Saturday 21 May 2022

Spring amongst Seasons

 In the ALS Perfprming Arts challenge for the third week of May 2022, on day 2, we were required to sing a regional song. I chose to sing  a Tamil song  rendered by P.B.srinivas in the 60s film "Paavamannippu" . The song written by veteran  lyricist Kannadasan is set to music by the celebrated duo  Vishwanathan- Ramamurthy.. 

I  have translated the song into English for the understanding pleasure of  friends not knowing Tamil.










She  is the sweet spring amongst seasons 

A Portrait/ painting amongst the arts 

she is the month of *Margazhi amongst the months 

and  lovely fragrant Jasmine amongst the flowers      ( she is..)   


Among birds, she is the  lovely dove

a lullaby amongst all forms of songs 

among fruits she is the queen Mango 

and cool breeze amongst flowing air  (She is.....)  


when it comes to smiling(like white  milk), she's a child

She, a young maiden when embracing the cool dew/fog 

when taking care, she's  like a mother 

oh dear,  she has now made me a poet!   (She is...)


* Margazhi is held a very auspicious month in the Tamil calendar for offering prayers (falls around early January)   




Saturday 7 May 2022

Surma/ kajal filled eyes...

 In the ALS Perfprming Arts challenge for the first week of May 2022, on day 2, we were required to sing a regional song. I chose to sing  a Malayalam song from the 60s film "Khadeeja"  written by veteran  lyricist Yusuf Ali Kechery set to music by the inimitable M.S. Baburaj.! 

I  have translated the song into English for the understanding pleasure of my Non Malayali friends.











Oh surma  shaped eyes,  oh sunflowers

filled  and overflowing with sweet  sweet love! 

oh kajal filled  eyes.../ surma shaped eyes....


Why do you push aside the window curtains

and send / throw  a  net at me?

why do you send honey dipped arrows

straight into my heart...?           (Oh surma shaped eyes...  )


Hop on to the wings of  a  dream thought 

and come to me oh beloved

share with me the intoxication and music

of your lovely blue gaze...   (Oh surma shaped eyes...)

NB:   Surma is an ancient eye cosmetic which is  made by collecting soot (black ash , the burnt residue of either oil or ghee).