"Veturi is the Gulzar of Telugu Cinema.” The previous comment was from my friend who had just listened to the songs of K. Viswanath’s ‘Saagara Sangamam’. The comment had thrown me into opprobrium, I completely objected to his comparison because Veturi is not Gulzar… Veturi is Veturi. Gulzar fits into a different zone of lyricists and comparing Veturi to Gulzar is a sin…
In 1989 Mani Ratnam directed his only Telugu film “Geethanjali” which is one of the best love stories I have ever seen, Mani Ratnam who is not well versed in Telugu had to translate the lyrics written by Veturi Sundararama Murthy in Tamil and from that day Veturi has been Mani Ratnam’s favorite lyricist. Apart from the numerous awards that ‘Geethanjali’ received it is a path breaking film for Telugu Cinema (at least for me…). Probably this is the only Indian film where we find a 2 minute smooch, how did this song pass the censor board without a cut?…The song is beautifully directed and apart from that it’s the lyrics of veturi which did the magic.
The above lines are a perfect example for his classical insight; he mixes the sacred mantra ‘Aum Namah Shivaya’ with the romantic feelings ‘nayana shruthulaku’ which means ‘Speech of the eyes, ‘hrudaya layalaku’ which means ‘Heart Beats’, ‘adhara jathulaku’ which means ‘ Pair of Lips’ and ‘madhura smruthulaku’ which means ‘beautiful thoughts’
And by the way if you don’t know what is om namaha then here is the Wikipedia definition “Namaḥ Śivaya has such power, the mere intonation of these syllables reaps its own reward in salvaging the soul from bondage of the treacherous instinctive mind and the steel bands of a perfected externalized intellect. Namaḥ Śivāya quells the instinct, cuts through the steel bands and turns this intellect within and on itself, to face itself and see its ignorance. Sages declare that mantra is life, that mantra is action, that mantra is love and that the repetition of mantra, japa, bursts forth wisdom from within.”
You can find the rest the lyrics on internet and get them translated to know the beauty of the entire song.
Veturi used simple words and converted them into beautiful expressions to show lust and love between characters. The song ‘Mounamelanoyi’ from ‘Saagara Sangamam’ where he uses…
Veturi Sundararama Murthy always repeated that ‘Thakita Thadimi’ & ‘Nadha Vinodham’ from ‘Saagara Sangamam’ as his favorite songs.Those were the days when ‘National Awards’ had respect, I hear many people saying that anyone who have seen the film ‘Maathrudevobhava’ will have tears in their eyes,so is the case with his national award winning song ‘Raalipoye puvva neeku ragaalenduke’
Apart from his romantic style of lyrics he induced passion and rebel in the lyrics. The song ‘Jagada Jagada Jagadam’ from Geethanjali ignites passions .He uses the words very intelligently in the fast paced songs.
‘Induvadana’ in Challenge
No one can beat him in the mystique lyrics, he uses various references for single word, and sometimes the lyrics look enigmatic creating a lot of intrigue into the listener.
“Ramachakani Sita” Godavari
I am unable to figure out the exact meaning of the lyrics ….this is what I could understand.I added '?' where i felt ambiguity.
This evergreen song ‘Maate Mantramu’ from Seethakoka Chiluka
After K.Vishwanath probably its Sekhar Kammula who has shown the best of Veturi.One of his last songs in the film ‘Leader’
Originally published on Passionforcinema.com
In 1989 Mani Ratnam directed his only Telugu film “Geethanjali” which is one of the best love stories I have ever seen, Mani Ratnam who is not well versed in Telugu had to translate the lyrics written by Veturi Sundararama Murthy in Tamil and from that day Veturi has been Mani Ratnam’s favorite lyricist. Apart from the numerous awards that ‘Geethanjali’ received it is a path breaking film for Telugu Cinema (at least for me…). Probably this is the only Indian film where we find a 2 minute smooch, how did this song pass the censor board without a cut?…The song is beautifully directed and apart from that it’s the lyrics of veturi which did the magic.
om namaha nayana shruthulaku
om namaha hrudaya layalaku om
om namaha adhara jathulaku
om namaha madhura smruthulaku om
The above lines are a perfect example for his classical insight; he mixes the sacred mantra ‘Aum Namah Shivaya’ with the romantic feelings ‘nayana shruthulaku’ which means ‘Speech of the eyes, ‘hrudaya layalaku’ which means ‘Heart Beats’, ‘adhara jathulaku’ which means ‘ Pair of Lips’ and ‘madhura smruthulaku’ which means ‘beautiful thoughts’
And by the way if you don’t know what is om namaha then here is the Wikipedia definition “Namaḥ Śivaya has such power, the mere intonation of these syllables reaps its own reward in salvaging the soul from bondage of the treacherous instinctive mind and the steel bands of a perfected externalized intellect. Namaḥ Śivāya quells the instinct, cuts through the steel bands and turns this intellect within and on itself, to face itself and see its ignorance. Sages declare that mantra is life, that mantra is action, that mantra is love and that the repetition of mantra, japa, bursts forth wisdom from within.”
You can find the rest the lyrics on internet and get them translated to know the beauty of the entire song.
Veturi used simple words and converted them into beautiful expressions to show lust and love between characters. The song ‘Mounamelanoyi’ from ‘Saagara Sangamam’ where he uses…
palike pedavi vonikindi enduko
(Why the lip which talks is shivering?)
vonike pedavi venakaala emito
(What’s behind those shivering lips?)
…………..
ivi edadugulaa valapu madugulaa
(Are these the sacred seven steps or the intimacy of Love?)
kanne eedu vulukulu kantipaapa kaburulu
(..the disturbances and conversations in the young unmarried girl.. )
……………………………
Veturi Sundararama Murthy always repeated that ‘Thakita Thadimi’ & ‘Nadha Vinodham’ from ‘Saagara Sangamam’ as his favorite songs.Those were the days when ‘National Awards’ had respect, I hear many people saying that anyone who have seen the film ‘Maathrudevobhava’ will have tears in their eyes,so is the case with his national award winning song ‘Raalipoye puvva neeku ragaalenduke’
Raalipoye puvva neeku raagalendukey
totamaali nee todu leduley
vaalipoye podda neeku varnalendukey
lokamennado cheekataayele..
neekidi telavaarani reyamma..
kaliki maa chilaka paadaku ninnati nee raagaam
Apart from his romantic style of lyrics he induced passion and rebel in the lyrics. The song ‘Jagada Jagada Jagadam’ from Geethanjali ignites passions .He uses the words very intelligently in the fast paced songs.
…………………………………..
Marala… marala… jananam
Raaneeraa marala… marala maranam
Mingestaam bhughala bhagala garalam
Maa pilupe damarukham
Maa oopiri nippula uppena
Maa oohalu kattula vanthena
Maa debbaku dhikkulu pikkatillipoye…
Ram… pam pam… pam…”
‘Induvadana’ in Challenge
induvadana, kundaradana, mandagamana, madhuravachana, sogasulalana
No one can beat him in the mystique lyrics, he uses various references for single word, and sometimes the lyrics look enigmatic creating a lot of intrigue into the listener.
“Ramachakani Sita” Godavari
I am unable to figure out the exact meaning of the lyrics ….this is what I could understand.I added '?' where i felt ambiguity.
neela gaganaa ghanavichalanaa dharaNijaa Sree ramaNa
(Blue Sky….?????????? ……. The one who rules the earth? ..Lord Rama)
madhura vadanaa naLina nayanaa manavi vinaraa raamaa
(Body as sweet as honey…Eyes as Lotus? … listen to my request my dear Lord Rama)
raama chakkani seetaki aracheta gorinta
(The beautiful Seeta is for Rama.. Gorintaku on Sita’s Palm)
inta chakkani chukkaki inkevaru mogudanta
(For this beautiful star (referring Sita), who is Sita’s Husband..)
raama chakkani seetaki
udata veepuna velu vidichina pudami alludu raamudE
(The one who left his finger prints on squirrel’s back. Son-in-law of Janaka??)
edama chetanu Sivuni villunu ettinaa raamude
(Lifted Lord Shiva’s bow with his left hand is Lord Rama)
ettagalaDaa seeta jadanu taali katte velalo
(Can he lift Sita’s jada (plait) while tying the mangalasutram (taali)…)
raama chakkani seetaki
………………………………………………..
………………………………………………
This evergreen song ‘Maate Mantramu’ from Seethakoka Chiluka
Maate mantramu manase bandhamu..
Ee mamathe ee samathe mangala vaadyamu..
Idhi kalyaanam kamaneeyam jeevitham..
Neeve naalo spandhinchina..
Ee priya layalo sruthi kalise praanamidhe..
Nene neevuga puvvu thaaviga..
Samyogaala sangeethaalu virise velalo..
After K.Vishwanath probably its Sekhar Kammula who has shown the best of Veturi.One of his last songs in the film ‘Leader’
“Yae Sakuni adani judam brathukemo chadarangam, edi adani ravnakashtam, chitilone simantam”I was never interested in Telugu Literature, because I have seen it as an extra subject in my school and always made fun of the language but everything changed when I started to listen to the songs of Veturi, I started my own small research on telugu literature and started reading books on telugu literature. In one sentence Veturi Sundararama Murthy made me realize that “Desha bhashalandu telugu lessa”.May his soul rest in peace.
Originally published on Passionforcinema.com
Very nicely said. Veturi gaarigunrinchi entha cheppina takkuve. That is so true that Veturi moved and inspired many of the younger generations to enjoy the sweetness of THE Telugu Language.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletepudami alludu ante janaka kaadhu bro setha dhevi bhoomi lo dorikindi Bhoomija antaru daughter of earth pudami - Bhoomiki alludu :D
ReplyDelete@ Ravi teja
ReplyDeletePoor in Telugu. Thanks for the comment.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI appriciate your interest in learning and understand the song.. but there is a lot of difference between what you understood and what exactly Veturi guruvu garu meant..
ReplyDeleteNeela gagana - His skin is dark as sky (neela gagana ghana syama )
Ghana vichalana - He has graceful walk
Dharanija Sri ramana - Dharanija (born to earth) is Sita, her ramana (husband) is Rama
Madhura vadana - who has beautiful face ( madhura is not honey or sweet here.. )
Pudami Alludu - Son in law of Earth (pudami is earth not janaka)
edama chetanu Sivuni villunu ettinaa raamude - He lifted the siva dhanuvu so easily (we use the proverb "edama chetto" means that can be easily done )
Ettagaladaa seetajadanu thali katte velalo - Here comes the naughtiness of Veturi.. the girls behind sita were asking themselves that "can rama lift the plait of Sita while he ties the thali?? (he can't because his both hands will be involved in binding) its like a silly jokes that girls play on bridegroom.