Music, Songs, Lyrics and Poetry

Pretty obvious title... Isn't it? To people who aren't familiar about Indian movies, it'd be a surprise that songs are an integral part of a movie. I'm not talking about BGM scores or bit songs that express the hero's mood swings but actual songs where a 40 year old hero and a 20 yr old heroine dance in a completely irrelevant location as a consequence of an important conversation that took place between them. (Read - an Eminem track coming up in 'The beautiful mind' :D) The hero would propose to the heroine in a typical Indian village like Edakkunaattaanpaalayam (don't try reading it but trust me it's the name of a village in India) and the next moment the hero would be in complete Park Avenue gear like a brand ambassador and the heroine would be wearing a couple of colorful kerchiefs (modern attire as costumers call it) and they would be dancing in the Times Square; usually for a song that is loaded with more English words than the regional words. :))

However, being an Indian by heart, breed and brought up, I'm kind of used to this and a movie without songs has something missing in it. Despite the oddities and practical questions like 'Who the h*ck will dance on streets of a no-man's land with a bunch of strangers just because he proposed to a girl', there are certain songs that are too good and fit in the situation perfectly. Sometimes the song doesn't fit in the situation too well but the lyrics and music is just outstanding that you can't prevent enjoying it or pitying the director. So I thought why not list a few of them that impressed me a lot and share something good with you outside the same old outsourcing, religion, philosophy, culture window...

I'm refraining myself to Tamizh movie songs here since we are talking about situation, lyrics and music; and I'll add a post on albums and traditional music sometime later...

Song: Edhilum Ingu iruppaan avan yaarao...
Theme: An ode to Lord Shiva (the destroyer of evil in Hindu beliefs)
Movie: Bharathi
Best points: The strikingly similar writing style of Pulamai pitthan that makes us believe it is a trademark Bharathi (a renown Tamil poet) poetry. The stunning voice of Madhu Balakrishnan.
My fav line: Thavazhum nadhiyai tharittha mudiyaan, adiyum mudiyum ariya mudiyaan! (One who wears a flowing river in his hairs, the infinity whose start and end could not be assessed. Please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Shiva if you are not familiar with Hinduism)



Song: Engae yenadhu kavidhai...
Theme: Betrayal of love
Movie: Kandukondaen kandukondaen
Best points: Excellent lyrics that express a girl's pain so beautifully, Chitra's voice as usual.
My fav line: Paarayil seidhadhu yen manam endru thozhikku solli irundhaen. Paarayin idukkil vaer vitta kodiyaai nee nenjil nuzhaindhu vittaai... (I boasted that my heart is as strong as a rock but you crept into it like a plant that roots into a rock)



Song: Paartha vizhi paartha badi...
Theme: A long term desire fulfilled
Movie: Gunaa
Best points: Music by Maestro Ilayaraja, divine & expressive voice of K.J. Jesudas
My fav line: Madhi varuga vazhi neduga ozhi niraiga vaazhvilae (let the moon shine all the way and bring brightness to my life)



Song: Vennilave
Theme: Falling in love
Movie: Minsaara kanavu
Best points: Amazing picturization
My fav line: Poongaattrae ariyaamal poovai thirakka vaendum... Poo kooda ariyaamal thenai rusikka vaendum (Should open the petals of a flower without the knowledge of the fragrant wind and should taste the honey without the knowledge of the freshly bloomed flower)



Song: Vidugadhayaa indha vaazhkai...
Theme: Pathos
Movie: Mutthu
Best points: Superstar (thalaivar rocks :)), Hariharan's flawless high pitch
My fav line: Pasuvinai paambendru saatchi solla mudiyum, kaambinil visham enna karakkavaa mudiyum (A fake jury can testify a cow for a snake but how will one succeed in getting venom out of a cow)



Song: Mouname unnidam
Theme: Silence is bliss
Movie: Mozhi
Best points: The movie as a whole is awesome. Not sure what I should mention here.
My fav line: Sollai kadandha pennin mouna koottukkul pala kodi kodi porul kudiyirukkum (The silence of a girl that crosses the boundaries of words has millions of meanings embedded in it)



Song: Vizhigalin aruginil vaanam
Theme: Falling in love
Movie: Azhagiya theeyae
Best points: Lyrics, picturization
My fav line: Irudhayame thudikkiradhaa thudippadhu paol nadikkiradhaa (Is my heart pretending to beat or has it really stopped beating)



Song: Naane tholaindha kadhai
Theme: Love
Movie: Thavamaai thavamirundhu
Best points: Lyrics, awesome melody
My fav line: Viraloram kavidhai ooriyadhe... vizhiyoram kaadhal kasigiradhe (my fingertips have poetry flowing and love oozes from the corner of my eyes)



Song: Uyire ennuyire
Theme: Love
Movie: Thotti Jaya
Best points: Gopika's acting, music
My fav line: Naan siritthu magizndhu silirkkum varatthai nee kudutthaai (You gave me the boon to smile, awe and be happy)



Song: Poongaattrile
Theme: Yearning for the loved one
Movie: Uyire
Best points: Lyrics, Manirathnam's touch in expressing a girl's emotions
My fav line: Vaanam engum un bimbam aanaal kaiyyil seravillai... Kaattril engum un vaasam... Verum vaasam vaazhkai illai (I see you everywhere but I couldn't be with you, I smell you everywhere but that's not called living)



Hope you liked the list. Quite obviously I just listed the first 10 that came to my mind. There are so many other songs that impressed me but it's impractical to put them all in a post. Note to people who know Tamizh - I provided translations to the best lines as an sign of respect to people who don't understand Tamizh. If the translations are horrible or you feel they are funny, please bear with me as always!! ;) :)