Andru Sonaan Bharathi..

Mahakavi bharathiyar – One of the great modern Tamil poets. Born on 11^th December 1882 in a place called Ettayapuram, Tamil Nadu, he departed from this worldly life on 11^th September 1921 at an early age of 39. He is remembered through his powerful and influential words. His poems are well known for being revolutionary, filled with far-sighted views on society, women empowerment, freedom, the caste system that was prevalent back in his time and many more. He is fondly called Mundaasu kattiya kavingar! (I like that specifically ;) )

It is too early for me to speak about him but, having read a few of his poems, I realized that he had an eye for everything around him. There is this ‘Bhaarathi’s way of seeing the world. I have shared with you a few of those that were introduced to me at various occasions. Thanks to these songs, I have developed a love for his work. The words along with the way they have been composed as a song is a treat to our ears, at least it was to mine and I hope you enjoy it too! The songs are not in any particular order. They are all my favourites. There are more but I have just added a few of them in this post and more are yet to come!

The first three songs are the most inspiring ones among those I have read so far. I wish to come across more and enlighten myself. 

Thedi soru nitham thindru

This song is one of those that inspired me and helped me realize that this life I 've got isn't meant to be wasted by grieving at the problems in my life. It also tells me not to lose hope.


Thedi soru nitham thindru - Pala
chinnanchiru kadhaigal pesi-Manam
Vaadi thunbam miga ulandru-pirar
Vaada pala seyalgal seidhu - Narai
Koodi kizha paruvam eiydhi - Kodum
Kootruku iraiyena pin maayum - Pala
Vedikkai manidharai pole - Naan
Veezhven endru ninaithaayo? 
Ninnai sila varangal ketpen - Avai
Nere indrenakku tharuvaai - Endran
munnai theeya vinai payangal - Innum
Moola thazhindhidudhal vendum - Ini
Ennai pudhiyavuyiraaki - 
enakenthun kavalaiyara cheidhu - Madhi
thannai miga thelivu seidhu - endrum
santhosham kondriruka cheiyvaai

Manadhil urudhi vendum

manathil uruthi vendum
vaakkinile inimai vendum
ninaivu nalladhu vendum
nerunggina porul kai pada vendum

kanavu mei pada vendum
kaivasamaavadhu viraivil vendum
Dhanamum inbamum vendum
tharaniyile perumai vendum

kan thirandhida vendum
kaariyathil uruthi vendum
pen viduthalai vendum
periya kadavul kaakka vendum
mann payanura vendum
vaanagam inggu thenpada vendum
unmai nindrida vendum
Om Om Om

 Nallathor Veenai seithey

Nalladhoar veenai seydhae - adhai
nalangeda puzhudhiyil erivadhundo

solladi sivasakthi - enai
chudarmigum arivudan padaiththuvittaay
vallamai thaaraayo - indha
maanilam payanura vaazhvadharkae
solladi sivasakthi - nila
chumaiyena vaazhndhida puriguvaiyo

visaiyuru pandhinai pol - ullam
vendiyapadi sellum udal kaettaen
nasaiyaru manam kaetten - niththam
navamena chudar tharum uyir kaetten
thasaiyinai theechudinum - siva
sakthiyai paadunallagam kaetten
asaivuru madhi kaetten - ivai
arulvadhil unakkedhum thadaiyuladho

Nalladhor Veenai Seithen (Click to listen)...

Chinnanchiru kizhiye

This poem always makes me feel like my mom is singing this for me. Whenever I am away from home, this song fills the void.

Chinnan chirukkiliye kannamma selva kalanjiyame
ennai kali theerthey ulagil etram puriya vandhaai
pillai kaniyamudhe kannamma pesum por chithirame 
alli anaithidave en munne adi varum thene

odi varugaiyile kannamma ullam kulirudhadi
adi thiridhal kandal unnai poi aavi thazhuvudhadi
ucchi dhanai mugharndhaal garvam ongi valarudhadi
mecchi unnai oorar pugazhndhaal meni silirkkudhadi

kannattil muttamittal ullam than kal veri kolludhadi
unnai tazhuvidilo kannamma unmattham agudhadi
un kannil neer vazhindhaal ennenjil udhiram kottudhadi
en kannin pavaiyanro kannamma ennuyir ninnadhanro?

Thikkugal ettum sidhari

A beautiful description of how nature prepares itself just before the downpour begins. All of us like rain, this adds to my fascination.

Dhikkugal ettum sidhari - thakka
dheemtharikita dheemtharikita dheemtharikita dheemtharikita
pakka malaigal udaindhu - vellam
paayudhu paayudhu paayudhu thaamtharikita 
thakka thadhinkita dhithom - andam
saayudhu saayudhu saayudhu - peikondu
thakkai adikudhu kaatru - thakka
thaamtharikita thaamtharikita thaamtharikita thaamtharikita 

vetti adikudhu minnal - Kadal
Veera thirai kondu vinnai idikuthu
Kotti adikudhu megam - ku
ku endru vinnai kudaiyudhu kaatru 
sattachada sattachada dattaa - endru
thaalangal kotti ganaikudhu vaanam
ettu dhisayum idiya  - mazhai
innganam vandhadhada, thambi veera!

dhikkugal ettum sidhari by Bombay Jayashree

Theertha karayinile

Wow! What a song of love this is! It show how much he misses Kannamma waiting for her in that place and his disappointment when she fails to return. His songs on love, separation and everything related to love makes me look at it with such awe!

Theerththak karaiyinilae - therku moolaiyil 

shenbagath thoattaththilae,

paarththirundhaal varuvaen - vennilaavilae 
paangiyoad endru sonnaai.

vaarththai thavarivittaay - adi kannammaa!
maarbu thudikkudhadi !
paarththa vidaththilellaam - unnai poalavae 
paavai theriyudhadi !

maeni kodhikkudhadi ! - thalai sutriyae 

vaedhanai seygudhadi !

vaanil idaththaiyellaam - indha vennilaa 
vandhu thazhuvudhu paar !
moanaththirukkudhadi! - indha vaiyagam 
moozhgith thuyilinilae,
naanoruvan mattilum - pirivenbadhoar 

naragath thuzhaluvadho?

Beautiful composition of this song in the movie "Varumayin niram sivappu"

The song continues as follows :

Kadumai udaiyadhadi ! - endha neramum

Kaval un maaligayil ;

Adimai pugundha pinnum - ennumbodhu naan

Angu varuvatharku illai ;

Kodumai porukka villai - kattunkaavalaum

Koodi kidakkudhange ;

Nadumai arasi aval - edharkaagavo

Naani kulaindhiduvaal ;

koodi piriyaamale or - iravellam

konji kulavi ange

aadi vilaiyaadiye - undran meniyai

aayiran modi murai

Naadi thazhuvi mana - kurai theernthu naan

nalla kali eiythiye

paadi paravasamaai - nirkave dhavam

panniya thillai adi !

Suttum vizhi chudare

Can anyone make a woman get this pride on herself except Bharathi himself? Read this and you will realize how beautifully a woman has been described. The composition too adds to the elegance of the poem. 

Suttum vizhi sudar than, - Kannamma !

Suriya chandiraro?
Vattakkariye vizhi - Kannamma!
Vanakkarumai kollo?

Pattu karuneela - pudavai
Padhittha nalviram
Natta nadu nisiyil - Therium
Natchathirangalladi!

Solai malaroliyo -Unathu
Sundara punnagai than?
Neela kadal alaiye - Unadhu
Nenjin alaigal adi !

Kolak kuyil osai - Unadhu
Kuralin inimai yadi!
Vaalai kumari adi - Kannamma
Maruva kadhal kondain.

Saathiram pesugiraai - Kannamma !

Saathiram yedhukkadi?
Aathiram kondavarke - Kannamma
Saathiram undodi!

Moothavar sammadhiyil - Vadhuvai
Muraigal pinbu saivom ;
Kathiruppenodi ? – idhu paar,
Kannathu mutham ondru !

 Aasai mugam maranthu poche

Aasai mugam maranthu poche – Idhai, 

Aaridam solven adi thozhi?  
Nesam marakkavillai nenjam - enil,
Ninaivu mugam marakkalaamo? 


Kannil theriyudhoru thottram – adhil, 
Kannan azhagu muzhudillai; 
Nannu muga vadivu kaanil – andha, 
Nalla malar chirippai kaanom 


Oyvum ozhithalum illaamal – avan 
Uravai ninaithirukkum ullam 
Vaayum uraippadhundu kandaai - andha 
Maayan pugazhinai eppothum. 


Kangal purinthuvita paavam - uyir 
Kannan uru marakkalachu; 
Pengal idathil idhu pole - Oru 
Pedhayai munbu kandathundo? 


Thenai maranthirukkum vandum – oli  
Chirappai maranthu vitta poovum 
Vaanai marathirukkum payirum - indha, 
Vaiyam muzhuthum illai thozhi !


Kannan mugam maranthu ponaal - indha, 
Kangal irundhu pyan undo? 
Vanna padamum illai kandaai - 
ini Vaazhum vazhi yennadi thozhi? 

The Little Things That Mean A Lot..

I have heard many complain about not being able to make someone close to them happy. They told me that they tried buying everything from the most expensive watch to taking them to one of the costliest restaurants in the city. But, what they were actually doing was to measure their loved one’s joy in terms of money. There is a lot of happiness, free of cost, lying there for everyone to cherish. But no one ever tries to find out what that is.

The smell of a new day that slowly creeps into your balcony as you open the windows early in the morning when the sun rises lazily to spread its hue gives you the sense of joy and the energy to start the day especially when it mixes with the aroma of a cup of hot and fresh filter coffee.

A stroll along the beach one cool evening, with the sky decorated with the setting sun and the early stars, as the waves hit the shore and retrieve back gently touching your feet giving a chill through your body every time it touches you, gives all the happiness in the world than a walk through the expensive stores in the mall emptying your pockets on the branded stuff.

Spending your evening in the terrace from where you can see the tops of all the trees in your locality, hearing happy-chirping of different kinds of birds, spreads divine happiness in me as I slowly savour the taste of hot tea flavoured with ginger and elaichi. Sometimes if I am lucky, I get to see a pair of pigeons staging a romantic show or fighting over for a handful of peanuts and the scene, I assure, is an epic beauty and THAT gives me an elation that just can’t be described in simple words.

The smell of a new book and its fresh print, as you open it, fills in you a feeling that gives you an excitement, a sense of pride of owning the book, an anticipation of what it holds, the anxiety to open it up and start reading its contents and a mixture of other positive feelings that many book lovers experience, cherish and look forward to, every time they think of a book.

A hug from my mom, a smile from my crush, a surprise from my best friend for no reason but to just make me happy, my favourite song on radio and the déjà vu, I experience, eating a delicious food or my favourite chocolate when I am upset, my friend coming over without warning just to take me to the beach, a call from a friend after a long time, people coming over to my house, a friend saying ‘I will be there for you no matter what’ or ‘You make me happy. You are my best friend’, making my own cup of coffee with the right proportion of milk and decoction and sitting alone, slowly sipping it enjoying my own company and the  silence around me, the smell of rain, a small kid calling my name or holding my hand with its soft ones that feel like the petals of a flower brushing against me and the list that makes me happy goes on and on.

They sound so simple don’t they? But, people often fail to notice these small things around them but run after materialistic stuff missing out on these cute little happenings. And worse, they fail to give these that are free but most valuable to their loved ones because of their race towards something that’s temporary, man-made, rare and costly.

Look out for the little things that mean a lot instead of trying to own the big things that don’t matter even the tiniest bit. 

Why pray to God?

The title is one of the most questioned, most discussed and the most controversial subject in present day. I am but a lay person who hasn’t followed any of these discussions that world-renowned, highly knowledgeable people have had. But I, in my short life time, have questioned the presence of God and the need to pray to Him too. 

As we all know, the reason behind all the controversy is because He is not visible to us. We can only feel (or so people claim to) but can’t see Him. A few of my atheist friends asked me why I believe in Him, what I find in praying to Him and many more questions. Though, they did not oppose my belief they gave me an opportunity to think about them. I realized a few things about my devotion to God. This has nothing to do with the discussions that go on in this world. It is purely my personal opinion.

I do believe that there is a Supreme Power that is more powerful than us and that is the God I believe in. The life we lead, the happenings in it are not in our control. Things happen when they have to. Who decides that? I have heard many say that it is us who control our destiny but it is not, at least in my opinion. When situation is smooth, favourable to us we don’t tend to question anything but when it goes awry, that’s when we lose control of ourselves. The most confident ones are rare to find who do not question when they are upset with their problems like they don’t, when they are happy. But the majority are people like me. So whom do we turn to when we don’t know what is happening? Who is the wisest who can guide us through this journey of life? Definitely it is none.

As the famous saying goes, we came alone, we leave alone and we have to travel through this journey alone. No one can help us through it. To me, when I am totally at loss, I turn to this Supreme Power that I believe does exist, to guide me through this. He may not give me a helping hand and tell me this is how I will have to step through, but praying to Him is like a meditation that gives me the peace of mind which in turn helps me calm myself, analyse the situation and take steps to solve the problem instead of drowning in the overwhelming fear of feeling lost in a sea of puzzles. He is a form to whom I can vent out my feelings and be sure that I won’t be judged from it but when I do the same with my peers, relatives or my own family it is different. We know human nature and frankly humans are judgemental even if they claim themselves not to be. Also, there are certain things that cannot be shared with anyone but I can with this form of Power. I may not get solutions to my problems; I may not be assured that it is heard. But, that’s not what I need. All I need is to cry my heart out, wipe it off and lift the heaviness off my chest so that I can think more rationally and take the nearly right decisions which I cannot when my mind is clouded with innumerable thoughts.

This is God to me. A person or a place or just a feeling of His presence or any form I feel Him to be where or with whom I can find my solace is my God. I am not very clever, intelligent and full of knowledge to question or confront the topic of God. I am but a lay person ;-)

For every dark night, There's a brighter day..

Today, of all the days, I have made some time for myself to post. It has been quite a period of 3 months that turned into a routine that kept me busy and did not provide me even a minute to worry about things which I normally brag about most of the time. Here I am, writing my first blog post, after months of procrastination, wondering about one of the most notorious parts of human body. I mean, our mind ;) 

Have you ever wondered how comical human mind is? It is so fickle that at one time it worries about a problem and at another time when a bigger one surprises it, it shifts to the new one. But, what is funnier is that, it always has something or the other to whine about. There are a few people who can actually shut their mind out of all thoughts and lead a peaceful life and for a few others who claim to be carefree, I can swear by god, they are not. However, the cleverest of all is the one who still honestly manages to be happy assuming that whatever happens, it happens for the good and to become one, it requires hell a lot of effort. Remember one thing in life wherever you go, when there is a problem that makes you ask God, “Why me?” then certainly there are people with problems worse than yours and for some reason, at that point of your life, God has made you go through the said-situation to teach you something important and it is up to you to find that out and enlighten yourself. If you fail to do it, it is not His concern, nor that of the people around you, it is solely yours. 

Awaken… Seek out… Enlighten…