang that with reference to Kashmir.
Jugni according to the Punjabi folk music is "Fair and beautyful lady" who is very impatient and wants to travel places.
The other story is that two folk singers " Bishna" and " Manda" use to follow the British torch " Jubilee".
They could not say its name properly , so they called it "Jugni" . They used to follow it everywhere around India and sang to awaken the masses against British rule in India ,ultimately they were hanged by the British.