Tara Nupuram Charthi - Sopanam

Thara Nupuram Charthi – Sopanam

Composition – SP Venkatesh

Lyrics – Kaithapram

Singer – KJ Yesudas , Manju Menon

Prelude – The song “ Tharanupuram Charthi “ is a breezy melody from the 1994 film "Sopanam" . The enchanting lyrics of the song are by maestro “Kaithapram “ who has praised the mysteries of the night . The night is considered as a young woman whose different moments are captured in the song . 

Thara nupuram charthi muka yamam

The silent night wore an anklet of twinkling stars.

Shyama paribhavam pethu , mannu veenu

The cowherd maidens ( Gopi ) of Vrindavan complained to Lord Krishna for teasing them in the middle of the night during the dance of divine love . The snow fell down.

Mouna ragam ode priya chandra lekha ninnu

The dear moonlight stood with a silent melody.

Pudavayay nilavu ulanju rithu parinayam thudangi

The season got ready for the wedding by pleating the brocade saree made up of moonlight.

Ponnu nool arannanam pon aruviyil kilungi

The waist chain made of the thread of gold with bells tinkled when the season got down to bathe in the cool lake.

Maya theeram doore aninnu orungi

The illusionary bank of the lake adorned herself faraway.

Thiri thelinju unarnnu , aval orangi ninnu

The wick of the lamp was lighted,  and the flame glowed steadily . The season adorned herself .

Pathira kadabin mel kili paduvan marannu

The bird perched on the top of the burflower tree (Kadambu tree ) at midnight forgot to sing .

Ambala kulangara yengo poopala puthu ninnu

The “ Saptaparni tree “(Pala tree) bloomed profusely in the precincts of the pond of the temple.

Mele kavil aro nadathurannu

The entrance to the shrine was opened by someone .

Thiru nada thurannu , aval thozuthu ninnu

The auspicious entrance to the shrine was opened . The maiden bowed in reverence of God,  folding her hands together . 

Postlude – The night is said to be adorning herself with an anklet made of twinkling stars . The cowherd maidens ( Gopis ) complain to Lord Shyamasundara in the middle of the night for teasing them,which was the amorous pastime of Lord Krishna . The Gopis broke the bondage of earthly existence and vanquished it by surrendering themselves completely to the ultimate divine .

The moonlight hummed a sweet melody . The season got ready by draping a saree made of moonlight .  The waist chain of the season tinkled in the water when she got down to bathe . The illusionary bank of the river lighted a lamp, and the flame glowed steadily . The season adorned herself .

The next stanza is about the shrine with a pond on whose banks the “Saptaparni tree “ bloomed profusely . The maiden bowed her head with her hands folded together in front of the deity of the temple in reverence . This song is an ode to the happenings in the enigmatic life of the night .

Pralaya Payodhiyil - Mazhakkaru

Pralaya Payodhiyil – Mazhakkaru

Composition – G Devarajan

Lyrics – Vayalar Rama Varma

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Prelude – The song “ Pralaya Payodhiyil” is an ode to time, which is eternal and imperceptible and the foundation of the universe . This song is one of the rarest gems which handles metaphysics and esoteric knowledge . I want to offer my salutations to the lyricist Vayalar Rama Varma for writing such a mystical song about time . 

Pralaya payodhiyil urangi unarnoru

Prabha mayookhame kalame

The cause of all effects, time wakes up from its slumber like the burning and glaring rays of the sun as the earth undergoes dissolution in the ocean .

Prakrithiyum ishwaranum njanum ninte prati rupangal elle

Nature , God and I are images of you and exist because of you .

Manvantharangal janichu marikkumi

manmathil kettinu munil

Different lifetimes of Manu ( progenitor of humankind ) are born and dead over the walls made of mud .

Rithukal nin priya manasa puthrikal

Ida valam nilkkum theril

Seasons are your dearest daughters who stand left and right to you on royal chariots .

Sourayudhangalil nee vannu vithakkum

Sourabhyam enthu oru sourabhyam

The sun and the planets of the solar system sow the fragrant seeds of destinies of every human being by acting as teachers of lessons for spiritual growth .

Kalame

Ini etra vasanthangal kozhinjalum

Ee sourabhyam enikku matram

Enikku matram enikku matram

No matter how many springs recede , this fragrance of the gift of life is only for me .

Swarnapathram kondu satyam marakkumi

Sankrama sandhyathan nadayil

The radian sun,  like a golden plate, hides the myriad mysteries and truth . It moves to the new zodiac sign like it has entered the entrance of the temple .

Prapancham chundil nin namaksharam vumai

Pradiskshanam vekkum vazhiyil

The universe chants your name from its lips and circumambulates you .

Swarga deepavali nee vannu koluthum

Soundaryam enthoru soundaryam

The series of lamps which you have lighted in the heaven is mesmerising and enchanting.

Kalame

Ini etra janmangal kazhinalum

Ee soundaryam enikku mathram

Enikku matram enikku matram

No matter how many lifetimes pass , this sight of beauty is only for me .

Postlude – This song begins with the mention of the dissolution of earth after one aeon ( one kalpa ) which is a day in the life of Brahma ( creator of the world ) The time rises up from the slumber like the salubrious rays of the blazing sun . Time is the entity which is the foundation of the universe . One aeon ( Kalpa ) is made up of fourteen parts . Each part is a lifetime of Manu ( progenitor of mankind ). Manu then creates different species on the earth,  as he is the progenitor of mankind . Manu , his sons , the seven sages , the gods and the lord of these gods , Indra, are the paramount figures who are responsible for affecting humanity in each aeon . At the end of one aeon , Brahma creates another Manu to continue the cycle of life . The sages come down to earth to restore the Vedas ( earliest body of Indian scripture, which laid down the basis of classical Hinduism ) . Manu restores the Smriti ( Laws of Manu or the remembered tradition of Manu ) Lord Vishnu takes an incarnation as the preserver of the earth. There are fourteen Manus who are created during the course of one aeon ( Kalpa)  .

Six seasons form an important part of time which are analogous to the different stages of human life . The sun and the planets of the solar system position themselves, giving out energies to affect our current life according to our thoughts and actions of the previous life . The law of Karma wants us to bear the fruit of action of our previous lives in the form of reaction in the current lives . The sun and planets act as teachers who give us lessons in different phases of life .

The mind is an intermediary between intelligence and the world we perceive through sense organs . The mind helps us to differentiate between good and evil through our perceptions and reach a higher level of consciousness . The perceptions which we have are subjective which we are able to determine through our sense organs . The mind helps us to connect our subjective self to the objective world . The time which imparts various lessons in our path towards spiritual growth and wisdom will ultimately help us to seek liberation of our soul. 

Shyama Meghame - Samaya Illa Polum

Shyama Meghame – Samayam Illa Polum

Composition – Salil Chaudhary

Lyrics – ONV Kurup

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Prelude – The song “ Shyama Meghame “ from the 1978 film “ Samayam Illa Polum “ is like the drizzle in the monsoon season accompanied by a gentle breeze . The song brings about the pangs of separation of the lover from the beloved, with the rain pitter – pattering analogous to tear drops . 

Shyama meghame nee en prema duthu mai

Doore poi varu

Oh dark cloud ! Go forth and return, delivering my message of love far away .

Ente devi kezhum doora mandirathil poi varu

Go and deliver it to my beloved who weeps in the faraway mansion and return.

Shyama meghame nee en prema duthu mai

Doore poi varu

Kamarupa kanu nee en kathareyam kaminiye

Oh Kamadev ( God of desire and love )  ! Behold my melancholic, passionate beloved.

Kannuneril punchiriyay

You are like the tear with a smile.

Kattu ulakkum deepam ayi

You are like the flame of the lamp which flickers in the breeze.

Vishlathamam tantrikalil

Vismrithamam nadamay

The sound from the tired strings of the lute sets a forgetful tune . 

Chilluvathil pali nikki melle en peru chollumo ?

Will you gently move the sash of the glass window and enunciate my name ?

Neelmizhiyam poovil uzhum

Neer mani kai kollumo nee

Will you take the teardrop in the palm of your hand which emerges from the long flower like eyes ?

Omalal than kathilente

Vedanakal chollumo ?

Oh dearest beloved ! Will you tell your sorrows in my ear ?

Postlude – The song penned by ONV Kurup has been inspired by the epic lyrical poetry “ Meghadhoota “ by the greatest poet of India , Kalidas . The poem is the first messenger poem ever written, which has inspired other poets to write poems using the same theme . The whole story of “Meghadoota “ involves a yaksha ( nature spirit ) who had been banished from the kingdom of Kubera ( God of wealth ) for one year due to negligence of duties . The kingdom of Kubera is Alakapuri in the Himalayan ranges . The yaksha is a newlywed who had been separated from his wife . He travelled southwards and dwells in the Ramagiri mountains of the Vindya ranges in central India .Due to a stroke of luck , he espied a rain cloud and sent a message to his wife through it . Taking cues from the lyrical poem of “ Meghadhoota “ , lyricist ONV Kurup has created a masterpiece showing the sorrow and grief of a lover on being separated from his beloved . The lyricist ONV Kurup had brought about the theme of sending the message using a cloud with his stylish and lucid expressions giving us a peep in to the heart of the lover living in the memories of his beloved .

Ravin Nila Kayal - Mazhavillu

Ravin Nilakayal – Mazhavillu

Compostion – Mohan Sithara

Lyrics – Kaithapram

Singers – KS Chitra , KJ Yesudas

Prelude – The song “Ravin Nila Kayal “, composed in raag Sreeragam, is a magnetic melody which touches everybody who has been in love . The song is from the 1999 film Mazhavillu and is played in the movie when Vijaya Krishnan, played by Vineeth, sings this song reminiscing about his old love Neena,  portrayed by Praveena . The album of Mazhavillu has a cult following of its own due to the silvery melodies it brings to the fore .

Ravin nilakayal olam thulumbunnu

Ripples rise and tremble in the pool of the moonlit night .

Nanam mayangum ponnambal premardram akunnu

The shy, drowsy water lily brims with tenderness and love . 

Palli theril ninne kanan vann ethunnu velli thinkal

The silver moon arrives in the royal chariot to meet you.

Rajni geetangal pole

Veendum kelpu sneha veena nadam

Like the songs of the night , I hear again the sound of the love's lute .

Azhakin pon thuvalil neeyum

You are like the soft golden feather of beauty.

Kavitheyo pranayamo

I cannot tell whether you are poetry or love .

Olathumbil olanjali thengi virahadram

The tender treepie bird steeped in longing wails, sitting on the edge of the coconut palm frond.

Odakombil olam thulli kattin kuralaram

The breeze with waves of air leaps through the bamboo flute and sets a melodious tune .

Nee evide nee evide

Where are you ?

Chaitra ravin omal ale poru nee

Oh darling muse of the spring night  ! Come towards me .

Peeli kaavil varnam pethu engum poo mazhayai

The sacred grove bursts with colour , showering flowers everywhere .

Ninne thedi neelakasham minni pontharam

Searching for you , the cerulean sky sends a little golden star to twinkle at you . 

Ini varumo ini varumo

Shyama sandhya ragame

En munnil nee 

Will you come to me , like an evening melody drifting through the dark clouds ? 

Postlude – The first line of the song refers to the thumping and fluttering of the heart on being in love . According to mythology , the moon is considered the lover of the water lily . The moon is imagined as coming in the royal chariot and alighting to meet the water lily to whisper sweet nothings in her ear . The sound of the lute mesmerises the lovers in the background during the course of their rendezvous . The beloved is as soft and gentle as the feather of the dove . The lover doesn’t know whether the beloved is as enchanting as poetry or whether she is an embodiment of love . The treepie bird, which sits on the edge of the coconut palm frond, is considered a harbinger of joy , happiness and pleasant weather, which sings for the lovers with melancholy . The lover plays flute for the beloved . The lover welcomes the beloved in the night of the spring season to embrace her . The trees in the precincts of the sacred grove shed flowers , and there was a rain of flowers welcoming the beloved . The cerulean sky searched for the beloved, and the lovely star twinkled at her . The lover requests the beloved to come like a melody through the dark clouds in the evening . This is a song which shows the brilliance of lyricist of Kaithapram, where he brings to the fore where the whole nature,  including the birds , flowers , season , and the azure sky, are in sync with the lovers and celebrating their love along with them by rejoicing .

Sharadindu Malar Deepam - Ulkadal

Sharadindu Malar – Ulkadal

Composition – MB Sreenivasan

Lyrics – ONV Kurup

Singers – P Jayachandran , Salma George

Prelude – The song “ Sharad Indumalar Deepam “ has captivated the minds of the music lovers of Kerala ever since it was released in 1979 . . The love song is perfect for having musings of togetherness and conjugal pleasure . Love transcends the universe . A universal feeling which is insatiable for human beings,  and we crave it every moment of time. 

Sharad indu malar deepa nalam neeti

The flower- like flame of the lamp carries the glow of the autumn moon . 

Surabhila yamangal shruti meeti

The fragrant nights plucked the lute to set the pitch of the song .

Ithuvare kanath karayileko ?

Are we heading to the sea shore never seen before ?

Iniyoru janmathin kadavilekko ?

Are we heading to the riverbank of another life ?

Madhuramayi padi vilikunnu – aaro

Madhuramayi padi vilikunnu

Someone is calling me , singing sweetly. 

Ariyathoru idayante venuganam

The song from the flute of the unknown shepherd.

Akale ninnu ethunna venuganam

The flute song which comes from afar.

Hridayam kothichu kothichu irikkum

My heart is restless with longing.

Pranayasandesham pakarnu poke

The song delivers the message of love.

Hari nila kambal churul nivarthi

Love unravels the tightly wound blue threads of the heart , like unrolling a wool skein . 

Varavelkkum swapnangal ningal aro

Varavelkkum swapnangal ningal aro

Who are you , Oh dreams that come to welcome us . 

Iniyum pakalkili padi ethum

The day bird will arrive , singing 

Iniyum tri sandhya poo chudi nilkkum

The three cusp prayers will stand adorned with flowers . 

Iniyu nammal nadannupokum

We will both stroll in the woods again.

Vazhiyil vasantha malarkilikal

There are birds on the way in the spring season with flowers in profusion.

Kuravayum pattum ayi koode ethum

The birds come along with us by ululating and singing songs

Chirakarna swapnangal ningal aro

Chirakarna swapnangal ningal aro

Who are you , Oh winged dreams  .

Postlude – The lyricist has bejewelled the song with various metaphors . The first stanza of the song talks about the flame of love which is never doused in the hearts of the lovers as they embrace each other in the pleasant fragrant nights . The lover calls the beloved to be with him throughout the course of life and also as they traverse different lifetimes together . The second stanza of the song brings a tinge of Greek mythology into it . Pan who is the god of fertility, is a patron of shepherds and huntsmen and is known for enjoying music , singing and dance, with the nymphs of the forests and vales joining him in the revelry . He created the wind instrument in memory of his lost love Syrinx,  who was a nymph who escaped from his determined persuasion by seeking help from other gods and got transformed into a reed . 

The process of weaving is metaphorical to the life, which is considered a well-spun thread by Lord Vishnu, who is the weaver . The weaving has an allusion to singing, as both involve patterns of motifs and musical notes, respectively . As the loom , shuttle and heddle move with rhythmic sounds along with the physical movement of hands , the weaver breaks into a song, creating a musical manuscript . Sometimes the music with words is used to convey information about the thread and knot colour while weaving.The third stanza shows the celebration of love in the spring season in full splendour .

The three cusp prayers are offered during dawn , noon and evening to connect the subconscious mind with the divine by venerating God . The prayers eradicate the grief in our life and remove sins we have committed in life . It helps us to improve our intellect and bring positivity into our lives . It helps in connecting the body , mind and soul with divine energy . The ululation is done by rolling the tongue and producing a trill sound during rituals , festivals , weddings and customary celebrations . In the song , ululation is being done by birds to welcome the bride and groom to the wedding stage and wish for their joyous and happy life . This song is the adeptness of lyricist ONV Kurup to bring about stories from the nature and mythologies around the world to weave a song into perfection about conjugal love transcending life times . 

Varnapradarshana Shalayil - Varadakshina

Varnapradarshana Shalayil – Varadakshina

Composition – G Devarajan

Lyrics – Sree Kumaran Thampi

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Prelude – The song “ Varna Pradakshna Shalayil “ takes us to a dreamy world with its mellowed tune . The song captures our attention due to the lyrical wordplay by lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi and its lilting melody . I came across this song when I was listening to old Malayalam hits of the 1970s and was beguiled by the song . The song has a mystic charm to it, celebrating the essence of womanhood . 

Varnapradarshana shalayil

In the gallery of hues. 

Moha pushpa pradarshana shalayil

In the gallery of flowers causing desire.

Oru pon thamara ithalil ninn adunna

Vara varnini ninakku abhivadanam

Oh splendidly beautiful lady ,  moving in the golden lotus petal with elegance .

Ayiram pournami orumichu vannu nin angam alakarichu

A thousand full moons came together and adorned your body with their luminosity.

Aa pada choodma maleya marutan ardra gandham nirachu

The moist air with the fragrance of the sandalwood paste touched your feet.

Anubhooti anganarupam arnavale

Abhivadanam ninakku abhivadanam

Salutations to you ! The one who gives intoxicating and joyous feelings with your beautiful form. 

Anjana chola tanna atmavu vannu ninn

Ara kettil ilaki adi

The mind,  which endows a bower like the magical collyrium to the eyes, moves and dances in the bells of the  waist chain .

Annapoorneshwari pada chilankakal

Aa kalil thalameki

The tinkling anklets, like that of Goddess Annapoorneshwari, who is the bestower of food and nourishment , beat out a rhythm as she dances. 

Anuragam mridu manda smitham akuvole

Abhivadanam ninakku abhivadanam

Salutations to you ! The love in your heart manifests itself in the form of a gentle smile on your lips .

Postlude – The whole song is about the multitude of roles played by women on this earth and how it is necessary to celebrate their being and existence in this material realm, which is a gift to mankind from God . The woman is an embodiment of beauty with her skin as soft as petals of a flower and face as radiant as a thousand moons . Her body is anointed with the redolence of sandalwood paste, and she is to be venerated on earth as being the creator and nurturer of humankind . No amount of obeisance is sufficient to glorify her divine existence and her strength , beauty , elegance , charm and resilience . The lyricist has used the word Annapoorneshwari which is an epithet and form of Goddess Parvati,  who is the nature and source of divine energy . She is the bestower of food and nutrition to human beings and at the same time imparts knowledge to attain enlightenment and salvation . She is a deity who is beyond illusion and fills the whole earth with grains , vegetables , fruits and flowers in the vagaries of seasons during the twelve months of the year . The whole world would be barren and still without her benediction . The love and compassion in the heart of a woman appears as a bower in the form of her gentle smile . This is a song which is an ode to women who manage multiple roles in life as a daughter , wife , mother , sister and friend and offers solace to anyone who is associated with her .

Pramadavanam - His highness Abdullah

Pramadavanam – His higness Abdullah

Composition – Raveendran

Lyrics – Kaithapram

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Prelude – The 1990 film “ His Highness Abdullah “ is a gripping tale of family politics in which usurping the throne of the patriarch of the family is the aim of other greedy and selfish members . The songs of the movie have a cult following due to its background of South Indian Carnatic music, which it brings to the fore with songs pervading ragas ( patterns of melodic notes ) enthralling the music goers of Kerala . The whole movie is set around a royal family in the silhouette of a palatial house where the patriarch of the house is a patron of classical music and arts . The song “ Pramadavam “ is sung by “ Ananthan Namboodiri “ the character played by Mohanlal, to impress the patriarch “Maharaja Udaya Varma “ played by Nedumudi Venu, to get into his good books and become his confidant .

Pramadavanam veendum

Rituragam choodi

The garden attached to the royal harem was adorned in the melody of the season.

Shubha sayannam pole

There is an auspicious evening.

Thelideepam kalinizhalin kaikumbul nirayumbol en

The bright flame of the lamp is shielded by the playful shadow of the hands . 

Pramadavanam veendum

Rituragam choodi

Eath etho kathayil

Sarayuvil oru chudu mizhineer kanam ayi njan

In some story , I am the warm teardrop in the Sarayu river.

Kaviyude gana rasa amrita lahariyil oru

Nava kanaka kireedam eth aniyumbol enitha

In the intoxicating nectarean love of the poet's song , I wear a new golden coronet now .

Eath etho kathayil

Yamunayil oru vana malarayi ozhukiya njan

In some story , I am like the wildflower floating in the river Yamuna.

Yadukula muralika thazhukiya muraliyil

Oru yuga sankrama geetam unarthumbol ennitha

The flute of Lord Krishna of the Yadu clan strokes the flute of the hero . It awakens a song ( Bhagavad Gita ) of cosmic transition of ages in the hero's flute. 

Postlude – Since the whole film is about a royal palace , a king and his family members , the lyricist Kaithapram has tried to bring the love which permeates the garden attached to the royal harem where the king spends time with his wives . The lamps adorn the palace, which gives beauty to the atmosphere with their luminescence . The lyricist brings to the fore the story of the epic Ramayana by mentioning the river Sarayu, on whose banks the Kosala kingdom with its capital Ayodhya stands . The lyricist has tried to mention many facets of life of which the Sarayu river has been testimony related to the life of Lord Ram . The Sarayu river originates from the left toe of the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu . There is also a story where the Sarayu river is considered as a drop of tear of Lord Vishnu which was shed by him on seeing the dedication of Lord Brahma in performing penances and austerities to propitiate him . The teardrop was placed in the Mansarovar lake of the Himalayan ranges by Lord Brahma . When the king of the solar dynasty, at the behest of sage Vashishta ( sage of the Kosala kingdom of Lord Ram ) strikes an arrow which breaks the bund at the Mansarovar lake ,it follows the direction of the arrow to reach Ayodhya . The word “ Shar “ refers to "arrow" in Sanskrit . So the river has got its name eponymous with the direction of the arrow which it followed from its source . The Sarayu river stands testimony to the life of Lord Ram as he follows the path of righteousness and truth. She witnesses the struggles he faces in life to carry out the obligations of a son , husband , brother , friend and that of a royal king in the various vicissitudes of life when trying circumstances come in front of him . 

The lyricist also points towards the first poet of Sanskrit literature , sage Valmiki, who utters his first couplet on seeing the lamentation of a female heron when her mate was killed by the arrow of a hunter when they were making love . Sage Valmiki is the author of the epic poem Ramayan, having won a boon by Lord Brahma to foresee the future happenings in the life of Lord Ram . Sage Valmiki’s life is that of self- realisation and contemplation when he renounces the life of a dacoit in the pursuit of doing service to mankind, where he becomes a sage doing penance and austerities in search of peace and attaining salvation . 

The second stanza describes the Yadu clan of Vrindavan, where Lord Shri Krishna was born and enchanted everyone around him by playing his melodious flute and spending time on the banks of the river Yamuna . The lyricist mentions the“ Bhagavad Gita “ or the “ Song of God “, which has the essence of the religion of Hinduism. The core philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita lies in doing work without thinking about the result of action . It focuses on the journey rather than the destination . It gives us wisdom about the soul,  which has no beginning or end and which never dies,  and it’s the good and bad actions which account for our destiny after taking new life after death . The Bhagavad Gita imparts knowledge about multiple lives which we have to take on earth to increase our wisdom until we merge with the supreme consciousness and awareness by attaining liberation . Kaithaparam, with his adroitness, has bought the story of two royal kingdoms of the cosmic ages of Treta Yuga and Dwapara yuga and the lessons which incarnations of Lord Vishnu as Lord Ram and Lord Krishna teach us .