March 12, 2010 at 11:50 pm
· Filed under Arts, Video
Paaventhar Bharathithaasan’s poetic works dealt with socio-political issues that are true and relevant to this day.
Many of his works have been featured in Tamil movies as well. His song “Siththira Solaikale” was included in the film “Naan ean piranthen” – Why was I born?, starring Makkal Thilakam M.G. Ramachandran.
Universal Hero Kamal Hasaan stated in an event that Puradchi Thalaivar MGR insisted on including this song in “Naan ean piranthen?” against the wishes of the producer of the movie.
Bharathithaasan was born on April 29, 1891 in Pondicherry, French India and passed away on April 21, 1964 in Chennai (Madras), India. His original name was Subburathinam. In 1909, he was introduced to Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, and his interactions with the Mahakavi had a major impact on him.
Bharathithaasan was greatly influenced by Periyar and and his writings were encouraged by political leaders C.N. Annadurai and M.G. Ramachandran. And his works stand true to contemporary issues, as a true poet’s ‘poetic justice’ comes to life at all junctures in history.
The poem “Siththira Solaikale” parallels nature, labor and machines that are bettering life on earth for humanity wherein beneath it lies numerous sacrifices. This poem, a tribute to the hard working labor is compiled in the following video with paintings from another time.
This video features paintings by Shan Sundaram of Pennsylvania, USA. Many of his paintings are featured in www.free-tamil.com
Together with Bharathithaasan’s poem, the paintings bring a message to the Tamil diaspora – recalling of sacrifices and the plight while calling now to set course in charity to help those in dire need. It reminds against becoming forgetful along with complacency that sets in as time goes on.
Translation of “Siththira Solaikale”
Picturesque groves
Nurture you on this earth – how many
Comrades shredded
Blood on your roots!
Lotus blooming ponds
In those days you set in – Of our
Holiest comrades buried extinct
Shall I recite of it in this world!
Machine clusters that mill
Your first and finale – shall I recite
Laboring our villager’s toil
Didn’t it give rise to truth?
World that’s witnessing labors’ toil
Purging hunger plunders life – telling
Wealthy you are
Is this justice just? – Paaventhar Bharathithaasan’s poem, Translated by K.T. Kumaranhttp://sundaramartgallery.blogspot.com/
A.M. Rajah rendered melodious songs in Tamil,Telugu,Kannada and Malayala movies.
Here is ‘Thendral Urangiya Pothum’, by poet A. Maruthakaasi, in the 1958 Tamil film ‘Petra Maganai Vitra Annai’, with music by M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy; A.M. Rajah is joined by P.Susheela in this popular song:
The song begins as “the breeze and moon may slumber, will love shut-eye ?”
The song rendered in a TV show by R Radhakrishnan of Mumbai, hosted by Sri Lanka’s eminent arts presenter B.H. Abdul Hameed:
February 7, 2010 at 7:12 pm
· Filed under Arts, Heritage
by K.T. Kumaran
Song written by Poet Vaali, for the 1966 blockbuster Nadodi starring Makkal Thilagam M.G.R – M.G. Ramachandran speaks of a true spirit of the world, for the betterment of humanity everywhere:
A translation from Tamil
One Language all over the World
Language spoken by hearts in love..
Language spoken without sound..
Language of sphere-less divine….
A bird in varied colors
One lyric many ragas
Nights are alike but seasons differ
Delight is same for the many souls
When separated by sea and sky
Love unites faster than the speed of wind
Souls may be separated into two
But love is just one – named divinity
One sky – one and only moonlight
Years those gone by are in millions
Imparted by love, reciting poetry and delving in arts
The united were in millions
Mass in the millions spoke it yet
Love sprouts swiftly
Be globe trotting, still
Love Google’s to unite
One language all over the world..
Language spoken by hearts in love..
Language spoken without sound..
Language of sphereless divine…. – By Kavignar Vaali – The evergreen lyricist
December 31, 2009 at 9:31 pm
· Filed under Arts, Heritage
by K.T. Kumaran
Arise and awake to serve all people and to bring goodness to all is what all humanity could resonate, at this time of beginning of a new year – 2010.
Sri Ramakrishna said, cultivating higher life is denouncing discrimination and recognition of divinity in everyone and in everything, compassion for the downtrodden and spirituality is final solution to worldly miseries and universal love.
According to The Vedanta Kesari, A monthly issue published by The Ramakrishna Order, several parallels can be drawn between Ramakrishna-Vivekananda ideology and twentieth century Tamil literature.
Swami Ramakrishna’s deep humanism has cast its influence on many literary compositions including in the works of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi.
Drawing by a child who wants to be Bharathiyar. The drawing is hanging high in an office in Kalmunai, Sri Lanka – pic courtesy: Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
Just as Bhagwan Sri Ramakasrishna called upon the youth of the country to arise and awake, Bharathiyar also wrote to Ilaya Bharatham (Young India).
Song by Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi, “Oli Padaitha Kanninai” (Thou with sparkling eyes), called upon the youth of the country to arise and awake to rejuvenate the land.
Here is the song ~ rendered by M.S. Subbulakshmi and a translation of the song:
Thou with sparkling eyes come, come, come
Strong hearted thou come, come, come
Thou with sweet words come, come, come
And with firm shoulders come, come, come.
Thou with serene mind come, come, come
Seeing smallness thou rage come, come, come
Thou with compassion for poverty come, come, come
And with mounting pace come, come, come
Young Bharatha come, come, come
Unmatched vigor thou hold come, come, come
Thou waiting to rise in rayless land
And like the rising sun come, come, come
Razed heartland to spruce afore
Restore splendor thou come, come, come
Thou as having seen all illustriousness
And come illustrate with your eyes come, come, come
“Music is expression of harmony in sound;
Love is the expression of harmony in life”-Stephen Gaskin
Sain Zahoor Ahmad is a leading Sufi singer in Pakistan. He performed at Peeru’s Café in Lahore on October 10th 2009 in front of the 200 visiting female journalist delegates (South Asian Women in Media) from eight South Asian countries- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
It was a surprise treat for us, given by SAFMA (South Asian Free Media Association). The concert began at night and went on till late night, chilled by dew.
We were welcome with fresh Red rose at the main entrance. We heard the sounds of tunes were being set, and the rehearsal, as we walked into the open air on the passage surrounded by green grass on either side.
He was dressed in Black colour long Kurtha with Gold thread embroidered work all over the top of his Kurtha. Tightly bound matching Black colour turban added more elegance to his charming and spiritual face. He has a beard and a long untied hair.
Various colours of bead rings, and bead chains added more colour to his appearance. A pair of Black and Gold matching Khusay, Lahori traditional shoes was kept on the floor in front of him. He sits on a low level wooden stage which was covered with a piece of white cloth, and fresh flower petals sprinkled in two triangle shape. Another four instrumentalists accompanied him on the stage.
Sain Zahoor Ahmad slowly began to sing. The women journalists began to capture him.
Sain Zahoor Ahmad, at Peeru’s Cafe on Oct 10-I
He often sings at Dargahs (Sufi shrines and tombs). Sain performs at music festivals as well. He has adopted the folk instrument Ektara (ek-one, tar – string), in its three-stringed version called Tumbi as his main instrument. He indulges himself completely while singing. Sain Zahoor Ahmad is a passionate singer, whose earthy tone vibrates the vicinity.
Sain Zahoor Ahmad won the “Best BBC Voice of the Year 2006”. He was born in 1945 in Okara/ Sahiwal in Punjab Province. He was the youngest in the family, and started to sing at the age of five. He had dreamt of a hand beckoning him towards a shrine. He left home at the age of thirteen, roaming the Sufi shrines of Sind, Punjab and liberated Kashmir.
Eventually, Sain Zahoor Ahmad was walking past a small shrine in the south Punjab town of Uch Sharif which is known for its Sufi traditions. At the age of five, I dreamt of a hand rising up from a grave that directed me towards a shrine. I saw the same dream every night for three years. It made me restless and I could not sleep at night.
Once in a month of Ramazan I came across mystically and spiritually well reputed person Ustad Sain Ranuka Ali who lived at a shrine and used to play with Ektara. Someone waved at me with his hand, inviting me in, and I suddenly realised that it was this hand which I saw in my dream. There I met Ustad Sain Raunka Ali of Patiala.” said Sain Zahoor Ahmad, while tears filled his eyes, and his voice cracked through an Urdu speaking woman journalist.
His first lesson in the Sufi Kalams was under Ustad Sain Ranuka Ali. He mostly sings compositions of the major Sufi poets such as Bulleh Shah, Mullah Shah Badakshi, Muhammad Buksh and others. The Kalams are verses of poetry redolent with devotional love, which are sung with the passion and power needed to give listeners a chance of actually knowing the mystery of God.
Sain Zahoor Ahmad was invited to the All Pakistan Music Conference in 1989 where he performed on a stage for the first time in front of a big audience. About 2000 audience enjoyed his Sufi songs emotionally. He has given concerts in United Kingdom, Ireland , USA, Canada, UAE, Dubai, Norway, Europe, Denmark, Brussels, Belgium, Brazil, England, China, Japan, India, Britain, Malaysia and South Africa. He has acquired international recognition in the recent years. He cannot read or write, in order to memorise lyrics, he developed his own language of symbols. He draws dolls and sketches and interprets them with their postures.
Sain Zahoor Ahmad, performing at the Peeru’s Cafe in Lahore on Oct 10th
“I devoted my heart and soul to music. Shukria (Thank you), Al-Hafeez (May Almighty Allah Bless You)” said gently Sain Zahoor Ahmad, when I bid Good Bye.
Peeru’s Cafe is situated in a pleasant environment
Fresh flower petals are sprinkled
Sain Ahmed Zahoor is renowned for his magical voice
Sain Ahmed Zahoor cannot read or write, but he remembers the lyrics
He is greatly admired by music lovers arond the world
He performed for Pakistan television 35 years ago
His contribution to folk and Sufi music is enormous. Music lovers feel that he deserves “Pride of Performance”
A pair of colourful Khusay
Capturing the moments
He speaks pure Thait Punjabi
“Your love, passion and devotion are all consuming” says Sain Zahoor Ahmad
Once he starts reciting Sufi Kalam he forgets his physical being
