Dear all,

தமிழில் அழகு, அழகு தமிழில்

Have you ever noticed that some songs carry lines that appear plain and simple on first hearing, but when you pause a bit and think, you realise the magnitude of the implications and you are left in awe of the poet?

Today wanted to highlight a song that I fell in love with after hearing it for the first time because it is about the beauty of தமிழ் in beautiful தமிழ். On initial listening, the melody melts your heart and the தமிழ் just excites you. The lyrics make you feel immensely proud of your language. These emotions make you elated and elevate your spirit. One is so immersed in all these emotions that, the listener is oblivious to the depth of the lyrics.

Ilaiyaraja has done very few songs in the raagam “Rasiga Ranjani” – all of them unique and gems by their own right. IR uses இரட்டை நாயணங்கள் (double nadaswarams) to amplify the effect – a very unique ploy doubling the pleasure.

The song is from the movie “ கோவில் புறா” – mesmerisingly sung by P.Suseela and Uma Ramanan. The song is about one kid teaching the other supervised by their mentor. Written (educated) by புலமைபித்தன்.

The song starts:
“அமுதே தமிழே அழகிய
மொழியே எனதுயிரே
சுகம் பல தரும் தமிழ்ப் பா
சுவையொடு கவிதைகள் தா
தமிழே நாளும் நீ பாடு”

The passion of the poet reflected in the pallavi:
“அமுதே தமிழே அழகிய
மொழியே எனதுயிரே”

The first interlude just captures you. IR’s double nathaswarams take you to a world you can only feel inside yourself. Just listen to how he merges the flute to the nadaswaram – blissful magic.

The next lines are the ones that sound so simple but carry a huge message and teach you history of தமிழ் that you may not know:
“தேனூறும் தேவாரம் இசைப்
பாட்டின் ஆதாரம்
தமிழிசையே தனியிசையே
தரணியிலே முதலிசையே”

Wondered why “தேவாரம்” is described as “இசைப்பாட்டின் ஆதாரம்” ( “Devaram is the foundation of music” he says). Always knew Devaram as Saivite literature, but a guide for music ?

பண்(Pann) is the melodic mode used by Tamil people in their music since ancient times (says Wikipedia). தமிழிசை has a lot in common with Carnatic music and it is theorised that Carnatic music was plausibly derived and or inspired by Tamil music. For eg:
பண் = ராகம்
பதம் = சுரம்
ஆரோசை = ஆரோகணம்
அமரோசை = அவரோகணம்

There are references to பண் in the most ancient of Tamil literature – tholkaapiyam (500 BCE). சிலக்பதிகாரம் elaborates on music based on logical, scientific calculations!!!

These ancient panns were then used and popularised by Saivite poets. In தேவாரம் over 20 panns are used and it’s songs arranged based on panns. Panns had specific norms and are to be sung for an equi-divided durations from the morning to night in an order!!!
திருஞான சம்பந்தர் starts a song with words”பண்ணும் பதமேழும் பலவோசை தமிழவையும்…….”.

Now the lines,
“தேனூறும் தேவாரம் இசைப்
பாட்டின் ஆதாரம்
தமிழிசையே தனியிசையே
தரணியிலே முதலிசையே” makes perfect sense, doesn’t it!!!

After touching the history largely unknown and enlightening us, the charanam continues without the slightest fuss:
“ஊன் மெழுகாய் உருகும் கரையும்
அதில் உலகம் மறந்து போகும்
பூங்குயிலே என்னோடு
தமிழே நாளும் நீ பாடு”

The interlude again showcases the nadaswarams. After describing the heritage and the variety of தமிழ், the poet now declares his mind:
“பொன்னல்ல பூவல்ல பொருளல்ல செல்வங்கள்
கலை பலவும் பயில வரும்
அறிவு வளம் பெருமை தரும்
என் கனவும் நினைவும் இசையே
இசையிருந்தால் மரணமேது
என் மனதில் தேன் பாய
தமிழே நாளும் நீ பாடு”

“கலை பலவும் பயில வரும்
அறிவு வளம் பெருமை தரும்”
The mind that seeks art in any and every form is the true wealth – what a statement?

இரட்டை நாயணங்கள், இரட்டை குரல்கள் (P. Suseela and Uma Ramanan), Ilaiyaraja brilliance are all the nectar – அமுது that make this புலமைபித்தன் song (தமிழ்) immortal – அமுத தமிழ்!!!