Rama Katha - Bharatam

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Lyrics – Kaithapram

Composition – Raveendran

Prelude – I didn’t realize “ Bharatam “ movie, though set against a musical backdrop, is based on the Ramayana until I deeply delved into this song. The emotions of the dutiful brother of Lord Shri Ram , Bharatha living in piety of his brother, worshipping his footwear, and waiting for him to return from exile, forms the essence of the great epic Ramayana . Here in the film Kallur Gopinathan , the character played by Mohanlal is the loving brother of Kallur Ramanathan , the elder brother played by Nedumudi Venu . 

Rama katha gana layam mangalamen thamburuvil

Pakaruka sagarame shruthilaya sagarame

Oh ocean with pitch and rhythm ! Please provide rhythm to the song about the auspicious story of Lord Ram accompanied by the lute . 

Saketham padukayay hey rama

Kathareyam sharikayam saketham padukayay veendum

The kingdom of Ayodhya sings, addressing Lord Rama.

The sharika bird ( a mynah ) with melancholy listens to the song sung by the kingdom of Ayodhya. 

Aryanya kandam thedi

Sita hridayam thengi

Goddess Sita wails, seeking the tumultuous life in the forest during their exile from the Ayodhya kingdom.

Valmikangalil etho tapasa mounam unarnu veendum

The silence emanated from the meditation of the sage Valmiki covered by anthills .

Indradhanusukkal meeti devakal

Adi nama ganga adi

The celestial gods pluck the rainbows accompanying the surging waves of the river Ganga, which chanted the name of Lord Shiva, who has no beginning and no end. 

Raghupathi ramajayam raghu ramajayam shri bharatha vakya bindu choodi

Every drop of the river Ganga gushed along,chanting the name of the king of the Raghu dynasty Lord Ram as devotedly as his brother Bharatha.

Sodara paduka poojayil atmapadam pranavam vidarn ulalnja ulanja Sarayuvil

As Bharatha worships the footwear of Lord Ram , the mystic syllable of “ Om “ dwelling in his heart blossoms in the unsettled Sarayu river.

Mantra mridanga taranga sukham

Shara vega theevra thalameki maruthiyay

The hymns , mridang ( a percussion instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent) and waves of the Sarayu river in the musical ensemble provide happiness . The wind provides the rhythmic cycle with intense speed like that of the arrow shot in the air . 

Jala gandha suna dhoopa deepa kalayay

Mantra tantra yantra kalitam unaru

Sama gana lahari ode anayu rama

Shri rama rama rama

Oh Lord Ram ! Attain liberation from your human form when you are endowed with water , sandalwood paste for fragrance , flowers , aromatic smoke from incense sticks , light ,and  salutations. Hymns , esoteric rituals and geometric patterns made on floors to ward off negative energies arise unitedly. Douse the fire of your soul as you are intoxicated by the songs from the Samveda .

Postlude – The song composed in raag “ Shubha Panthuvaralli “ brings out the elements of pathos and mourning . It’s really the lyrical excellence of Kaithapram who has brought all the characters of the epic Ramayana in a song with a few verses . The song in totality describes the kingdom of Ayodhya , Goddess Sita , the dutiful brother Bharatha , the reverent divine companion of Lord Ram , Maruti ( Lord Hanuman ) and the river Sarayu.