Sreela Vasantham - Nandanam

Sreela Vasantham – Nandanam

Composition – Raveendran

Lyrics – Girish Puthenchery

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Prelude – The song “ Srila Vasantham “ from 2002 movie Nandanam has captivated my imagination due to its sprightful melody set in raag “ Yaman Kalyan “ . It’s a vibrant song which showcases the nuances of the dance of divine love between the couple Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha . Composer Raveendran has brought different hues of raag Yaman Kalyan with its vigour and vibrancy analogous to the dance steps of the maidens of Vrindavan and Lord Krishna .

Srila vasantham pili uzhinnu

Mathurayil pournami ayi

When the auspicious spring strokes the peacock feather , a full moon rises in Mathura.

Gopi hridayam tharilathamayi

Gopi's ( cowherd maiden ) heart trembles in Vrindavan  ( grove of holy basil plants)

Madhava sangamam ayi

Radha Madhava sangamam ayi

The union of Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna takes place .

 

Nin neela kannil nanam mashi ezhuthum yamam

Ee mayakannan neeyam madhu nukarum neram

Oh Goddess Radha ! – The shyness applies collyrium in your eyes in the night . The illusionary Lord Krishna kisses your honeyed lips .

Akasha kadambil viriyum our nakshatra kurunnum

The small star blooms above the burflower tree , spreading in the sky.

Yamuna yile neer ola parappil

Theliyum our ra thinkal thidambum

The moon's reflection glimmers upon the Yamuna,like the temple deity carried in procession.The reflection of the moon, which is like the replica of the deity taken out during festivals and everyday rituals of the temple, appears in the expanse of the Yamuna river's water. 

Shruti murukum amrita sangeeta layavum onnavum

Athiya rasoltsavam

There is immense joy in the dance of divine love between Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha as the musical pitch gets tightened . The nectarean music embraces the rhythm,  and they become  one . 

 

Ee sandhya ragam kattin chirakaniyum yamam

Ee venna Kannan ninnil veen aliyum neram

Oh Goddess Radha ! – This is the night when the evening melody develops wings of air . This is the time when the butter thief Lord Krishna lays his forehead on your lap and melts in your embraces .

Nin pattin swarangal

Manasil our then vandayi parannum

Oh Lord Krishna ! - The notes of your song fly like bees drinking nectar.

Pranayalaya sindhuram nukarnum

The rhythm of your music kisses the vermillion in my forehead

Muralikayil anandam thirannum

I search for joy in the music of your flute. 

Rasa bharita sugandha sammoha

Vasantha magantam ananda maroltsavam

The dance of divine love between Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha is filled with the fragrance of nectarean flowers and is enchanting . It is filled with joy and splendour just like the festival of Kamadev( the god of desire and love )  when he strikes nature with arrows made of flowers from the sugarcane bow in the spring season when mango trees are in full bloom . 

Postlude – The amorous pastimes of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha have enthralled poets and minstrels since time immemorial . The songs and poems written about the divine dance of love between Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha are infinite,  each unmatched in beauty to the other . Lyricist Gireesh Puthencherry brings a song as colourful as the spring from his repertoire of words . The first stanza brings out one of the pastimes of Lord Krishna and maidens of Vrindavan when they splash water against each other in the river of Yamuna . The second stanza describes how the spring season synchronises with the festival of colours “ Holi “ when the squirt gun of Lord Krishna sprays water into millions of streams filled with vermillion , pollen powder , camphor , musk ,etc., at the maidens of Vrindavan . The lyricist speaks of the spring season as the festival of Kamadev ( god of desire and love )when he strikes  nature with his arrows made of flowers from the sugarcane bow to set the stage for the dance of divine love between Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha .