Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Malayalam cult movie - classmates



If you are a Malayali from Kerala, then you have seen this movie many times over. If you have not, then you must.

If you are not a Malayali and want to know why this movie is becoming a cult for the new generation Keralites, then you should watch too. Is this a musical with songs and dance? Sure it is. Are people falling in love in this movie? Sure they do. So what is the difference?

The difference is the subtle ways in which the lovers fall in love. What is granted to lovers as a right in today's bollywood is a mere luxury in this movie. It is kind of a journey backwards. It is not about the freedom of expressing love. But the lack of it. It is not about the happily ever after end. But the lost opportunity to live happily ever after. And you kind of feel that love from a distance is a bit bitter sweet than the love from near.

The one song that captures the mood of the movie is 'Ente Khalbile Vennilav Nee Nalla Paattukara.....'

Ente Khalbile Vennilav Nee Nalla Paattukara.....
Thattamittu Nhan Kathu vachoren Mullamottiloorum....Atharonnu vendee...
Atharonnu Vendee....
Ente Koottukaraa...Suthante Chelu kara......

Continues..........

It is a very powerful song and unfortunately you need to know malayalam to fully appreciate it. I tried to capture the essence of the song in the following lines. My apologies to Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma (writer of this song) for taking the liberty of translating the song for non malayalai readers.

In the movie, this song is penned by a muslim girl, clad in black burqa and veil, for her secret admirer. The guy is the popular singer in the college and manages to get hold of her poetry and gives life to her secret desires.

Here is the translation.

You beautiful singer – moonlight is upon my soul.

Moonlight is upon my soul listening to your tunes
Take; my good friend; the scent treasured in Veil
The jasmine buds are for you to sniff - Sultan of mighty charm
Hidden are my desires behind the screen of my veil – the way I lived
You beautiful singer – moonlight is upon my soul

I could be the sweet thing in your smile- milky bright
Could be your beat – forever mine
Wished you saw me dancing in a wedding eve
Hands were made with mehndi - wished to see my sultan’s charm
Hidden are my desires behind the screen of my veil – the way I lived
You beautiful singer – moonlight is upon my soul

Guitar strings – tense and ready for music
That’s how you stood near me
My hands were for you to take – but you did not
I was ready to hum with you, let loose the claps
Anklets teased me to break into steps – many times over
Hidden are my desires behind the screen of my veil – the way I lived
You beautiful singer – moonlight is upon my soul.



__________________________________________________

The full version of malayalam song


Ente Khalbile Vennilav Nee Nalla Paattukara

Ente Khalbile Vennilav Nee Nalla Paattukara.....
Thattamittu Nhan Kathu vachoren Mullamottiloorum....Atharonnu vendee...
Atharonnu Vendee....
Ente Koottukaraa...Suthante Chelu kara......

Ninte punchiri palinullile panchasarayavaam...
Ninte Nenjile thappu muttumay ennumenteyavaam.....
Oppanacku nee kooduvan.....Mylanji monjonnu kanuvaan....
Enthumathramennagrahangale moodi vechu njan....

Ente Khalbile Vennilav Nee Nalla Paattukara.....
Thattamittu Nhan Kathu vachoren Mullamottiloorum....Atharonnu vendee...
Atharonnu Vendee....
Ente Koottukaraa...Suthante Chelu kara......

Thottu meettuvan ulla thanthrikal pottumenna polee..
Thottatuthu nee ninnuvenkilum kye thodanjathendee...
Lalanangalil mooluvaan..kyethalamittonnu paduvan....
Ethra vattamen kal chilankakal konjiyennoo.....

Ente Khalbile Vennilav Nee Nalla Paattukara.....
Thattamittu Nhan Kathu vachoren Mullamottiloorum....Atharonnu vendee...
Atharonnu Vendee....
Ente Koottukaraa...Suthante Chelu kara......

7 comments:

Sree said...

I appreciate any comments on the song. You may also leave feedback on the translation.

Unknown said...

I am yet to see the movie; but have heard the songs multiple times and liked it a lot. I actually like the fun song 'zindabaad' the most because of it's catchy tune and funny lyrics and moreover the picturization (involving Jayasuryar's name as Kanji written on side of the wall and "kuzhi" on the another side.

Your translation is beautiful. Happy to read your poem (eventhough translated) after a long time. The song is really simple, but very effective and it's coming across in your translation as well !

Thanks a lot for taking the pain (or pleasure) in posting it to a larger audience.

BIJU

Unknown said...

Hi Sreeresh,

I have seen this movie. Talking about the movie, I would say, this is one of the best movies I have seen in the past many years. I liked almost each and every scene from this movie.

Vayalar Saratchandra Varma really brought us back the good old melodies with this movie.

But the good thing, I liked about this movie is that it made me think a lot about our college days. There was Suku, Pious, Satheesh Kanji Kuzhi, Tara, Penguin Raziya etc in different faces amongst us too.

Your transalation was good. I would better appreciate it in Malayalam, but I am sure a non-malayalee will appreciate this much better.

Did you think about the song "Kaattadi Thanalum...."

sajee said...

Sree, I would say that's a great attempt to translate those 'sentimental recollection' which is so powerfully reflective, melancholic and nostalgic of 90's campus! As the translation goes mainly to replicate original song, I feel, somewhere it loses the 'mood' of poetry. I would probably think to gather the power of inner feelings accentuate into the beauty of poetry. Nevertheless, you have portrayed it well.

After hearing this song repeatedly, what I felt, the tunes & music were well poised with Vineeth's voice. Listen to his voice, I could well feel the 'sting of lost love' or should I say 'twinge in the heart'. I tried to imagine how it could have been if it was sung by other great singers in Malayalam. Only other singer who could have recreated the 'nostalgia', I feel, is Karthik... (Remember his song in 'Akale')

Success of this movie is its storyline, narration, haunting music and a long lost campus life...(as Pre-Degree vanished from colleges, it's really unimaginable how dead the campus could be!!!!)

Many scenes in this movie takes one back to 90's campus, so vibrant and lively! In that way, classmates has succeeded...

Continue your good efforts to make this a 'delicious global indian curry', add less 'masala', please...but make it spicy!

Best wishes...

RS said...

Hai I am a non malayali who know a bit of malayalam and loves to see good malayalm movies. I had seen this movie around 4 times. And i love this song for its music. I was pestering my mallu friends for the meaning of the song. But they were too lazy for that. I did try in web for the translation. But today my quest won. The translation is wonderful. Thanks for ur work.

Anonymous said...

Hi guys im from chennai. I have seen Calssmate movie around 10 to 15 times. Romantic + Suspence + Comedy = Classmate.Ente kalbhile song is really fantastic.I couldnt findout which one is good,whether the music or Sujatha. And i would like to know the meaning of the song "Kaathirunna pennalle". If anyone know the URL or Meaning of this song,Please post it here..... Thanks a lot in advance

IJ said...

Hey,
Came across your page while looking for a translation of this song......it is simply beautiful.