Nitin attended Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School and studied law at Liverpool University for a short time. He then went to London, where he met Sanjeev Bhaskar. The pair became friends and created a comedy double act, The Secret Asians, together. The show sought to turn absurdly dated Asian stereotypes on their heads. It led to a contract with BBC radio and eventually grew into the award-winning BBC TV sketch show Goodness Gracious Me.
During that time he met up with an old school friend, acid jazz keyboards-player James Taylor. He joined Taylor for a 40-date tour in as part of The James Taylor Quartet. It introduced him to the jazz club scene and provoked him into forming his own band, The Jazztones. He moved on to join forces with tabla master Talvin Singh to form the Tihai Trio and, after that collaboration ended in 1993, released his debut album, Spirit Dance on his own label. Shortly afterwards, he signed with Outcaste Records.
Sawhney's music is intensely political, commonly approaching themes of multiculturalism, empowerment, identity, immigration, poverty, and spirituality. He is active as an artist in residence for five different performing arts organisations in Europe and Asia, and along with George Martin is a patron for the British Governments Access-to-Music Program which brings music education to the inner-city students.
Sawhney's skills include classical and jazz piano and flamenco guitar. He has released six studio albums, as well as countless remixes and collaborations. After releasing Beyond Skin on London's Outcaste Records in 1999, he was signed by V2 to do six albums. His first album with the Virgin subsidiary, the millennial/apocalyptical Prophesy, in 2001 won a MOBO Award and a BBC Radio 3 Music Award.
Sawhney's music is influenced by his roots in India, utilising and featuring Urdu and Hindi lyrics, Qawwali singing, tablas and other instruments from the subcontinent, and Raga phrasings in music which is often primarily meant for the dance floor.
Sawhney's work in production and arrangement has led to his working in film and television scores. He has scored television ads for Sephora and Nike, as well as more than 25 films from his London-based Spirit Dance Studios. He was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for Film and TV Composition in 2004 for his music on Channel Four's film, Second Generation. From there, he has begun to see acceptance from the "classical" community, and in 2004 he was commissioned by the city of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Britten Symphonia to compose new performance works. London's Royal National Theatre invited him to write, direct, and score a work to be opened in 2005.
For photographs and additional information visit Nitin's official site, www.NitinSawhney.com
Chetan Jeevan
Nitin Sawhney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My physical body accompanied by a conscious mind
Endless desires swirl outside of me
HE is also taking me along his cosmic path giving me experience of seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and feeling
I feel content while sleeping, crying, laughing, eating and drinking
Day and night I think that there must be some purpose to this life
I have come to understand joy and sorrow due to lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego
I have started to think about what is the characteristic won't of life and about what is the uncharacteristic won't of life,
And about what is sin and what is virtue
Thus no more desire or expectation for past, present or future remains with me
My mind has gone beyond past, present and future and beyond the rational intellect of imagination
I see that I am beyond birth and death and am enjoying mind in a state of samadhi
PS : I found this translation n a forum. Here is what the guy said :
An Indian friend of mine recently translated Chetan Jeevan (Conscious Life) for me and I thought I would share this in case other people are interested. My friend doesn't speak very good English so I've had to piece this together quite a bit. I'm sure it's more eloquent in its' original form and if anyone can help with a truer translation then please feel free!
I use the definitions given by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti-ji for Dharma and Satya but realise that Hindu and Buddhist definitions are various and differ.
With respect, Shriila' X
The lyrics of the song "Chetan Jeevan" by Nitin Sawhney describe the journey of the singer's conscious mind and physical body through life. The singer has enjoyed life to its fullest and has experienced endless desires while being guided along the cosmic path by a higher power. Despite the pleasures and joys of life, the singer has come to realize that there must be a greater purpose to life. The singer has also come to understand that lust, anger, greed, attachment, and ego lead to both joy and sorrow.
The singer has started to contemplate what is the true nature of life and what actions are benevolent or harmful. The singer has also come to understand the concepts of sin and virtue. Through this journey, the singer has reached a state of contentment and has let go of any desires for the past, present, or future. The singer's mind has transcended past, present, and future, and the rational intellect of imagination. Ultimately, the singer sees themselves beyond birth and death and is enjoying a state of samadhi.
The lyrics of "Chetan Jeevan" are a reflection of the journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening that many people go through. The singer's journey is one of deep contemplation on the true nature of life and what it means to live a benevolent life. This song is an inspirational piece that encourages introspection and the pursuit of self-awareness.
Line by Line Meaning
I have lived life until now to the height of enjoyment
Until now, I have experienced life with utmost pleasure and happiness.
My physical body accompanied by a conscious mind
My existence comprises of a physical body along with a conscious mind.
Endless desires swirl outside of me
Numerous desires exist around me, tempting and alluring me.
HE is also taking me along his cosmic path giving me experience of seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and feeling
The divine force is leading me towards the cosmic path, granting me the ability to sense the world through sight, sound, taste, smell and touch.
I feel content while sleeping, crying, laughing, eating and drinking
I experience contentment during various activities such as sleeping, crying, laughing, eating and drinking.
Day and night I think that there must be some purpose to this life
I contemplate day and night, reflecting upon the reason and purpose of my existence.
I have come to understand joy and sorrow due to lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego
I have gained knowledge about happiness and sadness, thanks to emotions such as lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego.
I have started to think about what is the characteristic won't of life and about what is the uncharacteristic won't of life,
I have begun to ponder over the nature of life, distinguishing between its positive and negative elements.
About what is benevolent use of mind and words and what is harmful use of mind and words
I contemplate on the beneficial and harmful ways of using my thoughts and words.
And about what is sin and what is virtue
I reflect upon the concepts of sin and virtue.
Thus no more desire or expectation for past, present or future remains with me
As a result, I no longer possess any desires or expectations relating to the past, present or future.
My mind has gone beyond past, present and future and beyond the rational intellect of imagination
My mind has transcended the concepts of time and rational imagination.
I see that I am beyond birth and death and am enjoying mind in a state of samadhi
I comprehend that I am beyond the cycle of birth and death and I am experiencing a state of deep meditation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DAVINDER VIKHYAT SINGH, NITIN SAWHNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rosana
I have lived life until now to the height of enjoyment My physical body accompanied by a conscious mind Endless desires swirl outside of me HE is also taking me along his cosmic path giving me experience of seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and feeling
Rosana
b) I feel content while sleeping, crying, laughing, eating and drinking Day and night I think that there must be some purpose to this life I have come to understand joy and sorrow due to lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego I have started to think about what is the characteristic won't of life and about what is the uncharacteristic won't of life, About what is benevolent use of mind and words and what is harmful use of mind and words
Free Information
This is fucking dope !
Rosana
c) And about what is sin and what is virtue Thus no more desire or expectation for past, present or future remains with me My mind has gone beyond past, present and future and beyond the rational intellect of imagination I see that I am beyond birth and death and am enjoying mind in a state of samadhi
Rohini1993
Beautiful
Channa
Thanks for the perfect tempo
jade louane
excellent !! :)
John O'Shaughnessy
so cool!
kimo taibi
avant garde....2003 and we are in????? BLESS U ALL
Ana Olejnik
Are those the lirycs Karena Kam?