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Thread: Kannadasan's Spiritual and Philosophical Songs

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    Kannadasan's Spiritual and Philosophical Songs

    In the 20th century Tamil Literature, after Mahakavi Subramanya Bharati, Kaviarasu Kannadasan ('kaNNadAsan') is considered the most talented poet. Kannadasan may not have the range of Bharati in spirituality, but his best poetry does have the depth of philosophy and mysticism conveyed in astonishingly simple and ordinary words and phrases. While Bharati had his songs actually sung by the people during the days of struggle for India's independence, and posthumously popularized when they were set to tune in the Tamil films, Kannadasan wrote more than half his poetry for the films and won enormous popular adulation and recognition from all classes and ages of people. Kannadasan's filmy numbers won appreciation as much for their tunes and the people who sang and played and set the scores, as for their own words and phrases.

    As Wikipedia says, Kannadasan "did not live a cocoon-type of life. He dipped into everything that Tamil Nadu could offer--wine, women, drugs, gambling, politics, polemics, atheism and religious sanctuary. After enjoying everything, what he did was remarkable--he composed verses about all his experiences, with reflective self-deprecating humour, irony, and biting sarcasm. These verses touched the sympathetic chords of Tamils from all walks of life--school boys, undergrads, housewives, farmers, manual labourers, plantation workers, middle class representatives and even upper class elites."

    When he was Muthiah, which was the name his parents gave him, he was a staunch atheist. "He once read the Thiruppavai of Andal, and was amazed at its mystic poetry, that was to have a deep and everlasting impact on him. After a lot of introspection, he decided to reconvert back into Hinduism, christened himself Kannadasan, dug deep into understanding Hinduism, and wrote his series of books on Hinduism." Kannadasan died at the age of 54.

    In this thread, we shall enjoy the nuances and depth of some of Kannadasan's spiritual and philosophical film songs. I shall also give the link to the audio files where I can find them, so the readers can enjoy them in their original score of music even when reading out the words in transliteration, thereby verily worshipping the Nada Brahman.

    From the film 'Karnan' ('karNan')

    Directed by the veteran B.R.Panthulu, this movie portrays the life of Karna(n), the unknown eldest brother of the Pandavas and the son of Surya, the Sun God and Kunti, and an unforgettable character of the Mahabharata. Shivaji Ganesan played the role of Karna(n). The film has most melodious lyrics composed by Kannadasan and set to tune based on the classical Hindustani and Karnatic ragas by the inimitable music director duo Viswanathan-Ramamurthy.

    Here is a link for the song where the poet extols Karna(n)'s virtue of dAna-dharma (generosity). The song sung by Sirkazhi Govindarajan, P.B.Srinivas and chorus is based on the Hindolam raga (its Hindustant equivalent is the Malkhauns raga), and starts with the phrase 'Mazhai Kodukkum'.

    http://www.hummaa.com/songlistings.p...ivachidambaram

    The song speaks of Karna(n)'s generosity as superior to that of the rain which gives for only two months in a year; that of the paddy field that gives for only three months in a year; that of the cow that gives for only four months.

    Womens' eyes turned red with shyness; poets' legs turned red by wandering all over the lands (seeking alms from the kings); jnAnis' (the wisemen) hearts turned red in search of the truth; and by giving, every day, the great king Karna(n)'s holy hands blushed!

    While other kings take an article and give it away, Karna(n) shows a plateful of them for the receiver to take. His left hand does not know what his right gives away. Even before the receiver starts wondering what the king will give him, Karna(n) would give him the gold and riches; and if they were not enough, the great king, the dayA-nidhi (treasure of compassion), would even give his life.

    After this narration follows a hymn sung by the king along with his men to the Sun God that winds up the song. Poet Kannadasan has written this hymn in simple words with Upanashadic connotations.

    Here is the Tamil hymn in JPG format and in normal transliteration:

    AyiramKarangal-Karnan.jpg

    Aayiram karangal neetti
    Anaikkindra thaaye potri!

    Arul pongum mugathai kaatti
    Irul neekam thanthai potri!

    Thaayinum parinthu saala sagalarai anaippai potri!
    Thazhaikkum or uyirkatkellam, thunaikkaram koduppai potri!

    Thooyavar idayam polath thulangidum oliye potri!
    Dooratthey neruppai vaithu, saaratthai tharuvai potri!

    Gnayire nalame vazhga, Nayagan vadivey potri!
    Naanilam ula naal mattum, potruvom potri potri!

    Here is the transliteration using the Baraha software scheme which is similar to the ITRANS Sanskrit transliteration scheme:

    Ayiram kara~ggaL nITTi
    aNaikkinxrxa tAye porxrxi!

    aruLpO~ggum mukattaik kATTi
    iruL nIkkam tantAy porxrxi!

    tAyinxum parintu cAla cakalarai aNaippAy porxrxi!
    tazhaikkum or uyirkaTkEllAm, tuNaikkaram kODuppAy porxrxi!

    tUyavar idayam polat tula~ggiDum OLiye porxrxi!
    dUratte nEruppai vaitthu sArattait taruvAy porxrxi!

    ~jAyirxe nalame vAzhga nAyakanx vaDive porxrxi!
    nAnxilam uLanAL maTTum porxrxuvom porxrxi porxrxi!

    Here is an English version that I have made up to nearly match the tune of the original Tamil song:

    A thousand hands stretching forward
    you embrace us Mother we adore you!

    Grace-welling face you show us
    and darkness all you clear we adore you!

    More than a mother, compassionate, you caress us all, we adore you!
    For the life that sprouts you give, your helping hands, we adore you!

    Like the heart of the pure and noble, you shine O Light we adore you!
    In distance you keep your fire, its essence you give us, we adore you!

    O Sun God, you live in welfare, the form of Almighty we adore you!
    So long as this world goes on, we will adore you and adore you!
    Last edited by saidevo; 04 February 2008 at 02:57 AM.

  2. #2
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    Re: Kannadasan's Spiritual and Philosophical Songs

    The Message of Gita in Ordinary Tamil

    In ordinary, commonplace language, Kannadasan delivers the message of the Gita, through a song by Kannan (the affectionate name for Krishna in Tamil), a role cut out for the great veteran N.T.RamaRao, who did it wonderfully well in the movie 'Karnan'. The song was sung in his uniquely grand voice by Sirkazhi Govindarajan, adding perhaps the best value to it.

    [u]Here is the song in Unicode Tamil:[/b]

    மரணத்தை எண்ணிக் கலங்கிடும் விஜயா!...
    மரணத்தின் தன்மை சொல்வேன்!...
    மானிடர் ஆன்மா மரணம் எய்தாது...
    மறுபடிப் பிறந்திருக்கும்!...
    மேனியைக் கொல்வாய்... மேனியைக் கொல்வாய்...
    நீ விட்டுவிட்டாலும் அவர்களின் மேனி,
    வென்றுதான் தீரும்... ஓர் நாள்... ஆஆஆஆஆ

    என்னை அறிந்தாய், எல்லா உயிரும் எனதென்றும் அறிந்து கொண்டாய்!
    கண்ணன் மனது கல் மனதென்றோ...
    காண்டீபம் நழுவ விட்டாய், காண்டீபம் நழுவ விட்டாய்!
    மன்னரும் நானே, மக்களும் நானே,
    மரம் செடி கொடியும் நானே...
    கொன்னவன் கண்ணன், கொல்பவன் கண்ணன்...
    துணிந்து நில், தர்மம் வாழ்க!

    புண்ணியம் இதுவென்று உலகம் சொன்னால்
    அந்தப் புண்ணியம் கண்ணனுக்கே!...
    போற்றுவார் போற்றலும், தூற்றுவார் தூற்றலும்,
    போகட்டும் கண்ணனுக்கே!...
    கண்ணனே காட்டினான், கண்ணனே தாக்கினான்,
    கண்ணனே கொலை செய்கின்றான்!...
    காண்டீபம் எழுக, நின் கைவண்ணம் எழுக,
    இக் களமெலாம் சிவக்க, வாழ்க! ஆஆஆஆஆ...

    பரித்ராணாய ஸாதூநாம், விநாஷாய ச துஷ்க்ருதாம் |
    தர்ம ஸம்ஸ்தாபநார்தாய, ஸம்பவாமி யுகே யுகே ||
    Here is the transliteration of the song, using the Baraha software scheme which is similar to the ITRANS Sanskrit transliteration scheme:

    maraNattai ENNik kala~ggiDum vijayA!...
    maraNatthinx tanxmai cOlvenx!...
    mAnxiDar AnxmA maraNam EytAtu...
    marxupaDip pirxantirukkum!...
    menxiyaik kOlvAy... menxiyaik kOlvAy...
    nI viTTuviTTAlum avarkaLinx menxi,
    vEnxrxutAnx tIrum... or nAL... AAAAA

    Enxnxai arxintAy, EllA uyirum EnxatEnxrxum arxintu kONDAy!
    kaNNanx manxatu kal manxatEnxrxo...
    kANDIpam nazhuva viTTAy, kANDIpam nazhuva viTTAy!
    manxnxarum nAnxe, makkaLum nAnxe,
    maram cEDi kODiyum nAnxe...
    kOnxnxavanx kaNNanx, kOlbavanx kaNNanx...
    tuNindu nil, dharmam vAzhga!

    puNNiyam iduvEnxrxu ulagam cOnxnxAl
    andap puNNiyam kaNNanxukke!...
    porxrxuvAr porxrxalum, tUrxrxuvAr tUrxrxalum,
    pogaTTum kaNNanxukke!...
    kaNNanxe kATTinxAnx, kaNNanxe tAkkinxAnx,
    kaNNanxe kOlai cEykinxrxAnx!...
    kANDIpam Ezhuga, ninx kaivaNNam Ezhuga,
    ik kaLamElAm civakka, vAzhga! AAAAA...

    paritrANAya sAdUnAm, vinAShAya ca duShkrutAm |
    dharma samsthApanArthAya, sambhavAmi yuge yuge ||

    Here the song in normal transliteration, side by side with an English version that I have made up to nearly match the tune of the original Tamil song:

    Maranatthai ennik kalanngidum Vijaya!...
    Maranatthin thanmai solven!...
    Maanidar aanmaa, maranam eidhadhu...
    Marupadip piranthirukkum!...
    Meniyaik kolvaai, menaiyaik kolvaai...
    Veeratthil arumbondru,
    Nee vittuvittaalum avargalin meni,
    Vendruthaan theerum... ohrnaal... ahahah...


    Thinking of death and fri-ghtened, O Vi-ja-ya!
    The nature of death, shall tell you now!...
    The human so-ul, will never be de-ad...
    will be re-born some other ti-me!
    The bo-dy you kill it... the bo-dy you kill it...
    In valour, will bloom a bud,
    Though you leave them now, all their bo-dies,
    Will be conquered for sure... some day... ahahah...


    Ennai arindhaai, ella vuyirum enathendrum arindhu kondaai!
    Kannan manadhu kalmanadhendro...
    Kaandeepam nazhuva vittaai, kaandeepam nazhuva vittaai!
    Mannarum naane, makkalum naane,
    Maram sedi kodiyum naane...
    Konnavan Kannan, kolbavan Kannan...
    Thunindhu nil, dharumam vaazhga!


    You came to know me, all these lives are mine, you've known that too!
    Kannan's heart a stony heart you thought so...
    and the Kan-deepam,* you let it slip, Kan-dee-pam you let it slip!
    I am the mo-nar-ch, I am the sub-jects,
    And the tree, plant, and creeper am I...
    Who killed was Kannan, and who kills now is Kannan...
    So bravely stand up, long live Dharma!


    Punniyam idhuvendru ulagam sonnaal...
    Andhap punniyam, Kannanukke!...
    Potruvaar potralum, thootruvaar thootralum,
    Pogattum Kannanukke!...
    Kannane kaattinaan, Kannane thaakkinaan,
    Kannane kolai seigindraan!...
    Kaandeepam ezhuga, nin kaivanmai ezhuga,
    Ik kalamelaam sivakka, vaazhga!...


    puNNiyam* is this one, if the wor-ld says so...
    That puNNiyam to Kannan only!...
    The praise of those who praise you, and the blame of those who blame you,
    Let all that to Kannan only!...
    Kannan only showed the way, Kannan only assaulted them,
    Kannan only murders them now!...
    Let the Kan-dee-pam rise to, let your strength of hands rise to,
    And redden all this battlefield, hail you!, ahahah....


    paritrAnAya sAdhUnAm, vinASAya cha dushkRtAm |
    dharma samsthApanArthAya, sambhavAmi yuge yuge ||

    Notes:

    1. Kannan ('kaNNan') - The Tamil equivalent of the name of Krishna ('krshna'). The term 'kaN' in Tamil stands for the eye, thus 'kaNNan' is one who is the eye and its light.

    2. Kandeepam ('kANdIpam') - The Tamil for the Sanskrit term 'gANdIva' that refers to the Arjuna's bow, given to him to by Agni, the fire god.

    3. puNNiyam - Sanskrit 'puNya'; I have retained the Tamil form instead of translating it as 'meritorious' the usual English equivalent, that does not quite convey the meaning.

    4. The song can be listened to online at:
    http://www.hummaa.com/songlistings.p...ivachidambaram
    Last edited by saidevo; 06 February 2008 at 08:10 AM.

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