Periyare Periyare - Bharya

Periyare Periyare – Bharya

Composition – G Devarajan

Lyrics – Vayalar Rama Varma

Singers – AM Raja , P Susheela

Prelude – On hearing the song "Periyare Periyare" , it might seem like a simple song . But the metaphor of comparing the “Periyar “ river to a young girl who traverses the journey from childhood to youth, finally meeting her lover , the ocean, is just spellbinding .The genius of Vayalar lies in giving human attributes and emotions to a river as she moves along her course, meandering her way into the hearts of people she encounters and touching their lives in innumerable ways. This song is an ode to all the river goddesses in our country ,India,  revered through generations as being the lifeline of human existence. 

Periyare periyare parvatha nirayude panineere

Oh Periyar river ! You are like the redolent rose water of the mountain ranges.

Kulirum kondu kunungi nadakkum malayali penanu nee

Oru malayalee penanu nee

You are a Malayali girl who has a frolicsome gait, feeling the coolness of the snow.

 

Mayiladum kunnil pirannu

You were born in the hill where the peacock dances.

Mayilanchi kaatil valarnu

You grew up in the grove of “ Henna “ shrubs.

Nagaram kanath nanam marath

Nadan pennu anu nee

Oru nadan pennanu nee

You are a shy village belle who is oblivious to the charms of the city life.

 

Ponnalakkal ponnalakkal norrinuduthu

Pokan orungaka anello

You are getting ready to start your journey after pleating your waves like a saree. 

Malayattur palliyil perunnal kudanam

Shivarathri kanenam nee

Aluva shiva rathri kanenam nee

You have to gather at the “Malayattoor church” and celebrate the annual festival there . You have to celebrate the “Aluva Shiva Rathri “ by spending the night in reverence of Lord Shiva by being awake .

 

Nadake theli neeru nalkanem

You have to give crystal clear water to the villages , towns and cities.

Nadodi pattukal padenam

You have to sing nomadic songs as you continue your journey.

Kadalil nee chellanam

Kamukane kananam

Kalyanam ariyikkenam

Ninte kalyanam ariyikkenam

You have to go to the sea and meet your lover . You should inform us about your wedding with the sea .

Postlude – This song is about the “ Periyar river “ which originates from the Sivagiri hills of the Western Ghats . The song is picturised on Sathyan and Ragini when they are on a boat ride . The boat ride gives an opportunity to move along the ebb and flow of the waves of the river . There is the mention of the river as she flows from her source in the mountains to her mature stage when she reaches the city of Kochi, situated in Kerala before joining the Arabian Sea . Two historical pilgrimage sites of Hinduism and Christianity are mentioned, namely the "Aluva Shiva temple" and the "Malayatoor St. Thomas church" situated on the banks of the “ Periyar river “ . The “Maha Shiva Rathri “ festival, which literally translates to the great auspicious night of Lord Shiva, and "Malayattur Perunnal",  which is the annual festival held on the first Sunday after Easter in Malayattoor are mentioned in the song .