Thrikarthikekku - Kadathukaran

Thrikarthikaikku – Kadathukaran

Composition – MS Baburaj

Lyrics – Vayalar Rama Varma

Singers – KP Udayanhanu , P Leela 

Prelude – The song “ Thrikarthikekku “ from the 1965 film “ Kaduthukaran “ brings along with it the grandeur of the Scorpio month . This song is a revelation in itself when Vayalar brings forth the festivals and temple rituals of Kerala in one song . His mastery over the intricacies of nature shows his greatness in penning the lyrics . Trying to understand this song and travelling through the poet’s mind was an enriching experience for me . 

Thrikarthikkaikku thiri koluthan vanna nakshtra kanyakale

Oh damsels like the stars ! You have come to light the lamps on “Thrikarthika” day.

Ningal kaithapoo kadavil kallivallam thuzhayum kadathukarane kando ?

Did you see the oarsman who rows the boat along the lake shore with “ Kaithapoo “ flowers  ( fragrant screw pine or Ketki or Kewda flowers ) ?

Neram poyi neram poyi neyambal viriyanai neram poi neram poi

Oh oh !

The time has passed and it’s time for the “ Neyambal “ ( water snowflake flowers ) to bloom .

 

Kanaka nila thiri kattil kedum munpe kaavil thozhan ponam

I should go to the sacred grove to pray before the golden flame of the lamp gets blown out by the breeze.

Kathalikali kanenam karpuram uzhiyenam

Kalamezuthum pattum kelkenam  

I have to see Kathakali ( classical dance drama of Kerala ) , burn the camphor for fragrance , and ward off negative energies , hear Kalamezuthum pattu ( the art of making powder painting on the floor with natural pigments accompanied by a song invoking the god or goddess and dance ) .

 

Puluruvan ezha ara ravulla nerath poovum prasadavumai

Kadavu kadanu ingu porum vazhikkuru kariyam kathil chollenam

Oru kayiram kathil chollenam

I will whisper a secret in your ears when we cross the lake in your boat with me having flowers and the divine offering made to God when there are seven and a half hours left for daybreak .

Thrikarthikkaikku thiri koluthan vanna nakshtra kanyakale

Oh damsels like the stars ! You have come to light the lamps on “Thrikarthika” day.

Ningal vrischika raavil vellipoo vitharum vilakkukariye kando ?

Vilakkukariye kando ?

Did you see the maiden scattering silver flowers holding a lamp during the night of the Scorpio month ?

Postlude – The resplendence of the Scorpio month is celebrated by the lyricist in the song by mentioning “ Thrikarthika “ and “ Kalamezhuthum pattu “ both celebrated from mid -November to mid- December . “ Thrikarthika “, which is the festival of light, is celebrated by lighting earthen lamps to bring knowledge and dissipate ignorance and darkness . From a feminine point of view , “ Thrikarthika “ is associated with the birthday of goddess Shakti . The earthen lamp symbolises the body, and the flame is analogous to the soul . This festival of lights is for the purification of the mind , body and soul and to attain a state of self actualisation . 

The ritual of “ Kalamezuthupattu “ is a temple ritual in which powder painting is made of natural colours and pigments accompanied by songs invoking the deity . The basic principle of Kalamezuthupattu lies in the universal law of creation , preservation and destruction of the universe,  by which the drawing is created , preserved and erased following various rituals in segments . 

Vayalar has mentioned  “ Kathakali “, which is the classical dance drama of the state of Kerala . Kathakali is held in the forecourt of the temple, usually related to the festival season of the temple accompanied by a fair . The silver stars in the sky are compared to maidens lighting lamps on the day of Thrikarthika . In the beginning of the song , Vayalar has mentioned two flowers , Kaitha poo ( fragrant screw pine flower ) and Neyambal ( water snowflake flower ) which both grow near water bodies symbolising the whole story of the film eponymous with an oarsman ferrying people in a boat .