Importance of Pallavi Content

[venkatakailasam]

The need for giving importance to lyrics was emphasized by Swamy Dayanda Saraswathi as
he felt that through bhava one can touch the hearts of the listeners.
Does lyrics play an important part?
All cannot understand the compositions of Thyagaraja or Dikshadar . Still we enjoy
due to Raga Bhava !

Unusual pallavi themes- excerpt from the book of R. Srinivasan, Facets of Indian Culture has been brought out at this link along with other interesting anecdotes .

http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit08192002/musicarts1.asp

venkatakailasam

[mankuthimma]

Still we enjoy due to Raga Bhava !

For decades I used to enjoy a song by Rafi which was structured around Uparwale ( one above ) and thought it was some kind of a Bhakthi song.
Came the You Tube days , and I now realise That Dev Anand is obliquely referring to the mercies of the Heroine who is in the upper berth of the Railway compartment.
Strangely it is not the casual wayfarers like me who suffer the most .
Take a look at the so called immortal Krishna Nee Begane Baro Video of Bala.
The singer keeps singing
Thayeege Bayalii Jagavenne Thoro instead of Thorida.
The dance of Bala is utterly meaningless in this context .
Instead of acting to the words which should convey
The one who showed the universe , in his mouth ,to his mother
The singer keeps singing , Please show the universe ,in your mouth, to your mother .

Anyone who has an idea that instances like this or the Viswaroopa Darshan can happen in a flash and not by cajoling , will shudder at the treatment of the lyrics . And I say this because a whole generation of listeners , critics , authors have failed to recognise this .
And the ones who are impeccable in this regard , like TRS ..... we ignore .. |(

So Glory be . To the layman rasika like me / us.

[venkatakailasam]

We go to the concert hall for listening to good music.

The impediments which a layman listener faces are:

The language barrier- not only understanding the language but also getting its meaning (unless takes with him the lyrics by ShriLakshmn Ragade and the meaning provided by Shri Govinda Rao!! )

The way in which the artist sings- no clarity in pronouncing the words –all do not sing with clarity like Shri TVS or Shri Vijay Siva

With the above, can we enjoy the lyrics ?


As such the Artist has to bring the Raga Bhava

The swaras in Raga elobaration highten the various emotions or the

mood of the human mind. These emotions are the Bhava of the Raga.The

Swaras with high frequency, intensify the emotional content viz. the

Bhava. That the Bhava is the mood, melody and metaphor has been aptly

pointed out by Radika Srinivasn, in her book 'Sacred Spaces'

Raga could induce or intensify joy or sorrow, violance or peace,

sleep or devotion. Ragas can exhibit Sringaram, veeram, rudhram,santham

karunyam,devotion Etc.,through Bhavas just as in nattiam.

Subha pantuvarali is known for its meloncholy.

Atana, Gourimanohari ,Hamsadwani, Sankarabaranam, Thodi or Vasantha

are stated to soothe one who is short tempered or angry.

Behag, Khamas are stated to exude sensual elements.

Other erotic Ragas are stated to be Abhiri, Karaharapriya, Keeravani

Suddha Saveri Etc. ,

Revathi played on Veena dissolves fear and disillusionment.

Raga Sama is stated to provide inner peace and harmony as also

kannada, Nilambary and yadhukula kambhoji.

The roots of carnatic Music is religious or Devotional.

Whether in joy or in sorrow, the Deity, is addressed through the Ragas

suitable to the mood and occasion as composed by the Great Composers.

If the performance of the Artists is in the same frequency

with which they are composed, the Bhava is brought to the listeners

through the ragas.

This satisfies the listeners even if lyrics are not understood .

venkatakailasam