NAVYA C
MEET THE REFORMISTS OF
Carnatic music
Indian Classical Music in particular has the feature of being extremely devotional and aims to attain higher spiritual being through the meodious renditions , lyrical value and nuances of the composition . The entire concept of practicing carnatic music and performing was supposed to reach the ultimate divineand not just for the entertainment of the rasikas . This is perhaps because of the rich spiritual history of India where the religious aspects also come into picture . It essentially mentions that the created music ( or even any art ) should ultimately reach to the ultimate divine but not for materialistic fervours .
Carnatic Music – which is more prevalent in Southern India is quite rich in this regard with many composers hailing the name of God in various tunes , word play and of course- amazing innovation in the field . Right from the early time composers like Kshetrayya , till the recent Muttaiah Bhagavatarevery Carnatic Composer hailed the name of divine in various forms . However , some of these composers also had a supreme deity and dedicated their entire musical compositions in thought of honor and supreme surrender .
But with changing social construct and foreign invasions- lot of rapid changes started happening which obviously reflected in the way music was perceived . The medieval composers such as Annamayya and Saint Thyagaraja who came later chose to write compositions which reflect the social conditions of their age – in order to instill some thought into the rasikas . What good is such music which cannot be reached to the common public of reflect the current day problems such as greed , jealousy , rat race by forgetting the ultimate purposeof life ? Perhaps these gifted composers felt the need of social responsibility through music quite much in advance even before reformers actually realized the importance of it !
The early composer Annamayya has witnessed untouchability and caste system being rampant and composed the brilliant keerthana Brahmamokkate in Bowli raagam . The lines :
Mendaina Brahmanudu Mettu Bhoomi Okate .. Chendaaludundeti Sadi Bhoomi Okate
( The highest caste Brahmin will die in the same ground .. and the lower caste shoodra is living in the mee
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30 highonscore . com js iee cee same ground ) makes the listener think about this social evil at a deeper level .
Let us dwell into the immortal words of Saint Thyagaraja in some of his select kritis which are even more wonderful to relish :
In the pancharatna kriti Dudukugala Nannedora in raaga Gowla , Saint Thyagaraja explains the fickle minded nature of human beings on how they run behind fleeting treasures of money , materialistic posessions and forgetting the brilliance of divinity . In the anupallavi :
Anupallavi : Kadudur Vishaya Krushtudai Gadiyaa Gadiyaaru Nindaaru
( I dwell in many sins in which I am slammed every moment by moment !)
Charanam 4 : Paradhanamulakora ku norula madi karaka baliki kadupu nim pa thirigi natti
( I went behind the riches of others and hurted people repeatedly for personal gains )
Charanam 5 : Thana madh ni bhuvini soukyapu jeevana me Yanuchu sada dinamulu kadipe
( I am such a sinner that I am in a false notion that materialistic living is indeed happy living )
Charanam 10 : Sathulakai Konnaallasthi kai Suthulakai konnallu dhana thadulakai thirigithinaiya thiagaraajaa ptha ituvanti Dudukugala Nanne Dora Koduku Brochura ..
( For some days I wandered for wives , then I wandered for kids , then for money- which king ’ s son would help me ( referring to Lord Rama ) from this aggressive attitude ?)
Even in the eternal composition Entha Nerchina in Suddha Dhanyasi- Thyagaraja sarcastically comments on those men who become slaves of their physical pleasures and taking the eternity of life for granted . He also pleads the God in the kriti Gnanamosagaraada composed in the raaga Purvi Kalyani to give the right knowledge , instead of the one which misguides the purpose of life .
Hail these amazing composers who defy the rules and regulations of Carnatic Classical music being only devotional oriented but also highly responsible for a better society ! hee
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