Hardly may we find a person in India who has not heard the name Tansen but it would be impossible to find a musician vocal or instrumental, who does not hold Tansen in highest reverence.
Tansen was born a dumb and mute child but his devotion to God was so powerful that at the door of a temple he suddenly found his speech and the immobile temple itself was stirred to the rhythm of his voice. Swami Haridas saw this phenomenon and decided to impart tuition to this prodigy although the child was brought up at the home of Soufi Saint Mohammed Ghaus. Hansa the adopted daughter of Mohammed was Tansen’s inspiration and also his beloved.
In the Darbar of King Ramchand of Rewa, Tansen defeated the famous dancer Rai Parveen from Orchha. The defeated dancer sportingly accepted to remain in permanent service of the singer but Tansen explained to her that a disciple is always a sister and never a beloved for the teacher. Thereafter fame came to Tansen like showers of rain and Emperor Akbar heard about him. He invited him to join the artist in his Darbar of his master, King of Rewa, and Tansen had to do it even against his wishes. This shock was too great and by the time Tansen reached Agra he had lost his voice. Akbar realized what he had done to this great singer—However, Hansa came over to save the catastrophe.
Tansen now rose to be the greatest gem in Akbar’s Darbar but once again circumstances conspired against him and to save Princess from the illness he was compelled to sing “Raag Deepak” Tansen undertook this sacrifice knowing fully well that after wards he would burn out as if on fire. This put him almost in the hands of death but the death of Tansen would have meant the annihilation of Indian music from the face of earth. That could not be and Hansa came to sing Raag Megh Malhar as an effect of which it rained and tansen was saved from the fire to keep the music everlasting everfresh and everentertaining.
(From the official press booklet)