Vara Manjal Adiya - Pranayavarngal

Vara Manjal Adiya Ravinte – Pranayavarnangal

Composition – Vidyasagar

Lyrics –  Sachidanandan Puzhangazha 

Singer – Sujata

Prelude - “ Varamanjal Adiya Ravinte Maril “ is a song which has captivated the generation of the 1990s with its enthralling poetry . There is not even a single Keralite who has not come across this song played on the television sets in 1998 when the film “Pranayavarnangal “ was released with the white brocade saree- clad  bespectacled Manju Warrier reciting the song at a college event .

Vara manjal adiya ravinte maril

Oru mannu thulli urangi

A dewdrop slept on the bosom of the night smeared with turmeric .

Nimi neram enkilum thengi nilavin

viraham ennalum mayangi

The moonlight sobbed for a few moments , then slowly faded .

Pularithithan chumbana kumkuma elle

Ritunandini akki

The night blossomed into an adolescent girl filled with joy when the red- hued dawn, like vermillion, kissed her forehead

Avale pani neer malar akki

The girl turned into a redolent red rose .

Kilivannu konchiya jalaka vathil kaliyay chariyathare ?

Who half -closed the window where the bird came and cosseted her by chirping ?

Mudiezha kothiya kattin mozhiyil madhuyay mazhiyath are ?

Who changed into sweet nectar on hearing the words of the breeze which combed her hair ?

Avalude kannil kazhi mashiyale kanavukal ezuthiyath are ?

Who wrote dreams in her eyes by applying collyrium ?

Ninavukal ezuthiyath are , avale taralith akkiyath are ?

Who brought lovely thoughts in her heart ? Who sent cold shivers through her by enchanting her ?

Mizhi peythu thornnaru sayanthanthil mazhay chariyath are ?

Who became the rain that fell one evening when her tears dried after she wept in sorrow ?

Dala marmaram nertha chillakal ullil kuyilyay mazhiyath are ?

Who turned into a cuckoo and rustled in the nest made of twigs and tender leaves  ?

Avalude kavilil tudu viral ale kavithakal ezuthiyath are ? Mukulith akkiyath are ?

Who stroked her cheek by writing poems on it with a reddened finger  ? Who turned her into a blooming blossom ?

Avale pranayini akkiyath are ?

Who turned her into a lover ?

Postlude – From what I could decipher,  the whole song is about the secret musings of a girl on reaching adolescence when she develops wings and starts flying high into the firmament to discover and experience true love, which is the aspiration of every human being . A girl who is analogous to the night smeared with turmeric is bathing with a dewdrop sleeping on her bosom . The night on receiving the kiss from her lover, which is metaphorically termed as the red-hued dawn like vermillion, turns into an adolescent girl . The girl is compared to a redolent red rose . Love is an emotion interspersed with intimacy and the touch of the lover . The girl wishes her lover would cossette her , stroke her hair , say sweet words to her , apply collyrium to her eyes with dreams,and  fill her heart with immodest thoughts, sending cold shivers through her body and enticing her . The lyricist says that the girl sobbed in grief from the lamentation of the lover when he came in the form of rain to comfort her and to make the raindrops unify with her tears, analogues to the fact that they both are one soul .The girl turned into a songbird like the cuckoo with her dreams and desires . The lover stroked her face, by writing poems on her face as human touch is a form of endearment for the beloved . She turned from a tender bud into a blooming blossom . The lyricist says that the girl turned in to a lover . This song captures the imagination of every daydreaming individual who has a multitude of thoughts and turns the  thoughts into words in the form of poetry when drenched in the eternal feeling of love .  

Areyum bhava gayakan akkum - Nakakshathangal

Areyum bhava gayakan akkum – Nakakshathangal

Composition – Bombay Ravi

Lyrics – ONV Kurup

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Prelude –  “ Areyum bhava gayakan akkum “ is a song which shows the beauty of a girl in her teens and twenties . The character Lakshmi, played by Saleema in the movie Nakakshtangal, is a mute girl bubbling with dreams and aspirations and gifted with lots of talents . It is a song of the yesteryear when love was the union of two souls into one rather than a cardinal desire of the flesh of a human being . It is a song which envisages the values and principles of a generation gone by who saw the beauty of the soul of a person rather than physical features . 

Areyum bhava gayan akkum

Atma soundaryama anu nee

Your soul is so beautiful that you can turn anyone into a passionate singer.

Namr sheersher ayi nilpu nin munnil

Kamra nakakshtra kanyakal

The enchanting stars, like damsels, stand with their heads bowed down in front of you .

Kinnara mani thamburu meeti

Ninne vazhtunnu vanavum

The sky eulogises you by playing the Kinnara veena ( a type of lute ) , bells and plucking the thamburu ( the lute ).

Mannile kili paythalum

Mulam thandil mulunna thennelum

The nestling on the earth and the breeze which moves through the reed of bamboo sing praises of you.

Innitha nin prakeerthanam

Ee prapancha  hridaya veenayil

You are exalted in the heart of the world,  which is like a lute .

Ninte shaleena mounamakumi

Pon mani cheppin ullilayi

Your modest silence is closed inside the box to which golden bells are affixed.

Moodi vecha nigooda bhavangal

Pookalay shalabangal ayi

Innitha nrittalolaray

Ee prapancha nadana vediyil

The secretive emotions which are mysterious and closed in the heart turned into flowers and butterflies . They danced and swirled upon the stage of the world .

Postlude – The soul of the heroine is termed as so pure and pristine that it turned anyone into a passionate singer . The twinkling stars in the sky compared to damsels bowed in front of her in veneration . The adroitness of lyricist ONV Kurup lies in the fact that he mentions the “ Kinnara Veena “ in the second stanza of the song . The Kinnara veena is eponymous with Kinnaras, who are mythical beings dwelling in the hills of the Himalayas and are musicians who accompany Gandharvas , the celestial singers . The Kinnaras are half human and half bird who consume pollen grains , redolent with flower perfumes, and are garbed in flowers . The Kinnara veena played by Kinnaras finds a mention in this song showing the myriad themes from the repository of the lyricist . The whole world is said to be eulogising the heroine . The mysterious emotions hidden in the silence of the heroine are said to turn into colourful flowers and butterlies which dance on the stage of the world . The song celebrates the nascent youth of a woman who has the whole universe to explore in front of her and also meet her beloved in the journey of life . 

Manjal Prasadavum - Nakakshathangal

Manjal Prasadavum – Nakakshathangal

Composition – Bombay Ravi

Lyrics – ONV Kurup

Singer – KS Chitra

Prelude – The song “ Manjal Prasadavum “ from the film “ Nakakshathangal “ charms us with its rustic charm . It’s like a song when we hum on seeing the golden sheaves of grain fluttering in the fields in the idyllic villages of Kerala, welcoming the temple festivals with its golden hue . The song comes at the situation when Ramu and Gauri, played by Vineeth and Monisha, meet by chance on a temple visit to Guruvayoor . The song fetched the coveted national award for best playback singer for KS Chitra . The talent of Bombay Ravi is that even after being a North Indian , he mingled with the cultural landscape of Kerala and brought out the colour of the state of Kerala in his music,  respecting our cultural ethos . 

Manjal prasadavum nettiyil charthi

Manja kuri mudum chutti

I applied a religious offering made of turmeric to my forehead . I applied a religious mark made of   sandalwood paste and was attired in a  brocade saree .

Inn ente muttathu pon ona poove nee

Vannu chiri thuki ninnu

ooooo – vannu chiri thuki ninnu

Oh dear golden onam flower ! - Today you smiled at me from my courtyard .

Kunimani cheppil ninnum

oru nullu kumkumam njan thottu eduthu

oh njan thotta eduthu

I took a pinch of vermillion powder from a box made of rosary peas.

En viral thumbil ninna varna renukkal

En nenjil ake padarnnu

The powder of vermillion from my fingers spread to my heart.

Oru poombularvela vidarnnu

Oh pumbularvela vidarnnu

A dawn hued in red with a myriad of flowers blossomed.

Pinne njan padioru enangal okkeyum

Ninne kurich ayirunnu

All the tunes which I sang after meeting you were about you .

Anthimayangiya nerath nee onnum

mindathe mindathe poyi

You left when the evening slept without saying anything. 

Ente nenjile maynaiyum thengi

Oh nenjile maynaiyum thengi

The mynah bird in my heart sobbed.

Postlude – The song begins with the panchavadyam ( the ensemble of five instruments ) with the rhythmic beats of hourglass- drums like the timila , the maddalam made of wood of the jackfruit tree ; the ilathalam, which are like cymbals made of bronze , the damru ( hourglass drum which produces sound from rattling cords striking on resonators ) like the edakka and horn-shaped kombu, which is a wind instrument . The panchavadyam sets the whole stage of the background of this song taking place in the temple precincts . The beginning lines of the song bring out the heroine's visit to the temple and she marks the religious offering of turmeric and sandalwood paste on her forehead,  clad in a traditional Kerala brocade saree . The vermilion powder,  which she took from a box made of rosary peas, which are also red in colour, spread in her heart, which resulted in the appearance of the dawn with its red hue . Before the second stanza of the song begins,  the sound of the nadaswaram, which is also called an auspicious instrument played at weddings comes to the fore,  indicating the wish of the hero and heroine for a happily ever after . The heroine is so smitten by the hero that she only sings songs in his remembrance after meeting him . The song is the perfect love song which makes the heart flutter to the innocent love . It emerges in the hearts of lovers who first meet each other on the temple premises by chance. 

Neeraduvan - Nakakshtangal

Neeraduvan – Nakakshthangal

Composition – Bombay Ravi

Lyrics – ONV Kurup

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Prelude – The petite figure of Ramu, played by Vineeth,  singing the song “ Neeraaduvan “ in praise of the “ Nila “ river, has captured my imagination ever since I was a teenager . This song is dear to my heart, as the film “ Nakakshtangal “ was released in the year 1986 , when my parents got married . This is the favourite Malayalam song of mine,  and I used to sing this song for hours and everywhere when I got the chance . The compositional virtuoso of Bombay Ravi and the lyrical prowess of ONV Kurup give wings to this breezy song . The song is composed in the raag “ Suddha Saveri which brings out a pleasant and soothing effect on our soul .

Neeraduvan nilayil neeraduvan

Nee enthe vaiki vannu poo thinkale

Oh moon ! Why did you come late to bathe in the Nila river ?

Eranam ven nilavin poompudava arinju

The wet white moonlight disrobed her flower-embroidered brocade saree while going to bathe.

Ee nadithan pulinanjal chandana kulir aninnu

The riverbank was garbed in the coolness like that of the sandalwood paste .

Poompudava thumbile kasava eduthu

Pookaitha kanyakamar mudiyil vachu

The screw pine flowers ( pookaitha ), who are like damsels, took the border of the flower-embroidered brocade saree and wore it in their hair .

Attuvanchi pookalum kattiladi ulanju

The “ Attuvanchi “ flowers ( river's homonoia) swayed in the breeze.

Alimali mannalthattum athira poo aninju

The riverbank was bejewelled by the “ Athira “ star’s reflection in the water.

Alinte kombathe gandharvano

Areyo mantramodi unartheedunnu

The celestial singer who dwelled in the banyan tree woke up someone by the incantation of hymns .

Postlude – The “ aakar “ at the beginning of the song is just like an invocation to the river goddess . The beats of the tabla are just like the ebb and flow of waves in the river . The Nila river is the lifeline of the southern Malabar districts of Kerala, originating from the Western Ghats, and has played an instrumental role in the spread of arts , crafts , literature , stories and poetry . The river Nila has been a muse of poets and writers for a long time . The whole sequence of lyrical poetry by ONV Kurup describes the moon as a woman who comes to bathe in the Nila river. The metaphor here is the triangular love story of Ramu , Gowri and Lakshmi, played by Vineeth , Monisha and Saleema,  respectively . The girl Lakshmi enters Ramu’s life when he is already in love with Gowri . The hero asks Lakshmi why she came into his life late when he was already in a relationship with Gowri .The entry of Lakshmi into Ramu’s life puts him in a fix as both the girls love him . The moon disrobes herself while bathing in the river . The screw pine flowers,  which are golden in colour are imagined to be maidens taking the border from the brocade and wore it in their hair . The “ Attuvanchi “ tree has flowers with fragrance which grows by the river banks . The feminine aspect associated with the “ Athira “ star when women keep fast for the longevity of their husbands in the Sagitarrius month is brought to the fore . The river is exalted by the beauty of the reflection of the “ Athira “ star in its waters . The song is the highest form of lyrical poetry, where the nuances of the river goddess , the femininity of women , the rich flora encompassing the riverbanks join the revelry in the life of a river .

Parayu Prabhatame - Pranayakalam

Parayu Prabhatame – Pranayakalam

Composition – Ouseppachan

Lyrics – Rafeeq Ahmed

Singer – Gayathri Ashokan

Prelude – The song “ Parayu Prabhatame “ from the 2007 film “ Pranayakalam “ is a psychedelic track which takes us inward to the dark recess of our soul, coming to terms with the secrets of our mind . . The song is like a clarion call of lamentation from the beloved to her lover, wishing for union . The song is based on raag “ Shivranjini “, which derives strength from sadness and pathos and is sung during late evenings .

Parayu prabhathame

Ithile varan maranno

Oh morning ! Did you forget to come this way ?

Thirayay pathanja maunam

karaye thodannath enthe

Why did the silence which foamed like waves not touch the seashore ?

Oru rathri nilumi nishwasampol

Varum nilavitha

The moonlight comes like the breath which extends during nighttime.

Pravukkal parum gopurameri

kathuninnu njan

I ascended the gopuram ( the pyramidal tower over the entrance of the temple ) around which pigeons fly, and waited for you.

Pathiravil veruthe neeri

nitya tarajalam

The constant lattice of stars sobbed simply at midnight.

Meghame nee duthikeyayi ekidamo

avan ente sandesham

Oh clouds ! Will you give my letter to my lover, acting as messenger ?

Thantrikal ennil nonthu pidannu

veena ayi njan

The strings gasped for breath sorrowfully, and I became a lute

Jalakathil veerikal anangi

Varika ille veendum

Oh beloved ! Won’t you slide the curtain of my window and come to see me again ?

Arumarum ariyathe nee adidamo

uyirinte sangeetham

Will you dance unknown to anyone to the music of my soul ?

Postlude – The story is centred around star-crossed lovers Renjith and Mariya, played by Ajmal and Vimala Raman ,respectively,  who belong to different religions . Their love is met with the disapproval of their parents . The first line of the song by Rafeeq Ahmed points out how the life of the heroine is filled with darkness due to the hostility of her parents in approving her love for a guy of a different religion . According to the story of the movie , the hero gets caught when he goes to meet the heroine during one of his many secret visits to the heroine’s home at night to meet her . The heroine asks the clouds to deliver the message to the hero to come and meet her again as he used to do before . The panes of the window through which they intertwined their fingers find mention in the song when the heroine wishes the hero would come to meet her again and slides the curtain of her window at night . . The struggle of the heroine in her lamentation and longing to meet her lover is covered in the lyrics . This song is a treat to all those lovers who have experienced the pain , pleasure , thrills and stolen moments of being in love . 

Gopike - Nandanam

Gopike – Nandanam

Composition – Raveendran

Lyrics – Gireesh Puthencherry

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Prelude – The song “ Gopike “ from the film Nandanam is like the heartache of everybody who has experienced love . This song comes when Balamani , the character played by Navya Nair, faces impediments in uniting with the love of her life ,Manu, the character played by Prithviraj Sukumaran . The raag “ Megh “, on which the song is set,is like drenching oneself in sorrow in the incessant rainfall of grief .

Gopike hridayam our venshanku pole

Oh maiden of Vrindavan – Your heart is like a white conch shell which produces a meditative and soothing sound

Thira vyadhakalil vingunuvvo

Your heart sobs in unending worries

Eatho vishadmam snehadra sagaram

Uruki ninte karalil

An unknown grief, wet by the water of the loving ocean, melts in your heart .

Eatho vibhatam padum sopanam ganam pole

Your dawn sings a song just like the “ Sopana sangeetham “  ( songs sung standing on the steps leading to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple )

Gandharva hridayam meetum hindola ragam pole

The “ Hindol “ raga is plucked by the heart of the celestial singer in heaven. 

Pranadrdamayi nin manasam

Your heart melts in love .

Oru poorna chandrodayam kadaline alamalaye

Punarunna pole swayam marunnu

You forgot yourself in love as the full moon embraced the waves in the ocean.

Dhyanichu nilkkum poovin kanal minnal elkkum ravil

The flower meditating on the smouldering embers was hit by the lightning in the night

Ganam churathhum nenjin mridu tantri takarum novil

Ekanthamayi nin sreelakam

The sanctum sanctorum of your prayer room becomes desolate just like the grief when the tender strings producing the song in the lute of the heart break .

Oru swarna deepankuram kattinte neduvirpinal pidyunna pole

Swayam polinnnuvo

Did you burn yourself down in sorrow just like the golden flame flickers in the presence of the sighs of the breeze ?

Postlude – The song is an ode to the pangs of separation of Goddess Radha, who burns herself in the fire of her heart due to separation from Lord Krishna . She spends most of her time meditating in her love for Lord Krishna, wandering in the groves of Vrindavan . The first line of the song compares the heart of the heroine to that of a conch shell, which produces a soothing and meditative sound on mildly blowing it . The lyricist mentions the Hindol raga, in which the word “ Hindol “ refers to the swing . Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha were rocked in the swing by their maiden friends infinite times during the monsoon season during their amorous pastimes in Vrindavan . The dawn is said to sing “ Sopana sangeetham “ which refers to raag Hindol being a morning raga . Raag Hindol personifies the beauty and the love felt by Lord Krishna for the maidens of Vrindavan . The second stanza compares Goddess Radha to a flower standing on smouldering embers and meditating in contemplation in her love for “ Shyamsundar Krishna “ . Goddess Radha is said to burn in sorrow like the flame of a lamp . 

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 .