Monday, March 24, 2008

Analyzing Lyrics!!!

I have been thinking for quite some time to revisit those beautiful lyrics penned in the best of best "classic" movies of the telugu film industry. Not many would have given a thought on the feelings or the creativity expressed by the lyricist in a classical movie as the generation x-y-z is more interested in the re-mixes or nonsensical English mixtures. So i thought why not present those classical movie lyrics to a wider audience, understand the lyricist perspective and reach out to those who wouldn't have even understand the deeper meaning of "telugu" Lyrics. One of my All time favourite movies is "Siri Vennala" ( Probably some other time i shall put the movie in perspective) which has such such beautiful songs which kindle and transform me into a different world altogether. The meaning behind the lyrics demonstrates the impeccable workmanship of the lyricist's creativity. The song goes like this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLXDnsHAPEI

The Prologue :

Vidhata talapuna prabhavinchinadi anaadi jeevana vedam...OM...
prananadulaku spandananosagina aadi pranavanaadam...OM..
kanula kolanulo pratibimbinchina viswaroopa vinyaasamm...
edakanumalalo prathidhvaninchina virinchi vipanchi gaanam......



The entire universe is believed to have emerged from the the divine chanting "OM",
The birth of an infant is known from "OM",
when the eyes take the formation of the pond, the image of the universe is reflected in our own eyes through this chanitng "OM" which is being echoed in my ears as a poem composed by becoming "Brahma" the creator (being referred as Virinchi" - The name of the Brahma of first Kalpa , as referred in our Puranas).

sarasaswarasurajhareegamanamavu samaveda saramidi...
nepaadina jeevana geetham...ee geetham..


These lines further strengthen the prologue indicating the "holy hymns" of Sama Veda conveying the importance of "OM" which is being sung through this song which has the essence of life.

virinchinai virachinchitini ee kavanam..
vipanchinai vinipinchithini ee geetham....


By taking the form of creator i voice out this poem, by becoming a stringed instrument (veena) i sing this song...

prathisa vaeneeya paina dinakara mayoogha tantrulapaina..
jagrutha vihanga tathulai vineela gaganapu vedica paina...
palikina kilakila tvanamula swaragathi jagathiki sreekaramu kaaga..
viswakaryamunakidi bhashyamugaaa....

virinchinai.....

janinchu prathisishu galamuna palikina jeevananaada tarangam
chetana pondina spandana dhvaninchu hrudayamrudangadhvanam...
anaadiraagam aadi talamuna anantha jeevana vaahini gaa..
saagina srushti vidhaanamu ne


virinchinai.....

In essence the the world we see is not exactly how it is. When we are blindfolded we assume that we cannot see the world. But when we try to look at the world with our heart, we see a world we desire! A world we would like to live in! This world is not based on things. Instead, it's based on our thoughts. It is not what we see that matters. What matters is what we yearn to see and what we would like to see. No better example than the sight of a mother breast-feeding her child illustrates this point that is subtly conveyed in the above stanzas.


naa uchwasam kavanam
naa nishwasam gaanam....


This epilogue has a greater depth like the prologue and overall song in general conveying 'I inhale the observations I garner from various sights of the world and exhale them as a melody (of life) that comes straight from the heart after shaping up based on the rhythms and responses of the heart for those inhaled observations.' simply meaning whatever one sees in the world, good or bad, take it in, assimilate it with the purity of the soul and one sees a sweet melody carrying a message of peace and love emanating from within him/her.

sarasaswarasurajhareegamanamavu samaveda saramidi...

nepaadina jeevana geetham...ee geetham..


That is definitely a master piece with rich blend of telugu literature and all the credit goes to the great lyricist "Sita Rama Sastry" , who has the name of the film as his surname for creating such a marvelous piece of art work.

8 comments:

  1. Thanks for a great translation/interpretation of the song!! I always loved it... but never knew it's true meaning until I read your post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. wonderful..thanks a lot for your work on explaining the meaning. I was looking for meaning of "Adi Bikshuvu vadi nedi koredi" song. I could make partial meaning of it but looking for meaning in its totality. Thanks again for your work if you could do the same for the one mentioned, much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous10:22 PM

    awesome lyrics and thanks for sharing the translation.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great work !! Thanks for sharing !!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Satish7:36 AM

    Thanks a lot. I hope you don't stop here. Please keep this great work keeping in mind people like. Thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Its nice to see some translations of these nice songs..

    Do you know of any web sites with this kind of analysis of old songs?

    Please share if you do.

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous7:48 AM

    Wonderful! Very keen study of the lyrics and very good interpretation. Please keep the good work going on.
    This is one of my favourite songs.
    THANK YOU!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Excellent interpretation...
    mind-blowing lyrics....i got a question if the poet took those lyrcis from sama veda....

    ReplyDelete