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
The Boatman
Nitin Sawhney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bheshe elam sagor theke
Baleer toteh notun disha
Adar theke alor mesha
Batash bhara bhalo basha
Ke kandare baicho toree aral theke
The above lyrics are from Nitin Sawhney's song The Boatman. The lyrics describe the journey of a boatman. The boatman is named Baroshekar and he is travelling across the seas. The first two lines of the song describe how he set off from the shore and is now on the sea. The third line talks about how the boatman has no set direction and is open to exploring new horizons. The fourth line talks about how the moon is shining down upon him, lighting up his way in the dark.
The next two lines talk about how the wind is blowing and filling the boatman's sail. It is clear that he is enjoying a smooth ride. The last line (Ke kandare baicho toree aral theke) talks about how the boatman is docked in a harbour and waiting for passengers to board his boat.
The lyrics to The Boatman are very poetic and describe the beauty and simplicity of life on the water. They convey a sense of peacefulness and calm that can be found in the middle of the ocean. The use of metaphors and imagery bring the song to life and create a vivid picture for the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Baroshekar aador meke
Amidst the pouring rain, I seek shelter and comfort
Bheshe elam sagor theke
I have arrived here, carried by the waves of the ocean
Baleer toteh notun disha
In the horizon, a new direction beckons
Adar theke alor mesha
From love, rains of light pour
Batash bhara bhalo basha
The wind carries a message of goodness
Ke kandare baicho toree aral theke
Who awaits me on the other side of this river?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: JAYANTA BOSE, NITIN SAWHNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrMarrs
This is one of my favourite songs ever. Everything about it touches my heart.
It's so moving and beautiful.
The Boatman by Nitin Sawhney:
Baroshekar aador meke
Bheshe elam sagor theke
Baleer toteh notun disha
Adar theke alor mesha
Batash bhara bhalo basha
Ke kandare baicho toree aral theke
(Something) caressed with love
I drifted ashore from the sea
The sand shows a new way
The light blends with the darkness
The wind is full of love
Who are you boatman who paddles this boat, whom I cannot see. . .
@jd007official
"ke kandari baicho tori aral theke" vergreen song ❤ still listening in 2024
@MrMarrs
This is one of my favourite songs ever. Everything about it touches my heart.
It's so moving and beautiful.
The Boatman by Nitin Sawhney:
Baroshekar aador meke
Bheshe elam sagor theke
Baleer toteh notun disha
Adar theke alor mesha
Batash bhara bhalo basha
Ke kandare baicho toree aral theke
(Something) caressed with love
I drifted ashore from the sea
The sand shows a new way
The light blends with the darkness
The wind is full of love
Who are you boatman who paddles this boat, whom I cannot see. . .
@elisabetemariadasilva798
🧡feel the same!
@VisnuHawaii
I'm melted... Ohh I miss Bengal.... I miss India so much
@Moialice871
Why don't you visit India once after everything is fine?
@wantobeaprincess
Just about to share it on Twitter in the middle of Brexit debates. What the fools don’t realise is that we owe these other nations so much.
@piasharrista
I was looking for this song and the singer from last 3 year. ❤❤ it’s so touchy….
@Divadellecurve
The singer is Jayanta Bose
@wantobeaprincess
Astonishing. I adore it.
@theresamurphy5530
Beautiful. I could happily play this on a loop every night of my life.