Dear all,
One might be familiar with the Vikram/Vedal story of a king and his prince riding a horse in the forest when they see footprints of two women and decide that the king would marry the woman with a bigger footprint and the prince the woman with the smaller footprint. On following the footprints, to their dismay they find that the bigger footprints belong to the daughter and the smaller footprints to the mother. Now the vedal asks Vikramadityan what would be their respective relationships if they marry the women as originally planned and how the children they bear would be related to each other.
K. Balachander who handled challenging themes in his films was inspired by the above story and decided to make a movie along its line – “அபூர்வ ராகங்கள்” was born.
The story of this song goes follows (As narrated by Kamal Hassan) : On a busy day during the shoot, KB sent Kamal and Ananthu (KB’s right hand) to fetch Kannadasan to discuss a song. KB known for his temper was livid when they reported that Kannadasan was fast asleep (? Inebriated) upstairs. KB, in his rage used some harsh words in despair. A few hours later an irritated KB again sent the duo to check on Kannadasan. This time they didn’t find the Kavignar but found heaps of papers (at least 20 sheets) with several Pallavis and Charanams written, placed under a stone. Kannadasan had only been half asleep and had heard what KB said about him and decided to write the song and leave without uttering a word to anyone. KB and the entire team were completely overwhelmed by the lyrics and had a tough time picking the suitable Pallavi and Charanam since all of them were exquisite. (You will see why!!!)
This song written with no particular context in the movie (title song) sums up the frailties of the human life so elegantly. A masterpiece of a composition by MSV using 4 ragas and sung extraordinarily by Vani Jayaram (earned her a national award).
Never have I heard a Pallavi more provocative than this one -Kannadasan dwelves deep inside and brings to surface the plentiful questions inside one’s mind and the trepidations they cause:
“ஏழு ஸ்வரங்களுக்குள் எத்தனை பாடல்
இதய சுரங்கத்துள் எத்தனை கேள்வி
காணும் மனிதருக்குள் எத்தனை சலனம்
வெறும் கற்பனை சந்தோஷத்தில் அவனது கவனம்”
(In every song Kannadasan re-acquaints us to atleast one beautiful word that we long forgot existed – “சலனம்” – tremulousness)
When Kannadasan asks “காணும் மனிதருக்குள் எத்தனை சலனம் – MSV symbolically replies using a brief violin bit acknowledging the allegation posed to one’s conscience.
The next Charanam highlights the restless human nature of constantly wanting something:
“காலை எழுந்தவுடன் நாளைய கேள்வி – அது
கையில் கிடைத்த பின்னும் துடிக்குது ஆவி
ஏன் என்ற கேள்வி ஒன்று என்றைக்கும் தங்கும்
மனிதன் இன்ப துன்பம் எதிலும் கேள்விதான் மிஞ்சும்”
Kavignar then offers practical wisdom in the next two Charanams:
“எனக்காக நீ அழுதால் இயற்கையில் நடக்கும்
நீ எனக்காக உணவு உண்டு எப்படி நடக்கும்
Beautiful message in the next two lines:
நமக்கென்று பூமியிலே கடமைகள் உண்டு – அதை
நமக்காக நம் கையால் செய்வது நன்று”
“ஆரம்பத்தில் பிறப்பும் உன் கையில் இல்லை – என்றும்
அடுத்தடுத்த நடப்பும் உன் கையில் இல்லை
Kavignar was never afraid to live life in his terms and preaches the same:
பாதை வகுத்த பின்பு பயந்தென்ன லாபம்
அதில் பயணம் நடத்திவிடு மறைந்திடும் பாவம்” (Again Kavignar chooses words with precision – he doesn’t say “விலகிடும் பாவம் “ – he says “மறைந்திடும் பாவம்”. He doesn’t justify a wrong – he just points out that human mind doesn’t see anything as sinful once the journey in forbidden path is chosen and taken).
In the last Charanam, Kannadasan offers abundant hope with every line having the potential to soothe any troubled heart.
“நாளை பொழுது என்றும் நமக்கென வாழ்க – அதை
நடத்த ஒருவன் உண்டு கோவிலில் காண்க
வேளை பிறக்கும் என்று நம்பிக்கை கொள்க
எந்த வேதனையும் மாறும் மேகத்தை போல”
( “நாளை பொழுது என்றும் நமக்கென வாழ்க” – Live assured that tomorrow is ours
“வேளை பிறக்கும் என்று நம்பிக்கை கொள்க” – Have faith that our time will come.
“எந்த வேதனையும் மாறும் மேகத்தை போல” – Any distress will change like the clouds)
If only four paragraphs can have so much depth and impact, one can only wonder what the twenty page lyrics would have done to all of us – unfortunately, the original was not saved except for the lyrics of this song.
Every sentence in this song is so intense, asking each one of us to introspect and seek our own answers. In Kannadasan’s own words he was an
“ அதிசய ராகம், ஆனந்த ராகம்,
அழகிய ராகம், அபூர்வ ராகம்”.
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