Bhaavageete: Soulful songs for hearfelt emotions – 1

1. sthavira giriya chalanadaase :- A beautiful poem “honala raaNi” written by shri pu.ti.na that is full of life just as the river that it portrays! The words are playful, rhythmic and continue to stay in one’s mind. The vivid portrayal that describes the running brook as the mountain’s wish for motion, the babbling of the silent forest, [ sthavira giriya chalandaase, mUkavanada gItadaase ] appeals immediately to the listener’s wild imaginations.
2. laghuvaagele mana geluvaagele mana :- This is a song that I have often heard, another composition by pu.ti.na, that has off late given me new thoughts to ponder upon. The poet implores the mind to lighten off, and be happy, for in the lightness shall it rise out to meet the Lord. He asks it to give up the ego, and in giving up, it shall rise! Further the poet explains to the soul that it shall remain tainted, were it to attach itself to him, (nagaMTalu nInAguve kashmala) but if it were to relinquish the identity with the body, it shall remain pure (nanna toreye nee nirmala nishkaLa)! Dr Rajkumar has lent his voice very efficiently for this song. His another song in the form of a ballad is “Ako shaama avaLe raadhe” – a depiction of the joyous playfulness of the gopis in the company of Radha and Krishna!!
3. Amma ninna edeyaaLadalli gaaLakke sikka meenu :- A composition by B R Lakshman Rao, this song is all about the craving in the heart of the child to grow beyond the shackles of affection, and explore new frontiers! Though one can feel the underlying force trying to pull off from the tyings of the relations, it nevertheless realizes the everlasting bonding that is not possible to be cut! For finally the poet assures of the return – [ indhana teeralu baMdE baruvenu matte ninna toDege mUrta prEmadeDege ].
4. Jaali baarinalli kUtu pOli geLeyaru :- B R Lakshman Rao is a poet of the present genre! His compositions reflect the freshness of the younger generation and as such are very popular amongst them. Of special mention is this song, that describes the plight of a guy who goes to a gentlemen’s club for the first time! The simple language, and humorous description of the feelings “gopi”- the character that visits the club, as the dancers entices him makes one laugh heartily! For the many who feel that poetic compositions are all about deep emotions, such compositions are an eye-opener. Deftly set to tune and sung by C Ashwath, Raju Ananthswamy, and others, this song is my all time favorites among BRL’s works.
5. Naa chikkavanaagiddaga :- At a very young age, I had happened to listen a wonderful English classic song – Lemon Tree. It had stuck in my head ever since, and when I chanced upon the kannada version of this song, evidently, my heart was set on it too! Infact this song introduced me to the compositions of BRL, which I have been thoroughly enjoying ever since. The other songs of BRL that I love are “hELi hOgu kaaraNa“, “neenu mugilu naanu nela“, “nanna hRudayava ninage nIDide“, “nODida avanu heege nODida“, “baNNisale heNNe Enu baNNisale heNNe“.
6. Hoovu horaLuvavu sUryana kaDege :- Composed by H S Venkatesha murthy, this song was a regular feature in the “geeta chitra” aired by Bangalore Doordarshan. The song is catchy due to the optimism brewed in every word of it! It is rich in its visual description, and beautifully worded. Slightly philosophical that celebrates the wonders of nature, it feeds the listener sumptuously with lines like “giDadiMduduruva elegaLigU muda, chiguruvAgalU oMde hada ….. nelada oDalinoLagEnu naDevudO, elli kuLitahano kalaavida!!” The other compositions of HSV that are among my favorites include “toredu hOgadiro jOgi” (a kannada translation of Meera bai’s bhajan), “hucchu KODi manasu“, etc.
7. nanna iniyana neleya balleyEne :- A Composition by N S Lakshminarayan Bhatta, this is a beautiful and simple song that show cases the yearning of the loved one for her lover! She describes the abilities of her lover who can listen to the ant crawling, the flower blooming, and the melting of the early morn fog, but yet turns a deaf ear towards her heart! His other compositions include “hinde hEge chimmutittu“, “ninna neeti adaava neeti“, “elli jaaritO manavu elle meeritO”, “I baanu I chukki I hUvu I hakki” and others.
8. Huvu araLuva munna :- K S Narasimha swamy needs absolutely no introduction for the avid fans of kannada poetry! His poems overflow with the affection and beauty of innocent love and marital bliss! His poems are akin to the fresh april showers that drench the wreatched land, giving rise to the fresh aroma of the wet sand that lingers on for days to come – freshening up the entire scenery! One can go on listing and writing treatises on his compositions! Simple compositions that celebrate the simpleness of life, love, and optimism! One song that I have to mention herein is his “attitta nODadiru attu horaLaaDadiru” – a song that I used to listen everyday before going to sleep. 🙂
9. ella maretiruvaaga illa sallada nevava :- Every kannadiga would certainly join when singing the song “Jogada siri beLakinalli” – a composition by Shri K S Nissar Ahmed that celebrates the cultural, religious, and geographical richeness of our land! His other compositions are rich in their emotional expressions! This song for example implores the past memories to not return to the present! His other compositions include “mattade besara adE sanje adE Ekaanta“, “nee nuDiyadiralEnu“, “naaDa dEviye kande ninna”, “beNNe kadda namma kRushna“, etc.
10. KuruDu kaanchaaNa kuNiyutalittu :- dattAtreya raamchandra bEMdre, da.ra. bEMdre, aMbikaatanaya datta – call him anything, use any adjectives, write poems, stories, essays, conduct festivities in his name! And yet, one shall fall short of encompassing the essence of his works, and his life! There are some people on whom we do not even qualify to comment let alone sing their praises! He ranks in that elite group of people whom one can just admire and worship in silence. He is so much a part of our lives, and yet so high in altar than common man, that sometimes even to write of his personality fills my eyes with tears of devotion and admiration. My favorites in his compositions? I would not even dare to list them! For I am afraid, I will not be able to stop.

Some aspects of writing on certain topics include the vastness and variety of the subject selected! After much procrastination, I did decide to write on the bhaavageetes of Kannada. And now that I have started, with much trepidation I have realized that I am trying to muster the vast sea of compositions into my cup of hands! In doing so, I have left out so many of the equally eminent poets and compositions that it reeks the heart of guilt! But then, this isn’t the end! I will surely write more on this pretty soon! Meanwhile, feel free to write in your own picks into this list! I am sure anukta will have a whole horde of them to be listed in here 😛