The fearless
Dear all,
This week wanted to bring another facet of பாரதியார் – his ரௌத்திரம் or anger that underlays in several of his songs.
The song this week is a prototype of this aspect in my mind. This song attracted me because of its very powerful words that are so typical of பாரதியார், the width of this thought process, and his lyrics that don’t miss the rhyming even a tiny bit.
The song is “அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை” – Also felt this was apt after the fearless cricket our team played in Australia for a historic win. Although a few versions of this song exist in Tamil movies, picked the version from ஏழாவது மனிதன்.
SPB starts with a ஏளன சிரிப்பு – but soon the rhythm picks up and one can feel his emotions slowly turning serious, bold and angry. He could bring out the transition of these emotions so well, that I just loved it. The chorus almost sounds like his inner voice – beautifully composed by L. Vaidyanathan.
In the first interlude LV uses a metallic flute that accentuates the adrenaline rush that the tune, singing and the lyrics bring about.
Now to the lyrics: just awed by the impeccable சந்தம் பாரதி pulls off in such a profound song. Just pay attention to his சந்தம் throughout the song.
“அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே உச்சிமீது வானிடிந்து வீழு கின்ற போதினும், அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே”
பாரதி just could have repeated “அச்சமில்லை” three times to get his point across. But he doesn’t do that. He creates an intense crescendo effect: the first “அச்சமில்லை” is a statement, the second is an affirmation and then he says “அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே” – “ not even a speck of fear”. Such audacity in his lines and thoughts. The emotion gets escalated in logarithmic scales just by addition of this one word. Genius stuff!!!!
He then picks extremes of situations to express his fearlessness – a tactic that escalates the emotion several levels:
“இச்சகத்து ளோரெலாம் எதிர்த்து நின்ற போதினும்”
( Even if everyone in this universe is against me, I have no fear …..)
“துச்சமாக எண்ணி நம்மைச் தூறுசெய்த போதினும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே”
( Even when people think low of us and disparage us, I have no fear …..)
“ பிச்சை வாங்கி உண்ணும் வாழ்க்கை பெற்று விட்ட போதிலும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே”
“இச்சைகொண்டே பொருளெலாம் இழந்துவிட்ட போதிலும்,
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே”
( Even if I loose every single possession I cherish, I have no fear ….)
The movie song stops with the above paragraph, but I felt the second half of the song was even more potent and stimulating. It also shows how பாரதி is able to think in so many angles at the same time and use the same words to imply different meanings by changing their contexts – just brilliant poetry:
“கச்சணிந்த கொங்கை மாதர் கண்கள்வீசு போதினும், அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை ….”
What a line ? “ Even when attractive women sensually cast their eye on me, I have no fear ….” Here he implies he will not be “distracted” and stray from his goal.
“நச்சைவாயி லே கொணர்ந்து நண்ப ரூட்டு போதினும், அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை….”
(Even when a dear friend feeds me poison and betrays me, I have no fear…) Here he means he will not be “subdued”.
“பச்சையூ னியைந்த வேற் படைகள் வந்த போதினும், அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை….”
“பச்சையூ னியைந்த வேற் படைகள்” – Green uniformed “army”
(Even when a ruthless army marches in, I have no fear …). Here he implies he is ready to martyr for his country.
A song and it’s rendition that gives us goose bumps.
“அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை”
பாரதி வரிகளுக்கு “உச்சமில்லை உச்சமில்லை” – parallel heights to his words just don’t exist!!!!
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