Life is not a dream. It is precious

Life is not a dream. It is precious.

Do not surrender your life to a torrent of tears.

Wild breeze blows hard at times

and delicate plants of flowers fall on earth.

Do you leave those plants to themselves without any compassion?

Don’t you care for them? Don’t you water those plants?

Don’t you allow those plants to blossom with flowers again?

Is it sensible to search for things in a place surrounded by darkness?

Why do you succumb to sorrow, and utter words of helplessness?

With the light of courage showing the way, always go ahead.

Don’t you know that there are pearls

hidden inside the vast sea that is unfathomable?

Rest assured to find pleasure amidst wails of sorrow.

Nothing comes to you on its own:

you can not own anything without your own effort

Be on the search always. Make an earnest effort to achieve.

It is the true mark of a brave person.

This write-up is based on the song “Kala Kaanidi Viluvainadi…” from Velugu Needalu (1964) featuring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri. This song was written by Sri Sri and set to music by Pendyala. The song was rendered by Ghantasaala. This movie was directed by Adurthi Subba Rao.

Readers of other languages who enjoy the melody in this Telugu film song can also have a glimpse into its meaning.

We never find answers to the riddles of life.

Question:

There are places, known as mirages that our eyes find filled with water; and our hands can not reach this water. There is no water in mirages.

There are people endowed with youthful splendour, but these souls do not find the joy of living.

There are fruits that take birth from earth, but fail to satisfy the hunger of anyone.

There are thoughts that fill the mind, but never appear as words of speech.

IIf God has created this world, why did He contemplate its destruction as well?

If God has bestowed people with speech, why did He make the dumb?

If God has gifted people with eyes, why did He make the blind?

If God has brought light into the world, why did He create darkness as well?

This creation of God is full of inconsistencies and contradictions.

Reply:

Even great pundits well-versed in Vedas, do not know the true nature of this creation.

We know so little. It is unfair to make fun of the One who bestowed us with knowledge.

Life is full of riddles with unknown answers. The multitude of people move ahead never finding any answers. The world has always gone through this phase. Searching for answers to the riddles of life is a futile exercise.

Instead of searching for answers to the riddles of life, it is wise to lead ones life as it unfolds.

This write-up is based on the song “Kanulaku dochi chethikandani…” from the Telugu movie Baatasaari (1961) featuring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Bhanumathi. This song was written by Senior Samudrala and set to music by Master Venu. The song was rendered by Bhanumathi and Jikki. This movie was directed by P.S.Ramakrishna.

Padma Vibhushan Akkineni Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 78-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films. He has played the lead role in over 256 Telugu films and 26 Tamil films. Out of all these movies he has a personal liking for his role as Surendranath in Batasari (1961)—his first choice as his favorite role.

The conversation between Manorama and Madhavi is a treat to readers who love literature and philosophy.