7/3/15
There are two songs from two Tamil films, describing the love of a husband for his wife with a speech disability. In both the songs, an understanding husband make his speech-disabled wife feel good.
Created by the same composer-lyricist (MSV and Kannadasan), there is a contrast between the two songs.
This first song is from Sridhar's Kodimalar 91966). This song was created about 10 years earlier than the other song வீணை பேசும் (VAAZHVU EN PAKKAM - 1976) and featured Muthuraman and Vijayakumari. Let me share some brilliant nuggets about this song before I come to வீணை பேசும்.
The woman featuring in this song cannot produce any sound, unlike the one in வீணை பேசும் who could at least hum. That's why the lyricist has used the word mounam to address the woman (மௌனமே!) while he has referred to subtle sounds like the humming of the breeze in the other song.
The husband does not want the woman to feel bad about her inability to speak. He says there is no need. and he says it in so many words, repeating the message in different ways.
மௌனமே பார்வையால் ஒரு
பாட்டுப் பாட
வேண்டும்
நாணமே ஜாடையால் ஒரு
வார்த்தை பேச
வேண்டும்.
'Oh Silence, sing a song for me through your gaze
Oh Restraint, talk to me through your gestures!'
Then he says,
அல்லிக்கொடியே உந்தன்
முல்லை இதழும்
தேன் ஆறு போலப் பொங்கி
வர வேண்டும்.
'Let the river of honey flow through your flower-like lips.'
The 'river of honey' will normally mean sweet words. But, since no words can come through her mouth, in this case, it can be the real honey that a man loves to get from his lover's lips!
அங்கம் தழுவும் வண்ணத்
தங்க நகை போல்
என்னை அள்ளிச் சூடிக்
கொண்டு விட வேண்டும்.
'Wear me on you like a golden ornament embracing your body.'
He doesn't say 'I will support you,' because he is sure she doesn't need any support. He wants her to believe that she is strong and self-supporting. He is only an ornament, not s supporting structure, for her. By talking about the gold ornaments embracing her body, he also hints at his sexual desire for her.
In the next stanza, he reiterates his assertion that her inability to speak is not an issue with him.
முத்துச் சரமே என்
பக்கம் இருந்தால்
வேறென்ன வார்த்தை
சொல்ல மொழி வேண்டும்?
'It is enough if you are just beside me.
What is the need for you to express anything through words?'
This does not mean that she is unable to communicate. In fact she has been communicating so well...Let us see what he says!
முன்னம் இருக்கும் உன்
சின்ன முகத்தில்
பல மொழிகள் பாடம் பெற
வர வேண்டும்!
'The languages should learn lessons on communication from your face!'
Her face is so expressive. She communicates whatever she wants to, through her face (expressions), without uttering a single word.
And her communication is so perfect that languages of the world should learn how to communicate by studying her face expressions!
Can there be words which will be more reassuring than these?
Here is the link for song if you like to listen.
Now, coming to வீணை பேசும் featuring Muthuraman and Lakshmi, the lyrical beauty takes a different shape here.
Here the woman cannot speak but can say 'mmmm...' That's why the composer has been able to use a humming here.
Since she communicates in a subtle way, the poet compares her communication to
a Veena speaking to the fingers that play on it,
a breeze talking to the flowers that it touches upon and
a lamp speaking to the God.
The poet hints at the keen sense of perception a person with speech disability will often have, by saying that a lamp will convey messages that are not expressed by God! Perhaps this is a reference to people being sentimental about how a lamp glows, deciphering a positive message if the glow is bright and inferring a bad omen if the lamp gets extinguished.
Here also, the poet uses the words நாணம் and மௌனம், as he does in the other song, since these two are considered natural traits of (Indian) women.
In the first stanza, the husband has reassured the wife that she has been communicating well, even better than others. In the second stanza, he has to remind her that it is their first night. So he goes to the subject directly without beating about the bush.
காதல் தருவது ரதியின்
கதை
கண்ணில் தெரிவது
கவிதைக்கலை.
வார்த்தை இல்லாத சரசம்
கண்ணே
வாழ்வில் ஒன்றான
பின்னே
'There is an exercise that needs no words and it is going to be a part of our life.'
தாய்மை கொண்டாடு
Once you become a mother, you will celebrate motherhood. Then you will not think of your handicap.
பிள்ளையும் நானே
நெஞ்சில் தாலாட்டு
கண்ணே!
But this will take time. Till that time, you consider me a baby and sing a lullaby to me by holding me onto your bosom!
The lyric-sensitive composer that he is, MSV makes the woman sing a humming after this line, a humming that is set to the lullaby mode. The husband also joins the lullaby in the end in anticipation of their begetting a child and singing a lullaby together.
And here is the song.
'Count your blessings' is one advice that I value a lot. One of my blessings is having lived during the Kannadsan-Viswanathan era!
There are two songs from two Tamil films, describing the love of a husband for his wife with a speech disability. In both the songs, an understanding husband make his speech-disabled wife feel good.
 |
| Kannadasan and M S Viswanathan |
Created by the same composer-lyricist (MSV and Kannadasan), there is a contrast between the two songs.
This first song is from Sridhar's Kodimalar 91966). This song was created about 10 years earlier than the other song வீணை பேசும் (VAAZHVU EN PAKKAM - 1976) and featured Muthuraman and Vijayakumari. Let me share some brilliant nuggets about this song before I come to வீணை பேசும்.
The woman featuring in this song cannot produce any sound, unlike the one in வீணை பேசும் who could at least hum. That's why the lyricist has used the word mounam to address the woman (மௌனமே!) while he has referred to subtle sounds like the humming of the breeze in the other song.
The husband does not want the woman to feel bad about her inability to speak. He says there is no need. and he says it in so many words, repeating the message in different ways.
மௌனமே பார்வையால் ஒரு
பாட்டுப் பாட
வேண்டும்
நாணமே ஜாடையால் ஒரு
வார்த்தை பேச
வேண்டும்.
'Oh Silence, sing a song for me through your gaze
Oh Restraint, talk to me through your gestures!'
Then he says,
அல்லிக்கொடியே உந்தன்
முல்லை இதழும்
தேன் ஆறு போலப் பொங்கி
வர வேண்டும்.
'Let the river of honey flow through your flower-like lips.'
The 'river of honey' will normally mean sweet words. But, since no words can come through her mouth, in this case, it can be the real honey that a man loves to get from his lover's lips!
அங்கம் தழுவும் வண்ணத்
தங்க நகை போல்
என்னை அள்ளிச் சூடிக்
கொண்டு விட வேண்டும்.
'Wear me on you like a golden ornament embracing your body.'
He doesn't say 'I will support you,' because he is sure she doesn't need any support. He wants her to believe that she is strong and self-supporting. He is only an ornament, not s supporting structure, for her. By talking about the gold ornaments embracing her body, he also hints at his sexual desire for her.
In the next stanza, he reiterates his assertion that her inability to speak is not an issue with him.
முத்துச் சரமே என்
பக்கம் இருந்தால்
வேறென்ன வார்த்தை
சொல்ல மொழி வேண்டும்?
'It is enough if you are just beside me.
What is the need for you to express anything through words?'
This does not mean that she is unable to communicate. In fact she has been communicating so well...Let us see what he says!
முன்னம் இருக்கும் உன்
சின்ன முகத்தில்
பல மொழிகள் பாடம் பெற
வர வேண்டும்!
'The languages should learn lessons on communication from your face!'
Her face is so expressive. She communicates whatever she wants to, through her face (expressions), without uttering a single word.
And her communication is so perfect that languages of the world should learn how to communicate by studying her face expressions!
Can there be words which will be more reassuring than these?
Here is the link for song if you like to listen.
Now, coming to வீணை பேசும் featuring Muthuraman and Lakshmi, the lyrical beauty takes a different shape here.
Here the woman cannot speak but can say 'mmmm...' That's why the composer has been able to use a humming here.
Since she communicates in a subtle way, the poet compares her communication to
a Veena speaking to the fingers that play on it,
a breeze talking to the flowers that it touches upon and
a lamp speaking to the God.
The poet hints at the keen sense of perception a person with speech disability will often have, by saying that a lamp will convey messages that are not expressed by God! Perhaps this is a reference to people being sentimental about how a lamp glows, deciphering a positive message if the glow is bright and inferring a bad omen if the lamp gets extinguished.
Here also, the poet uses the words நாணம் and மௌனம், as he does in the other song, since these two are considered natural traits of (Indian) women.
In the first stanza, the husband has reassured the wife that she has been communicating well, even better than others. In the second stanza, he has to remind her that it is their first night. So he goes to the subject directly without beating about the bush.
காதல் தருவது ரதியின்
கதை
கண்ணில் தெரிவது
கவிதைக்கலை.
வார்த்தை இல்லாத சரசம்
கண்ணே
வாழ்வில் ஒன்றான
பின்னே
'There is an exercise that needs no words and it is going to be a part of our life.'
தாய்மை கொண்டாடு
Once you become a mother, you will celebrate motherhood. Then you will not think of your handicap.
பிள்ளையும் நானே
நெஞ்சில் தாலாட்டு
கண்ணே!
But this will take time. Till that time, you consider me a baby and sing a lullaby to me by holding me onto your bosom!
The lyric-sensitive composer that he is, MSV makes the woman sing a humming after this line, a humming that is set to the lullaby mode. The husband also joins the lullaby in the end in anticipation of their begetting a child and singing a lullaby together.
And here is the song.
'Count your blessings' is one advice that I value a lot. One of my blessings is having lived during the Kannadsan-Viswanathan era!
Nice and well written blog which I enjoyed reading.
ReplyDeleteRanganathan