Vannathi Puzhayude Theerath - Kaliyattam

Vannathi Puzhayuda Theerath – Kaliyattam

Composition – Kaithapram

Lyrics – Kaithapram

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Prelude –  The songs from the film “ Kaliyattam “ released in 1997, have been a mystery for me for a long time   . I used to wonder at the majestic wordplay done by Kaithpram in writing the lyrics of the song . “Vannathi Puzhayude Theerath “ is a song that I got hooked on lately . “Kaliyattam “ is a film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “ Othello “ and it centres around the characters of the “ Theyyam “ ritual in Northern Malabar region of Kerala . 

Vannathi puzhayude theerath

On the bank of the “ Vannathi “ river.

Thinkal kannadi nokkum nerath

During the time when the moon looks at the mirror ( The reflection of the moon on the river ).

Swapnam kand irangi vannole

The girl who descended with myriad dreams .

Chemmanam poo muttam neeraye mani manjadi vari erinna ole

The girl who scattered rosary red peas on the floor of the flowery courtyard of the crimson sky  .

Kumkuma itta kavil thadamode , minnukal ilakiya pon arayode

Your cheeks were rosy red, and your waist chain was made of chiming gold beads .

Manjal alinja oru poo maiyode , nilavil orungi mayanganna kanne

Your body, as soft as a flower, is anointed with turmeric .

Oh girl ! You adorned yourself in the moonlight and waited in a drowsy state for the groom to come .

Thiruvathirayil sree parvathiyayi penne nee ee rathriyil are thedunnu ?

Oh girl ! On the day of the “ Thiruvathira “ star in the Sagittarius month , whom do you search for in this night looking, as auspicious as Goddess Parvati ?

Sreemangalayay vanamallikayay poomala kavil nee enthinu vannu ?

Oh girl ! Why did you come to the shrine decorated with a festoon of flowers as a blessed married woman and like a jasmine flower blossoming in the forest ?

Nirattin erangum shivapournami elle ne , nelanjanam eriyum nin mohangalil nan ille ?

Oh girl ! Am I not the one in your desires which come in your burning eyes with collyrium when you step in the river for taking a bath like the full moon of Shiva Pournami ( Shiva Pournami falls on the full moon of the lunar month of Dhanu ( Sagittarius ) . The night is believed to be suffused with the consciousness of Lord Shiva . The full moon symbolises the illuminated mind, and Shiva represents pure consciousness beyond thought. Meditating on Shiva during this night is believed to calm the mind , dissolve ego and prepare one for the deeper stillness of Maha Shivaratri later in the year. In Kerala's mystic understanding , Shiva Pournami is the moon of renunciation - much like the moon turning towards its waning phase after fullness). 

Trikarthikayil niradeepavumay kaliyattakadavil nee are thirayunnu  ?

Oh girl ! Whom do you search for holding a fully lighted lamp on the day of the"Krittika" star of the Scorpio month (Trikarthika falls on the day when the Kritikka star coincides with the full moon in the month of Scorpio. Houses are decorated with earthen lamps in the evening on doorsteps, windows and courtyards . Traditionally women and children light the lamps , symbolising divine brilliance and feminine energy . The day is believed to honour the feminine Goddess Shakti . Lighting lamps during Trikarthika represents the awakening of inner light and victory of illumination over darkness) in the riverbank of the shrine where the ritual of “ Theyyam “( It is a ritualistic dance form of worship prevalent in North Kerala. During the Theyyam performance the performer acts as a channel which allows divine beings to appear physically among humans .  )  is done. 

Ani mey niraye alankaravumay ekakini ayi nee are thedunnu ?

Oh girl ! Whom do you search for solitarily bedecked with ornaments in your  beautiful body ?

Kannal adi irangi mudi enthiya theyyam thottam pattu edarum nin idanenjil njan ille ?

Oh girl ! Am I not the one who walked on cinders with a headdress in your bosom from which  the invocation song of the “ Theyyam “ ritual arose in your faltering sound ?

Pooram kooliyude poo vili pole

Like the hooting done on the riverbank after attending the temple festival.

Poovil urangiya gandham pole

Like the fragrance sleeping inside the flower

Maran meetum thamburu pole

Like the lute plucked by the Kamadev ( God of desire and love ) .

Nilavil urangi mayangane kanne

Oh girl ! You adorned yourself in the moonlight and  waited in a drowsy state for the groom to come .

Postlude – The lyricist Kaithapram has done justice to this song by mentioning  two famous festivals celebrated by women of Kerala , Thiruvathira and Trikarthika . Thiruvathira is a festival celebrated by women by keeping fast for a happy married life and longevity of husband . Trikartika is celebrated by lighting earthen lamps and paying obeisance to the Goddess Shakti . The lyricist has brought the elements of the“ Theyyam “ ritual in the song by mentioning “ Kaliyyatam “ , “ Kanal “ , “ Thottampattu “,  as the hero of the film is a Theyyam artist . This is a song which celebrates the Kerala wedding and the various metaphors associated with the Kerala bride in her quest for marital bliss .