Devaru Hoseda Premada Daara

Ever so often, when I am caught up with an  existential angst that seems to have taken precedence in my extended quarter life crisis(of course assuming I make it to100), I find myself listening to Devaru Hoseda Premada Daara from Muthina Haara. This masterpiece of a song takes me through a myriad of emotions every time I listen to it. It does not offer the answers I am seeking, however it offers comfort and a sense of belonging perhaps, reiterating the fact that we are all fellow passengers on this journey! Hamsalekha has done a wonderful job with the amazing lyrics whose mood changes as the season and of course with the orchestration that embellishes the emotions. Balamuralikrishna’s voice takes the song to a whole new level and overall just listening to this song feels like a new experience each time to me! This song is such an excellent example of how important both the music and the lyrics are to achieve brilliance! The lines that stand out to me are these: "beDayendare naavu suDade iruvude novu" and "bisilo, maLeyo, chiguro  himavo, aLuvo naguvo, solo geluvo, baduke payaNa, naDiye munde, olave namage neralu hinde". As the song ends with these lines, it leaves me comforted with a bit more optimism, hope and strength than before, and that is why to me this song is a masterpiece.

Neenillade Nanagenide?

That sadness is beautiful is exemplified by M N Vyasa Rao’s poetry, “ನೀನಿಲ್ಲದೆ ನನಗೇನಿದೆ”, and the “ಭಾವ” in the poetry is exemplified by Pallavi Arun’s rendition of the same. The beauty in this sadness is an enriching one, one of acceptance and hope! On quickly scouring the web, I failed to find any translation for the song, so decided to give it a try myself. There is immense beauty in these words penned together and I hope I do sufficient justice.  Attached is a Youtube link for the song and a MusicIndiaOnline link as well :- http://www.musicindiaonline.com/#/album/171-Kannada_Bhaava_Geethe/27207-Live_Concert_Vol_1/

ನೀನಿಲ್ಲದೆ ನನಗೇನಿದೆ?

neenillade nanagenide

What do I have without you?

ಮನಸೆಲ್ಲ ನಿನ್ನಲ್ಲೇ ನೆಲೆಯಾಗಿದೆ

manasella ninnalle neLeyaagide

My mind is immersed in your thoughts

ಕನಸೆಲ್ಲ ಕಣ್ಣಲ್ಲೇ ಸೆರೆಯಾಗಿದೆ

kanasella kaNNalle sereyaagide

My dreams are imprisoned in my eyes

ನಿನಗಾಗಿ ಕಾದು ಕಾದು ಪರಿತಪಿಸಿ ನೊಂದೇ ನಾನು

ninagaagi kaadu kaadu paritapisi nonde naanu

I bitterly regret after having waited long for you

ಕಹಿಯಾದ ವಿರಹದ ನೋವು ಹಗಲಿರುಳು ತಂದೆ ನೀನು

kahiyaada virahada novu hagaliruLu tande neenu

The pain of this bitter separation is what you have brought me day and night

ಎದೆಯಾಸೆ ಏನೋ ಎಂದು ನೀ ಕಾಣದಾದೆ

yedeyaase yeno yendu nee kaaNadaade

You failed to see what this heart desires

ನಿಶೆಯೊಂದೆ ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ನೀ ತುಂಬಿದೆ

nisheyonde nannalli nee tumbide

Darkness is the only thing you have filled in me

ಬೆಳಕೊಂದೆ ನಿನ್ನಿಂದ ನಾ ಬಯಸಿದೆ

beLakonde ninninda naa bayaside

Light is the only thing I aspire from you

ಒಲವೆಂಬ ಕಿರಣ ಬೀರಿ ಒಳಗಿರುವ ಬಣ್ಣ ತೆರೆಸಿ

olavemba kiraNa beeri oLagiruva baNNa teresi

Casting a beam of affection, you opened up the colors hidden inside

ಒಣಗಿರುವ ಎದೆ ನೆಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರವಸೆಯ ಜೀವ ಹರಿಸಿ

oNagiruva yede neladalli baravaseya jeeva harisi

On the barren heart’s ground, a hopeful life you let flow

ಸೆರೆಯಿಂದ ಬಿಡಿಸಿ ನನ್ನ ಆತಂಕ ನೀಗು

sereyinda biDisi nanna aatanka neegu

Take me away from this imprisonment and lessen my anxiety

ಹೊಸ ಜೀವ ನಿನ್ನಿಂದ ನಾ ತಾಳುವೆ

hosa jeeva ninninda naa taaLuve

A new life is what I expect with(from) you

ಹೊಸ ಲೋಕ ನಿನ್ನಿಂದ ನಾ ಕಾಣುವೆ

hosa loka ninninda naa kaaNuve

A new world is what I will see because of you

Pallavi Anupallavi

If there has been one movie that I have wanted to watch, for years, this movie had to be it. The tune that I have loved even before IDEA Cellular used it and popularized it. The Bangalore I loved even before I was born. The movie that marked the debut of Mani Ratnam and Anil Kapoor. The movie that had music by Ilayaraja that stole my heart completely. The movie that I had tried long and hard to find, with no avail. The movie that I knew would take me to another place, without even having watched it. Pallavi Anupallavi.

It must have been the potent combination of Ilayaraja and Mani Ratnam, and the pride that Mani Ratnam made his first movie in Kannada, that I really wished to watch this movie. And when I did finish watching the movie earlier tonight, I felt content. I had no expectations nor do I offer to shred the movie into pieces and review it. All that I wanted was the viewing experience and I am glad I got that. An interesting plot. An uncomplicated era with it's own complications. Green, unpolluted, unpopulated Bangalore. Houses and roads and Lakeview and MG and LalBagh. Simple Love. Noble Deeds. Selflessness. Beautiful times. The 80's and the 90's. The India of those ages. Bangalore of those ages. Makes we want to relive that time once again!

Odakalu Bimba

Shankar Nag has been one actor-director whom i have always held in high regard . He is one of the finest talents our country has seen. In his movies like Nodi Swami Navirodu Heege and Parameshi Prema Prasanga I have seen Arundathi Nag's acting. But never had i thought one day Ranga Shankara would give me an opportunity to watch her act on stage, live and up close! And it was indeed a pleasure to watch her do what she undoubtedly does best, act! The play is essentially a dialogue between a writer and her conscience. The panache in Nag's skills are proved by her matching the conscience in time so brilliantly;the conscience is a recorded version of Nag! Being the lone person on stage for an hour and acting is itself not a cakewalk. This particular play demands more than just that. The actor cannot afford to even pause a while longer than necessary, leave alone miss out on dialogues because all the cues are recorded and need perfect synchronization. That was the most stunning aspect of the entire play. Hmmm, does technology really make our lives any easier than it already is? Maybe it just tries to make us perfect!