Dear all,
Some songs have the capacity to attract you in the first hearing. It’s beauty captures you and gets ingrained into you. Subconsciously your mind hums the song for no particular reason and enjoys the warmth it brings within you. This week writing up a song that has such an effect on me.
MSV and Kannadasan this time produce a song with lyrics and music that are both entirely non-identical to their older versions. They showcase their prowess to the next generation of listeners who may not have necessarily related to their songs of 60s and demonstrate their easy adaptability to suit the changing times and listeners’ taste. By this time Ilayaraja was emerging as a huge influence in Tamil cinema and many assume this song was composed by him. Such is the freshness MSV brings in this song. MSV by bringing in a relatively new female voice further enhances the novelty of this song.
(Guess the voice without cheating!!! )
The song is from the movie “Sujatha” – the context is that, brother (Shankar) falls in love with his sister’s (Saritha) close friend and conveys his anticipation and restlessness in a கவிதை – Sister Saritha knowing that her friend also secretly likes her brother, makes her sing his verses.
Pallavi starts strong in deep meaningful rhyming words with lines expressing the brother’s waiting:
“நீ வருவாய் என நான் இருந்தேன்
ஏன் மறந்தாய் என நானறியேன்
கண்கள் உறங்கவில்லை
இமைகள் தழுவவில்லை
கவிதை எழுத ஒரு வரியும் கிடைக்கவில்லை
அமைதி இழந்த மனம் எதையும் நினைக்கவில்லை
வாராயோ”
(“இமைகள் தழுவவில்லை” – what a beautiful way to express sleeplessness).
The term “choice paralysis” is used to describe the inability to make a choice when so many choices are available. Similarly, when one is restless multiple thoughts bombard our mind – making it difficult to process any one particular thought. Kavignar summarises this entire emotion succinctly in one sentence – “அமைதி இழந்த மனம் எதையும் நினைக்கவில்லை” – pure genius.
“வாராயோ” – captures the desperate craving perfectly. (No other word would have brought the same effect – that is the precision which stands Kannadasan apart).
The Charanams start with a prelude and then bring out the longing he feels elegantly:
‘அடி தேவி உந்தன் தோழி ஒரு தூதானாள் இன்று
இரவெங்கே உறவெங்கே உனைக் காண்பேனோ என்றும்’
In the next paragraphs, the சந்தம் is immaculate – and when you listen to the song, you can sense how Kannadasan places words on the tune matching them flawlessly (Please listen to the song to appreciate the lyrics syncing with the tune). Lyrics and tune provide a crescendo effect, symbolising his increasing desperation culminating in his desolate cry “வாராயோ”.
‘அமுத நதியில் என்னை தினமும் நனையவிட்டு
இதழை மறைத்துக் கொண்ட இளமை அழகுச் சிட்டு
தனிமை மயக்கம் தனை விரைவில் தணிப்பதற்கு
வாராயோ”
“ஒரு மேடை ஒரு தோகை அது ஆடாதோ கண்ணே
குழல் மேகம் தரும் ராகம் அது நாடாதோ என்னை
சிவந்த முகத்தில் ஒரு நகையை அணிந்து கொண்டு
விரிந்த புருவங்களில் அழகை சுமந்து கொண்டு
எனது மடியில் ஒரு புதிய கவிதை சொல்ல வாராயோ”
A song entwined with love, expectancy and youthfulness – makes it one of the best love songs composed by this duo.
Have you guessed the singer yet? 🙂
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