Man Kunto Maula – Raga boyz OST Maximum

Lyrics – Nasir Ali Nasir

Singers – Raga boyz

Composition – Wali hamid Ali ( Raga boyz ) , Kamran , Saaji

Prelude – Taking the verses from “ Man Kunto Maula “ written by Sufi mystic Amir Khusrau in praise of Hazrat Ali , Nasir Ali Nasir has woven the lyrics,taking into account epithets of Hazrat Ali . The composers enchant us with their fusion music, with the tabla beats and harmonium accompanying the melodious qawwali.  

Man kunto maula Ali hai

Man kunto maula Ali hai

Whoever I am master to  , Ali is his master too.

Ye Mohammed ne hai kaha

Ali maula mushkil kusha

Prophet Mohammad had said Hazrat Ali is master as well as the resolver of difficulties .

Aap heen hai sher e khuda

Shaan duniya ke hadith rawan

You are the lion of God Allah ( sher- e-khuda is a title given to Hazrat Ali )

You are the pride of the world , a flowing stream of  hadith ( Hadith is transmitted reports of what Prophet Mohammad said and did )

Yeh naam bhi jisne liya

Usme rehmat ata

Whoever takes the name of Hazrat Ali will be bestowed with the gift of divine mercy and kindness.

Man kunto maula

Man kunto maula ( Haq ali ali )

Hazrat Ali is the truth. 

 

Koi nahi hai inke jaisa

Jo mushkilon ko dur bhagaye

There is nobody like Hazrat Ali who drives away the difficulties from our lives.

Naam yehi toh har mushkil main har uljhan main saath nibhaye

Only Hazrat Ali stands by us during the time of difficulties and dilemma. 

Ab maula tere utte aawe

Oh God ! I am leaving everything in your hands.

Man mushkil vich gabrawe

My heart fears facing difficulties.

Mera maan toh maula ali hai

My honour is guarded by Hasrat Ali. 

Sone rab de khaas wali ka

Hazrat Ali is the dearest friend of the beautiful God Allah.

Kaabe ki shaan , sarwar ki jaan

Raazi hai inse khuda

Hazrat Ali is the pride of the house of God , “ Kaaba “ , and the life of chief of the universe, God Allah.

God Allah agrees with Hazrat Ali.

Aki jo malang sach afufan ladenge

The dervish is bathed in the radiance of purity and truth.

Aj ne te gali sare ali ali kelenge

Every street resounds with " Ali , Ali, " as we pour our hearts out to him. 

Tab daye pyara ali khulle himan

Ali mere dil lete ali meri jaan

Hazrat Ali resides in my heart, and he is my life.

Asadullah Wajahullah haq tha wali yeh

Hazrat Ali is the lion of God and one who has the reflection of the divine attributes of God Allah .

Arsh farsh te naam aa ali yeh

The name of Hazrat Ali echoes across the heaven and the earth. 

Mushkil kusha sher he khuda

Wah maula ali maula ali maula

Hazrat Ali is the remover of obstacles and the lion of God.

Hazrat Ali is the master. 

Postlude – The song has intrigued me since the first time I heard it in 2012 .  The Raga Boys show their prowess in classical Hindustani music by singing taans and mystic syllables, adding magic to the song . This song takes us through the path of the mystic Sufi saints in realizing God.  . 

Kaithapoo Manamenthe Chanchalakshi - Sneham

Singer - Radhika Tilak 

Lyrics - Yusuf Ali Kecheri 

Composition - Perumbavoor G Ravindranath

Prelude – This song forms a part of my “ Onam “ celebrations during my school days when my classmates and seniors used to dance to this song for competitions . The song portrays the vistas of rural life and the life of women there, unaware of the fast pace of life outside the hinterland .

Kaithapoo manamenthe chanchalakshi

You are fragrant like the “ kaithapoo flower “ ( screw pine , kewda or ketki ).  Oh woman  ! whose eyes move constantly

Innu nin maran vannu madhuram thannu

Today your beloved has come and given you a sweet offering to break the fast during the Thiruvathira festival .

Athira kulir polum manasil choodu

You adorn your mind with beauty like the flowers you wear in your hair during the cool night of “ Thiruvathirakali “ ( a dance form done by the women of Kerala during the day of the Thiruvathira star in Sagittarius month , called "dhanu masam" in Malayalam )

Konjum kuyil pole Kavitha padu

You sing poetry like the cossetting cuckoo.

Mridumadhumozhi

Your words are soft and sweet like honey.

Maran nine chumbichitto tambulam kondo

Manjuvani ninakinnu chodi chuvannu

Oh woman whose sound is sweet ! Your lips have become red - I don’t know whether it’s due to your beloved's kiss or you chewed betel leaves along with areca nut and slaked lime. ( Betel quid ) 

Swapnam kandu kidanitto viraham kondo

Urakachadavinal nin mizhi thalarnnu

Your eyes are bleary due to sleeplessness . It is either because you are dreaming or because of separation from your beloved.

Indira parkum mandiram elle

Nandakumar vishala hridantam

The goddess Lakshmi resides inside the generous temple - like heart of Lord Vishnu.

Neeyathu poi sakhi thamasmakuk

Ninnude mara manasil olikuka

Dear friend ! Please go and dwell in the heart of your husband , just like Goddess Lakshmi resides in the heart of Lord Vishnu

Mankamarpadi onnai oonjalil adi

The maidens are singing and swaying in a swing.

Kannanethedi Radha kakali padi

Radha sang with a soft , sweet sound ( kakali ), calling out to Lord Krishna

Dhanukuliril dhanusedutthu manimalaramban

The lord of desire ( Kamadev or cupid ) took the bow and strung an arrow made of flowers in the cool Sagittarius season .

Pramadvanam pranayapoovin parimalam choodi

The royal garden attached to the harem is adorned with the fragrance of the love-smitten flower.

Annakili chinnakili thalathil melathil kummi adikkan va

Perform the kummi dance ( a dance performed in circular motion by women of Kerala by clapping hands; precisely a folk dance ) in rhythm and according to the beats produced by an ensemble of musical instruments . 

Postlude – The lyricist Yusuf Ali Kecheri has brought the lore of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi and that of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha,who is a milkmaid . The mythology of Lord Shiva comes with the usage of themes like the Thiruvathira star , the advent of the Sagittarius month and the fasting of the women for the long life of their husbands . The theme of Lord Krishna shows the dance of divine love by him and the milkmaids of Vrindavan in the garden at night. 

Dhanumasa Palazhi - Rasam

Singer - KS Chitra 

Lyrics - Kavalam Narayana Panicker 

Composition - Job Kurien 

Prelude – The song has filled my imagination due to the usage of exquisite words by Kavalam Narayana Panicker . The song from the movie Rasam celebrates the emotions of expatriates celebrating Thiruvathira in foreign countries away from their motherland . 

Dhanumasa palazhi thira thullum poo thiruvathirayil

The waves in the ocean of milk are dancing on the day of the first Thiruvathira of a newly wed  woman in the Sagittarius month .

Pattil aliyum adi ulayum pathiravinu lahari

The waves rise and recede amidst merging in the song. The midnight is intoxicated. 

Manasuniraye panineer kulirum manavum aniyum maraunadan penne

Marunadan malayali penne

Oh foreign Malayali woman ! Your mind is filled with the coolness and fragrance of rosewater

Amandam ilaki ninnil hemanth swapna tharangam

You are dancing intensely like the ocean's dreamy waves in the pre-winter season . 

Anganemare mangalyaperumezhum shringarasmritikalumayi

Oh beautiful women ! Recall the grandeur of the wedding's seven sacred vows and the way you adorned yourself on the day of the nuptials. 

Poovamban kamanakalkku arumayarachanam vambanananganu mai kodu

Allow yourself to be struck by the arrows of flowers shot by the dear majestic king Kamadev (Cupid ), writing your love story according to his wishes. 

Shiva perumal thirumeniyil ashaririayavanum thiruvathira noyambinal mai kodu

Allow your body to be struck by  arrows of flowers of Kamadev, who was burnt into ashes by Lord Shiva,  making him bodiless . The married woman keeps a fast during the Thiruvathira festival . 

Chanthu chanthanam chinthoora kuriyumai azhaku ozhikidum mudanadakalumai

The married women are wearing religious marks of sandalwood paste and vermillion on their foreheads, giving them exceptional beauty . There is the swaying of the tuft of hair and sinuous movements of the dance .

Kalakakali padi kondu elakum mudi madi kondu ayya ayyaya

The moving tresses of the married women and the song sung with sweetness invited everyone to join the Thiruvathira festival . 

Meyyaraponkaniyum oyyarapookiladuma kamane ethirelkkam

Let us welcome Kamadev ( Cupid ) by wearing golden jewels and with an enchanting gait in the festivity. 

Inangi kummi adichidenam avane vanangi kummi adichidenam

Dance in sinuous movements together by clapping hands with rhythm and offering salutations to Lord Shiva.  

Postlude – This song mentions the sixteen adornments of bridal makeup and seven vows of marriage . This song is indeed an ode to the devotion of a woman who keeps fast for the longevity of her husband during the festival of "Thiruvathira " in Sagittarius month. 

Santatam Sumasharan - Aramthamburan

Singer - Manju Menon 

Lyrics - Gireesh Puthencherry 

Composition - Raveendran 

Prelude – I have wondered for a long time what this song meant when I was small . It’s only recently I figured out the meaning,  which has a tinge of Sanskrit words coming in between . The iconic song from the Malayalam movie “ Aramthamburan “ , picturised on Manju Warrier, has her graceful dance and expressions .

Santhatham sumasharan sayakam ayakunnu

The god of desire ( kamadev or cupid ) is shooting arrows made of flowers constantly.

Maratapam sahiannu manasam kurangunnu

I am enduring sorrow as intense as death due to my separation from Lord Sri Krishna . My mind is in a dilemma. 

Ragalolan Ramakantan en manoratham eri

Rasleela nikunjathil vannu cherum neramayi

The time has come when Lord Krishna( Ramakanthan) boarding the chariot of my mind, will reach the bower to play the dance of divine love, playing the mellifluous melody's notes in his flute. 

Puthunikkum mathangathil kokilangal padidunnu

The cuckoos are singing, sitting on the branches of the blossomed mango tree . 

Chenduthorum ponvandu etho ragavum mulidunnu

The golden bees are humming an unknown melody around the bunch of flowers in the branches.

Veni bandham arinju kalamridu panikalil ponvalakal pidannu

The knots of the braided hair have been disentangled , and the golden bangles are shaking in the soft , beautiful hands . 

Vreelavivasham parukayani gopi hridaya vasantha pathangam

The heart of the weary cowherd maiden is blooming with shyness due to the sweetness of the spring season .

Postlude – Lyricist Gireesh Puthencherry has written the song using the theme of Lord Krishna and maidens performing the dance of divine love . The season of spring is celebrated by mentioning the flowered mango trees in which the cuckoo birds are singing . 

Paaduvannai Vannu Ninte – Ezhuthapurangal

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Lyrics – ONV Kurup

Composition – Vidyadharan master

Prelude – Paduvanai Vannu Ninte is a song which has captivated me by its literary charm for a long time . The song composed in raag Hamsadhwani brings forth the sweetness of the spring season .

Paduvanayi vannu ninte padivathilkkal

I came to your gate to sing. 

Chaitra shri padangal pookkal thorum lasyam adumbol

The spring season is gracefully dancing with auspicious steps on the flowers. 

Ethu ragam sruthi thalam ennath orkathe

Njan aa veenayil ponezha paki mittidunaro

Someone is plucking the lute's golden strings , not thinking about the melody , pitch and beats of the rhythmic cycle. 

 

Gangana neelimayil neenthedum odivile kiliyum mannu

The last bird flying high up in the blue sky has returned home .

Vijanamam vazhi ambalathil pathikan anayunnu

The travellers arrive at the desolate roadside inn at dusk. 

Madhuram ennalum shoka vidhuram oru ganam

Janma smrithi thadangal thazuki ethi ettu padi njan

I sang along to a sweet yet sad song from afar. It stroked the shores of my memories from many lifetimes. 

 

Puthumazha kuliril punilam uzhata madhakam gandham

Vazhiyumi vazhi vanna kattai lahari nukarumbol

The fallow land filled the air with the fragrance of virgin earth after the first rain.  The intoxicating smell of the virgin earth spilt out and kissed the breeze that came that way. 

Nimisha pathrathil aar ee amruthu pakarunnu

Ennum ivide nilkkan anuvadikku paduvan mathram

I don’t know who is spreading this nectar in my body within moments . Please allow me to always stand here and sing . 

Postlude – The lyrics by ONV Kurup explore the revelry of the spring season. The lyrics are about a singer who is travelling through life reminiscing about the memories of the past lifetimes . The singer considers himself lucky to experience the vagaries of nature, which are like nectar to him . 

Neelaravil Innu Ninte – Kudumbasametham

Singers – KJ Yesudas , Minmini

Lyrics – Kaithrapam

Composition – Jonhson

 

Prelude – This song composed in raag Sreeragam reverberates in the minds of every Keralite who has welcomed the magical month of Sagittarius with its set of festivals celebrated with fervour. The song takes us through the night of the Thiruvathira festival when married women and nature celebrate in unison.  

Neelaravil innu ninte tharaharam ilaki

Today in the blue night , your necklace strung with stars stirred. 

Soma bimba kanthi innu sheethalankam eki  

The radiance from the moon's disc bathed your beautiful body with coolness.

Parvathi parinaya yamamayi athire devangane

The night of goddess Parvati's wedding has arrived.  

Kulir azhakil gorochanam ezhuthan anayu

Oh goddess Athira ( it refers to a star ) ! Come near to put a religious mark on your forehead in the  beauty of the cool night . 

 

Shyama rajiyil ravinte saurabhangalil

Raga poora arnu veezhum aravangalil

In the dark grove of trees amidst the night's fragrance , the joyful sounds and melody of the Thiruvathira festival  swelled and fell . 

Pani mathi mukhi bale unaru nee unaru

Oh girl ! Whose face is like the full moon , please wake up from your sleep. 

Arikil niramaniyum padavukalil kathiroli thazuki

The colourful steps on the nearby riverbank were stroked by the rays of the sun. 

Nilayil swaram ozhuki dhanumasam rithumathi ayi

The musical notes flowed like waves in the Nila river, and the month of Sagittarius attained  adolescence.

 

Kalchilambukkal cholluna paribhavangalil

Prema dhara oornaulanja kauthukangalil

The chiming anklets are complaining.The love's current slid and faltered in the river during the festivities . 

Alarshara paritapam kelppu njan kelppu

I am able to hear your cry of intense pain caused by the arrows of the Kama Dev ( cupid ) that struck you . 

Aliyum pari mridhuvam padha gathiyil aramani ilakum araniyil

The sound of the  bells of your waist chain with splendour merges with the gracious soft gait of yours . 

Alanozhiyil kasavanikal vidarukayay

The golden and silver threads bloomed together in the wave like pleats of the saree . 

Postlude – The auspicious day of “ Thiruvathia “ is the star of Lord Shiva . According to lore , this is the day when Goddess Parvathi was accepted as Shiva’s wife . It is mainly a festival of celebration of marriage for a woman by keeping fast for the longevity of her husband and a life filled with marital bliss . The lyricist has brought the beliefs and traditions of the Thiruvathira festival by mentioning the Athira star , the month of Sagittarius , the dance steps of Thiruvathirakali and the draping of the brocade saree. 

Oonjal urangi – Kudumbasametham

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Lyrics – Kaithapram

Composition – Johnson

Prelude - This song is one of the rarest gems of Malayalam film music, which brings across the emotions of pathos and desolation through the buzzing of the wailing dragon fly .

Oonjal uraangi hindola ragam mayangi

The swing has slept . Raag Hindol is feeling drowsy .

Novunna thenalin nenjile adi thalam engo thengi

Kannirthumbiyum thane kenu poyi

The 8-beat rhythmic cycle in the heart of the melancholy breeze weeps.  Hearing it ( the weep of the melancholy breeze ) made the dragonfly wail . 

 

Chamarangal vadi kalitharakangal mannu

Onavillu veenu udanju poy

The fly whisks have dried and the playful boats have disappeared . The musical instrument “ onavillu” has broken by falling down . 

Thekkupaatil ozhukhi thenarimbukal

Aravangalil ariyathe vizhum

Kannirthumbiyum thane kenupoyi

The song sung while irrigating the fields flowed and was as sweet as the nectar in the flower bud .The dragonfly unknowingly immersed itself into the cacophony and wailed alone. 

 

Ravirambiletho kali vallam uyaladi

Alauyarna kalayalodiyil

The paddled longboat at the lakeshore rocked like a swing at night . The waves surged and filled the paddled longboat . 

Poov annina vazhiyil nizhal uthirnupoy

Oru thalodalil kuliranay engo

Kannirthumbiyum thane kenupoy

The path, which was once decorated with flowers,  is now scattered with a shadow . The shadow stroked the dragonfly to produce coolness .The dragonfly kept wailing alone . 

Postlude – The lyricist Kaithapram had used various themes of village life in the song . Be it the dragonfly in the fields or the temple festivals celebrated in Kerala . There is a subtle reference to the end of the celebrations by bringing the festival of Onam into the picture by using the word “ onavillu , “ which is an instrument used in rural art forms . The boats are also used in the boat races during the time of Onam .