There are only seven musical notes…

There are only seven swaras on the musical scale;

the ragas they create are innumerable!
The heart is one though,
countless are the thoughts and feelings it emanates;
feet we have two
but they create steps for dances—numerous and new

The letters in the alphabet in our language
one can count on finger tips,
but the literary works they create
can anyone ever assess!

There is agony in birth
and there is also agony in death.
But between these agonies and grief
don’t men make history in weaving music
on the lines of the Vedas and great vibrations!

Tomorrow is an unsolved puzzle today,
and when tomorrow comes,
the next day poses another riddle!
Caught inside the trap of time,
there are countless queries to be answered.
Since we have internal eyes,
we cannot escape from dreams.
While we enjoy our dreams,
can we break away from nightmares?

This write-up is based on the song “Swaramulu Edaiyana…” from the Telugu movie Thoorpu - Padamara (1976) featuring Srividya and Narasimha Raju. This song was written by Dr. C. Narayana Reddy and set to music on raga Sivaranjani by Ramesh Naidu. The song was rendered by P.Suseela. This movie was directed by Dasari Narayana Rao.

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

What else? This is bliss, my dear!

This is bliss, my dear!
What else? This is bliss!
Time does not stop for us.
We live for such a short span,
and it is a sheer magic of a few moments!

You have today for certain,
and tomorrow for you is quite unsure.
It is a waste of time
to think that there is something beyond this world.
Living on those lines of thinking
is a waste of time!
The reward of this life
is drinking the essence of pleasure.

A sensuous beauty—your girl—your love
is in your embrace.
Is there anything beyond the enjoyment
of your relationship with her,
and beyond the song and dance with her?
Believe me, there is nothing!
Is there any ultimate purpose to your pleasures of life?
There is nothing!
Nothing!

This write-up is based on the song “Anandamidenoyi Sakhaa …” from the Telugu movie Panduranga Mahathyam (1957) featuring Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao and B. Saroja Devi. This song was written by Junior Samudrala and set to music by T. V. Raju. The song was rendered by P. Suseela. This movie was directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao.The protagonist, Pundareeka, is a non-believer in his youth. This song is a justification for his initial materialistic attitude. He thinks that “It is a waste of time to think that there is something beyond this world!” Later, when adversity strikes at him, he receives God-realization and turns into a believer, and becomes a great devotee!

The invisible God has appeared before me!

God, the invisible, has appeared before me!
He has appeared, and in a moment has gone out of my vision.

Over there, inside the blue sky
appeared your form like a bright light.
With tears of delight,
my eyes got inundated with your sight,
and became blur with your appearance.
I could not see your form to my heart’s content.
Have compassion on me, and appear once before me.

When attractive little Krishna became visible,
entire Brindavanam has gone into ecstasy.
On the waves of river Yamuna,
the ruler of night, the Moon, has sent a flood of smiles.
Devotee Raadha has bathed herself in that joyful moonlight

I turn myself into the divine flower Paarijaatham

by entwining myself with love.
I am aware of my limits,
and do not dream of winning your heart!
I am a mere virgin flower that grew from earthy grass.
I just place myself before your lotus feet.

This write-up is based on the song “Kanaraani Devude Kanipinchinaade …” from the Telugu movie Rangula Raatnam (1966) featuring Vanisree, Anjali Devi, Vijaya Nirmala, and Chandra Mohan. This song was written by Dasarathi and set to music by Saluri Rajeswara Rao. The song was rendered by P.Suseela. This movie was directed by B. N. Reddy. 

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

I am a normal woman, your woman!

I am not a wooden log nor am I a lifeless twig;
I am not a rock nor am I a small pebble
to remain undisturbed in the face of adversity!
I am an ordinary mortal with all usual feelings and failings!
I am a normal woman, your woman!

I too have a heart of my own,
and I too have my own likings and desires like my fellow humans.
My eyes too have dreams of their own,
and if those dreams are not fulfilled,
to well up in those eyes there are always tears!

You have brought a lamp to me,
you have placed a wick in it,
you have filled it with oil,
and you have lured me that you would light the lamp.
When you do not have any qualms for doing other things,
why do you have doubts to light the lamp?

It would be fine, if you make fun of a human.
But never make fun of the human heart!
Heart gets ruptured when hurt.
It is not possible to make it normal again!

I am not a wooden log nor am I a lifeless twig;
I am not a rock nor am I a small pebble
to remain undisturbed in the face of adversity!
I am an ordinary mortal with all usual feelings and failings!
I am a normal woman, your woman! 

This write-up is based on the song “Maanu Maakunu Kaanu …” from the Telugu movie Mooga Manasulu (1963) featuring Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, and Jamuna. This song was written by Acharya Athreya and set to music by K V Mahadevan. The song was rendered by P Suseela. 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.