annamE aruginil vA - a varnam in valaji

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 25 Jun 2005, 01:23

I recently heard a set of BarathanAtyam songs arranged by BMK (sung by Neeraja?): One of them was a varNam in valachI, and the lyrics are: 'annamE aruginil vA, antharangam onru sholvEn kELadI: endhanukku sondhamAna kandhanai mayakki, iyakki, adimai konda, enna dhAn mAyamO? enna sUdhum, vAdhum nAn ariyillEn? kadamai thannai marandhu, than pOkkinil pOi, thaLLukkil mayangi thavari vittAr. yenna thAn kandArO andha kaLLi vaLLiyidam, yenna dhUpam pOttaLLO andha pAvaii ivaridam? yenna kulam, yenna pirappu, onrayumE pArAmal, yennai vittu chenrArE chinnathanamAga. varattum, varattum vazhi sheigirEn, yendhan maNAlan inru ingu varattum, vazhi sheigirEn. vEdan vEdam DHariththu vEttai Ada shenravar varattum. vEdu vacchi pinnAle vEdu pArka shella poi, vEdarAjan vandhudhumE vEngai maramAnavar varattum. thApam thaNiyAmal mIndum angu shenru, thaLLAdi virudhan pOl, inru thiNayai thinru dhAgam enru thavikkirAr pOlavE nadiththu, dhayavAl nIr thandha vanjiyai thazhuva pArthu thOtravar varattum. vA yAnai mugathOnE vA, arumai aNNanE nI vA, ariya vaLLI adaya adharkoru vazhi sheiya vA, yAnai pOl Adi vA, viraindhOdi vA, viraham thIrka vA, nI vA, karuNai kondu nI yen mEl irangi ikkaNamE, thakshaNamE yenravar varattum!' - an absolutely delightful composition where (I assume) dhEvasEnA complains to her saKI about her husband's dalliance with vaLLI! The words are very picturesque even without the embellishment of the dance form considered to be visual poetry (drishya kAvyam).
The composer identified on the jacket of the CD is Subbudu. Is this the same Subbudu, a favorite music critic of mine? If so, who would have 'thunk' (to use a favorite non-word of sports' comentators in the USA where they haven't used English for years) he had such hidden depths? Usually I find information on these jacket-covers to be unreliable. Some of these even have extensive write ups in awful english!
What is the meaning of the bold text that is underlined?Thanks.
Ravi Shankar

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 25 Jun 2005, 10:07

I have no idea about the composer. Perhaps Lakshman may be able to help. Sure this is a dance padam. here is the meaning of your bold text:
vEdu vacchi = hunting woman
pinnAle = behind
vEdu pArka = to hunt
shella poi, = going

Or it means "You went hunting behind the hunting woman..."

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 25 Jun 2005, 10:16

Thank you! I realize that it is 'vEduvacchi', and not 'vEdu vacchi'

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 25 Jun 2005, 18:12

I am sorry, I have no idea whose composition this is.

vacnk · Post by **vacnk** » 09 Apr 2006, 21:06

Dear Sri Ravishankar:

I know for a fact that the composer of the Valachi Raga Varnam is Subbudu (Sri P.V. Subramanyam) the famous octagenarian music and dance critic.

I was looking for the lyrics of that piece myself when I found your query posting here.

Hope this comment clears your doubt.

Thanks for the lyrics ... where did you get them unless you wrote them down during the concert? And regards.

(Professor) N. Krishnamurthy

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 10 Apr 2006, 03:08

Prof Krishnamurthy,
Thank you for the information on the composer. Are you aware of other compositions of his?
I wrote the lyrics down as I listened to the song from a CD. This is one of the songs that are available in a CD titled: BMK Bharatanatyam: the songs, I think have been arranged by Sri BMK, and sung by Neeraja.
Ravi

vacnk · Post by **vacnk** » 10 Apr 2006, 06:35

I know of one more, a thillana in Kalyanavasantham. I shall try to find more and let you know.
(Professor) N. Krishnamurthy

meena · Post by **meena** » 10 Apr 2006, 09:12

shankar/vacnk

sruti online, ran an article on Subbudu, had listed few of his comp.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 10 Apr 2006, 11:07

vA yAnai mugathOnE vA, arumai aNNanE nI vA, ariya vaLLI adaya adharkoru vazhi sheiya vA, yAnai pOl Adi vA, viraindhOdi vA, viraham thIrka vA, nI vA, karuNai kondu nI yen mEl irangi ikkaNamE, thakshaNamE yenravar varattum!'

Is there a switch to refer to Ganesha? If so, where does the reference to Genesha begin and end in this song? What confused me also was the reference to : 'viraham thIrka vA'.

drshrikaanth · Post by **drshrikaanth** » 10 Apr 2006, 14:48

VK
"vA yAnai mugathOnE vA, arumai aNNanE nI vA, ariya vaLLI adaya adharkoru vazhi sheiya vA, yAnai pOl Adi vA, viraindhOdi vA, viraham thIrka vA, nI vA, karuNai kondu nI yen mEl irangi ikkaNamE, thakshaNamE", yenravar varattum!

The quotes should clarify your doubt. The maiden/nAYaki is quoting murugA in direct speech. No switch at all.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 10 Apr 2006, 21:25

VK,
This is a very entertaining varNam: it is obviously dEvayAnai who is the protagonist, and is protesting murugan's dalliance with vaLLi here. From all reports, there doesn't appear to have been any animosity/jealousy between vaLLi and dEvayAnai, that is belied by this varNam.
Neeraja has done full justice to the sentiments in her rendition...
Ravi

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 10 Apr 2006, 22:05

DRS, thanks. Your strategically placed quote marks clarified the doubt. That is subtle indeed....I should have gotten that if I had paid attention to the word 'yenravar'.

So, what is the story behind Muruga asking his elder brother for help in this divine dalliance with Valli?

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 11 Apr 2006, 08:51

VK,
At the cost of repeating the story, this is what is meant in these lines:

vaLLi used to be chosen to guard the grain of her tribe because of her fearlesness. She was not afraid of any animal except the elephant. Hearing about her beauty, murugan pretends to chase a deer and comes to her 'tiNai' near tiruttaNi and is bewitched. When nambirAjan (vaLLI's adoptive father) comes home, he (murugan) turns into a vEngai maram. The following day, he appears as a bent old mendicant and asks for 'tEnum tiNai mAvu' after eating which he develops uncontrollable hiccoughs (tAngAda vikkal) and asks vaLLi for help. And while flirting with her, he finds out that she is not afraid of any wild animal, except for the elephant. He then asks her if she would marry him, and she scoffs at his suggestion. So, he meditates on his brother who appears in the form of an elephant. Frightened by the elephant, vaLLi asks the old man to save her, and agrees to marry him as a condition. As Murugan wills the elephant away, vaLLi decides to wriggle out of the agreement...and Murugan invokes the elephant again...this time around the elephant picks her up and drops her into the arms of the old man, who assumes his true form, and accepts vaLLI. This is what is celebrated in this lovely song by DKP...'vElan varuvAradI, vadivElan varuvAradI'
[search for velan under carnatic vocal songs in MIO and you will see 2 versions, by pAtti and pEthI!]
Ravi

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 11 Apr 2006, 09:59

Ravi: Thanks. At best I had a very vague recollection of the Valli story before reading your post and your nice description brought back few more bits and pieces of a school drama of this story I remember seeing long time back. Thanks for the narration of the story.

Vocalist · Post by **Vocalist** » 12 Apr 2006, 05:53

That was a great narration Ravi. I think it's definitely worth emailing it to Rani (admin of the geocities carnatic-lyrics site). She'd put them under the lyrics of Desika Vinayakam Pillai's "Velan Varuvaaradi".

kiransurya · Post by **kiransurya** » 12 Apr 2006, 13:44

Ravi
Thanks for the story. what does 'tEnum tiNai mAvu' mean?

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 12 Apr 2006, 16:58

Vocalist:
The song vElan varuvAraDi is a composition of Anayampatti Adsisesha Iyer - not Desika Vinayakam Pillai.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 13 Apr 2006, 08:22

what does 'tEnum tiNai mAvu' mean?

Kiran,
tEn = honey
tiNai mAvu = a flour made of some sort of grain (usually, a mixture of rice and some lentils)
This flour is mixed with honey and water and used to be the staple diet of some of the hunter-tribes that vaLLi was a part of. The stuff is rather dry and does set off hiccoughs!

Ravi

Vocalist · Post by **Vocalist** » 13 Apr 2006, 17:23

Lakshman: Thanks for that, could you tell me where you found this out? Am curious because your transliteration on Rani's lyrics site stated that it was Desika Vinayakam Pillai too.

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 13 Apr 2006, 17:58

The information on Karnatik.com site is not updated. I have the copy of the book of compositions by this author. It is titled Manipugazh Malar by C.N.Adiseshan (Sadhu Guhananda Bharati) and published by Dr.A.R.Sarasvati of Salem.
The song text is on page 99.

Vocalist · Post by **Vocalist** » 13 Apr 2006, 21:50

Thanks Lakshman.

vacnk · Post by **vacnk** » 08 May 2006, 21:50

Dear Sri Ravi, Sri Lakshman, ... I am not clear whom I am addressing:

I had raised a question, got an answer, and had made a subsequent (small) contribution to this thread on "Annamey, aruginil vaa" Valachi varnma by Subbudu, used for Bharathantyam.

I am now caught in a local controversy: Why should "Annam" refer to a Saki (lady companion) alone? Why can't it follow the conventional meaning of "swan", a bird often found in royal gardens/pools, and conventionally used to convey messages?

I personally feel that the setting, the nuances of the phrases, all point to Devayani lamenting to a confidante, a companion, about hr beloved Murugan chasing the hunter girl Valli.

But I would like to know what, if any, support there is for this view. For instance, Sri Ravishankar has watched the dance; did the abhinaya specifically revolve round a companion? Can anyone throw any light at all on this, beyond just a feeling?

Does anyone know, or can direct me to, someone who knows what Subbudu himself wanted to mean? It is important enough for me to try to meet him or otherwise cotact him on it ... can anyone tell me his address or phone number?

I would appreciate comments, please. Thanks in advance.

(Professor) N. Krishnamurthy
[email protected]

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 09 May 2006, 04:04

Prof Krishnamurthy,
I agree that annam can mean a swan, and maybe that is what Sri Subbudu meant. It could also mean a woman. I am not sure if in our myths women used swans as their messenger....I have heard of parrots/doves etc, but not a swan, but why not?
To clarify something else, I have not seen this piece danced to: just sung.
Ravi

drshrikaanth · Post by **drshrikaanth** » 09 May 2006, 04:24

I am not sure if in our myths women used swans as their messenger....I have heard of parrots/doves etc, but not a swan, but why not?

O yes! Very much! We have annam viDu tUdu as well. Nothing odd about it.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 09 May 2006, 04:52

...the ever so famous NaLa caritam.. NaLa sends the swan as the messenger to Damayanti...

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 09 May 2006, 05:21

Here is are a couple of reviews of the dance to this varnam

http://narthaki.com/info/reviews/review53.html

http://www.sruti.com/June02/junn&n.htm

vacnk · Post by **vacnk** » 09 May 2006, 07:44

Thanks for that prompt response. But something neradugirathu ... oru annap pakshiyai 'aruginil vaa' enru azhaipppargalaa? But that might be poetic fancy.
Has anyone out there SEEN the dance?
Does anyone know the email of Ms Rama Raghunathan (I think) who has danced it?
(Prof) Krishnamurthy

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 09 May 2006, 07:51

Rama Vaidyanathan can be contacted [email protected]

(infornation from narthaki.com)

vacnk · Post by **vacnk** » 09 May 2006, 14:18

Can anyone give me the e-mail addreses of:
1. Mr. Lakshman, who has been clarifying many doubts in classical music and dance ... including the quotation portion (seeking Ganesha's help) in Sri Subbudu's "Annamey" varnam?
2. Danseuse Ms. Rama Vaidyanathan who (I believe) knows Sri Subbudu?
Thanks for the information.
(Professor) N. Krishnamurthy

vacnk · Post by **vacnk** » 09 May 2006, 14:19

Re: Rama Vaidyanathan's e-mail, thanks, but I tried [email protected] and got no response. That is why I have asked again.
K.

Umesh · Post by **Umesh** » 04 Jun 2006, 13:06

I have seen this varnam performed in an arangetram long ago, so I do not remember how it was choreographed. However, I still have the program from that arangetram in which it is specifically stated that Deivayanai is addressing a swan--- I can then only imagine that the mudras the dancer used were indicative of a swan and not a human sakhi. Note that this is only one interpretation... tomorrow we may see someone performing something different!

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 04 Jun 2006, 16:57

My email is: [email protected]

vacnk · Post by **vacnk** » 07 Jun 2006, 20:43

Dear Sri Umesh:
Thanks for the response. I would like to believe that it can as well be a swan. But then, listen to this phrase:
"Annamey, aruginil vaa ...
Antharangam onru solveyn KELADI"

The Keladi, specific familiar form of address to a female companion, a sakhi, rather than a swan ... even if it was a female swan!

If it was a swan, wouldn't "Kelaai" be equally good and perhaps more natural.

Maybe Smt Rama Vaidyanathan, if she reads this can settle this for us ... she seems to have been Subbudu's student.

Or Sri Lakshman, who has helped many out before.

Or perhaps next time I am in Chennai, I will ask Sri Subbudu himself. Anyone know if he is still active and receives visitors? Anyone know his address?

Thanks anyway!

K.

sree_nilakanta · Post by **sree_nilakanta** » 08 Nov 2006, 22:27

Dear Ravi:

Do you know from whom or where I can purchase a copy of this CD? Since my last correspondence, I have learnt to play the varnam on flute. I am putting together the notes and lyrics. Once I have it in a readable fashion I will post it here. I had prepared this with the help of my vocal music teacher.

Thanks
Sree

rshankar wrote:Prof Krishnamurthy,
Thank you for the information on the composer. Are you aware of other compositions of his?
I wrote the lyrics down as I listened to the song from a CD. This is one of the songs that are available in a CD titled: BMK Bharatanatyam: the songs, I think have been arranged by Sri BMK, and sung by Neeraja.
Ravi

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 08 Nov 2006, 22:50

tiNai mAvu = a flour made of some sort of grain (usually, a mixture of rice and some lentils)

tinai is a millet. It is for the protection of the field where this millet is sown (tinaippunam) against birds, vaLLi was sent as a guard.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 08 Nov 2006, 23:56

sree_nilakanta wrote:Dear Ravi:
Do you know from whom or where I can purchase a copy of this CD?

I bought it from Giri Traders in Madras.
You can order it online. This is the CD in question:
http://www.giritrading.com/product.asp? ... CDs&dept=2

Ravi

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 09 Nov 2006, 21:07

1. It is veduvachi pinnale vevu parka sella poi. Vevu means spying around.
2. Devasena accuses Ganesh for helping his brother possess Valli and seeks his help for offsetting his folly by bringing murugan back to her.
3. Annam is a mythological bird and it seems when it is served with a mixure of milk and water it is capable of seperating both and drink only the milk. the bird if at all existed is extinct now.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 09 Nov 2006, 21:50

Annam here refers to a woman (thOzhi). tinai mAvu, vEDuvachchi references are to vaLLi. Incidentally, I do hope this annam is mythological and extinct, for safety sake. The swans as we know them today, as graceful as they seem to be when they swim along the river, are also capable of biting your hand if you try to feed them when they come ashore!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 09 Nov 2006, 23:45

I am not sure if I am on the right track here, but in Kerala (Palghat, to be exact), many girls are named Annam...so, when I first tried to translate this varNam, I assumed that dEvasEna was addressing her laments to a friend, or sakhI. However, Umesh said that he had seen it performed, and it was addressed to a swan (annam - hamsam). In a review of one of Dr. Meena Subramanyam's performances (Director of the Clinical Science & Technology Division (CST) at Biogen, Inc., in Cambridge, Massachuset) in Boston, where this padavarNam was the centerpiece, again the 'annam' refered to was clearly identified to be of the feathered kind.
Ravi

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 10 Nov 2006, 01:47

Thank goodness, Ravi--it is only the feathered kind which is fretful

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 10 Nov 2006, 02:04

Ravi,
As you say, coud be the feathered kind. We have annam viDu dUdu (annam as messenger) and Ravi Varma's painting to think of it that way. nArai viDu dUdu, you would know--the poor poet (satti muttip pulavar), away from home seeking royal patronage but suffering penury, pleads with the egret (nArai) to take a message to his wife. Swans don't even fly! They look beautiful and have a place in the heart of painters and were favored by royalty (why do you think there are so many swans in english rivers?).

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 10 Nov 2006, 02:05

Before I say Ravi Varma, I see CML has already mentioned it. Yes, damayanthi...

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 16 Nov 2006, 09:56

A few points regarding Valli - taken from Kanda Puranam of Kachiyappa Sivachariar (Translation by S A Ramasami Pulavar)
(1) It is the tradition of hunters to send their daughters for protection of the fields where 'tinai' millet is sown to shoo away birds. (It is not for hunting Valli goes). It is partly for 'suitor' selection also.
(2) According to the book Valli'shares her grief with her (girl) friend (paangi) who arranges for a stealthy meeting with Murugan; therefore, 'annam' may refer to paangi (girl friend);
(3) After marriage, when Murugan takes Valli to His abode, Devayani welcomes her and Murugan explains that both of them were sisters in their earlier birth as daughters of Lord Vishnu.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 Nov 2006, 04:31

The gods had to play diplomacy too

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 04 Jul 2010, 08:46

Here is a depiction of this varNam with the bird/swan motif apparent from the get-go; and in this one, the 'annam' is always a friend.

rasikas.org

annamE aruginil vA - a varnam in valaji

Re: annamE aruginil vA - a varnam in valaji