One song at a time - 17. Mudala Manaya

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(Da.Ra.Bendre)

Nothing seems to inspire poets more than the dawn. One, for everything in the world is aglow with the slanting rays of the sun. Two, for dawn symbolizes a new beginning. Poets have written both about the natural beauty that dawn reveals and about the new beginning.

Most of us city dwellers don't have much of a dawn to speak of. We do not get to see the trees, the flowers, mountains or the water bodies. Nor do we get to hear the sounds of dawn. Even if all these were present, in our own rush to meet some unknown deadlines we miss all of them. You will realize how much you miss this aspect of nature if you take a vacation to a place which is in the lap of nature.

I had once been to Masinagudi, near Mudumalai, for a vacation. I woke up early and wanted to go for a walk. Our resort was surrounded by the forest. Deer and peacocks were roaming around. I started my walk, like any good 'cityzen' by wearing my headphones and switching on the mp3 player. Only when I stepped out of the room, did I realize what a stupid move that was. It was dawn and the music made by nature was such that there was no way you can compete with it using any man made music. The birds chirping all around and the soft glow of the early morning. I discarded the mp3 player immediately and it was one of the most enjoyable walks that I ever had. 

Today's song also features the dawn. This is one more instance of where a great poet's poem has been set to music. The movie is 'Belli Moda'. The poem of the great Jnanpith award winner Da.Ra.Bendre is set to music by Vijaybhaskar. The tune fits the mood of the day very well. A very soft tune which Janaki sings superbly. Lines like 'elegaLa mele hoogaLe oLage amrithada bindu' so joyously convey the sense of dawn. Vijaybhaskar keeps the orchestration minimal and lets the song be carried by the lyrics and the tune. 

Time was us to enjoy this immortal song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqrslXQJnQE

Comments

Raj said…
A pleasing song and a nice introduction as usual!

Any idea of the year of release?Vijayabhaskar's style sounds very different from that of his '70s songs.

A Pahaadi without any alien swara!

Talking about the 'Dawn songs',I am reminded of 'MalargaL Nanainthana paniyaale'of MSV and 'Kaalaipaniyil aadum malargaL' of our Raaja.'Senthazhampoovil' gives that feel too...
September 9, 2010 at 11:56 PM
Suresh S said…
Thanks for the comment Raj.

According to Wikipeadia, it is a 1966 movie of Puttanna Kanagal. Vijayabhaskar has done some nice numbers in Kannada.

Thanks for the raga info. I somehow can never get the hang of Pahadi fully, though I know a lot of songs in that raga.
September 13, 2010 at 12:23 PM
Raj said…
'MalargaL nanainthana..'(Idhaya Kamalam)was composed by K.V.Mahadevan and not by MSV.Sorry for the confusion!!
September 13, 2010 at 9:51 PM
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