Kaveri - The Mahanadhi

Mahanadhi - a Tamil movie from 1993. The movie should have been named as Kaveri. This movie is one of a kind which some of Kamal movies fall under - critically acclaimed, appreciated whenever telecasted in television, and of course a not so good performer at box office upon theatrical release.

There are many high points in this movie

(i) of course Kamalhasan and the other cast - Cochin Haneefa, Suganya, Shobana, Poornam Vishwanathan, SN Lakshmi and others,

(ii) Ilaiyaraaja's music - background score of the movie stood apart. For anyone, pointing out top 10 of Ilaiyaraaja's background score will be uphill task. Mahanadhi has to be there in it - for taking the emotions of the movie to another level.

(iii) Dialogues - Top notch dialogues. Episodes between Poornam Vishwanathan and Kamalhasan in prison is one example. Direction - Santhanabarathi

(iv) Many other aspects which made the movie so special.

These strengths are required for any movie to stand apart. This man made this movie even more special. His beautiful lines - Kavignar Vaali.

What is the story of Mahanadhi? A person from a village moves to Chennai, goes bankrupt, loses his family, goes to jail, gets released, finds his family members back, takes revenge and goes to jail, gets back to his place after serving his sentence in jail. This emotional drama had all its ingredients in correct place.

The makers made this timeless drama more special by making river Kaveri a prime character. This special character is made even more special by Vaali. Who can be a better person to write about Kaveri than Vaali, who had his best part of his life at its banks.

Another version of the story!

Kaveri, the Mahanadhi, makes the people who depend on it, happy and prosperous by giving away its water. All the areas it flows by is fertile. People make their living by farming making use of its water. The lives of the people around are mainly because of this river. The protagonist is a landlord and has a special bonding with the river. He praises the river (courtesy: Vaali), enjoys the life over there. Trouble starts when the protagonist moves beyond the vicinity of Kaveri. He loses its wealth that came to him because of Kaveri, he misses his children, goes to jail, comes back, fights to get his children, comes back to banks of Kaveri.. The makers have beautifully integrated Kaveri throughout the film. How? By building conversations between Kaveri and Kamalhasan through songs.

Yeah, the songs! Vaali, the legend uplifted the emotional drama to the best of its kind in Indian cinema so far.

Let us go through how he made it so special. The temple song from the family - Sriranga ranganathanin, the conversations songs - four songs in the same tune - Pongal song, Anbana thayai vittu, Engeyo thikku thesai and Thanmanam ulla nenjam - all written by Vaali made it special. The idea of having same tune at four different places has to be applauded.

Why these songs are special?

When the idea of a person's love to his land is conceived, they have made it a point - Kaveri, a prime character in the movie. Kamal's love to the river, in return the motherly love of river towards everyone have been well portrayed. Portrayed through ofcourse the Kamal's acting and the beautiful lines of Vaali. Let us go through the songs.

1. Sriranga ranganathanin

The first song of the movie - showing the protagonist's family. The song praises the lord Ranganathan and Kaveri, which forms the good life of most of the families in the Kaveri belt.

Kaveri is referred as Thengangai in pallavi. First charanam speaks about the Ranganathan. Second charanam praises the Kaveri.

Here goes the lines

Kannadam Thaai Veedu Ènrirunthaalum

Kanni Un Maruveedu Thennagamaagum

Gangaiyin Maelaana Kaaviri Theertham

Mangala Neeraada Munvinai Theerkkum

Neervannam Èngum Maevida Nanjai Punjaigal Paaradi

Oørvannam Ènna Køøruvaen Dhaeva Løagamae Thaanadi

Vaerengu Šendra Pøthilum Intha Inbangal Aethadi..

These lines portray how Kaveri is filled in the minds of Kamal and how it is seen godly.

It says Kaveri is holier than Ganga. It also says life cannot be this good in any other places.

The bond of the protagonist and Kaveri is well established in the song.

2. Pongalo Pongal

First of the songs of same tune.

Here goes the lyrics

Thai Pongalum Vanthathu Paalum Ponguthu 

Paattu Solladiyo

Vanna Mangaiyar Aadidum Mahaanathiyai

Potri Solladiyo

Intha Ponni Enbaval Thennaattavarkku Anbin Annaiyadi

Ival Thanneer Endroru Aadai Kattidum Theiva Mangaiyadi

Muppaattan Kaalam Thottu Muppogam Yaaraalae

Kalmaedu Thaandivarum Kaavaeri Neeraalae

Sethoda Saerntha Vithai Naathu Vidaathaa

Naathodu Sethi Solla Kaatru Varaathaa

Sevaazha Sengarumbu Saathi Malli Thottam Dhaan

Ellaamae Ingirukka Aethum Illa Vaattam Dhaan

Namma Sorgam Enbathu Mannil Ullathu Vaanil Illaiyadi

Namma Inbam Enbathu Kannil Ullathu Kanavil Illaiyadi

Thanneer Endroru Aadai Kattidum Theiva Mangai - Kaveri a Godly woman who wore water as her saree. What a writing by the great Vali! 

Pongal - a festival which is celebration of the land, farming etc., I am not diving deep into it since most of the readers would be Tamils and would be aware of Pongal. Other, please google and get more insights.

For people in the banks of Kaveri, all their wealth and life is due to the river. This song is a celebration song and it praises Kaveri throughout. It says all the living from their ancestors time is due to agriculture, which is because of the Kaveri. When there is this prosperity, this is the heaven in land, there is no heaven in skies - writes Vaali. Every farmer will agree to it. Where else can be a heaven?

Thus this song shows the love of people towards Kaveri and how they treat it. 

3. Anbana Thaayai vittu

Second of the same tune song

The song is how the land and Kaveri  are like mother and how it feels for the family leaving from the place

The lyrics goes like

Anbana Thaayai Vittu Engae Nee Ponalum

Neengaamal Unnai Sutrum Ennangal Ennaalum

Aiyaa Un Kaalgal Patta Bhoomi Saayumadi

Engaeyum Aethum Illa Eedu Sollumbadi

Kaveri Alaigal Vanthu Karaiyil Unnai Thaedidum

Kaanamal Varuthapattu Thalai Kuvinthu Oadidum

Oru Bantham Enbathum Paasam Enbathum Vaeru Vitta Idam

Ithai Vittalum Nenjai Vaazha Vaipathu Vaeru Entha Idam

Than Mannaivittoru Kuruvi Kudumbham Paranthu Poguthadi

Thaan Innal Varaikum Iruntha Kootai Maranthu Poguthadi

Intha Nenjil Ippadi Aasai Vanthoru Kolam Ittathadi

Ithil Nanmai Koodattum Theemai Oadattum Kaalam Vitta Vazhi..

Another great lyrics. Vaali being a person from the banks of Kaveri did great justice to this album. Be it Kaveri, Thamirabarani or any other river, it holds true. Which can be a better place than where ones roots were from?

The place/ Kaveri itself is considered as the mother here. The song says, the waves of Kaveri come and search for the protoganist and it go heads down not able to see him. Though separated, the Kaveri land says Nanmai koodattum and theemai odattum. Nature of mother is nature of Kaveri. Love you Vaali.

4. Engeyo thikku thesai

Third song of the same tune

Protagonist sings it after rescuing his daughter from brothel. Highly emotional scene of the movie. This songs starts with a Bengali rower singing great about Ganga. 

Here goes the lyrics

எங்கேயோ திக்கு திசை காணாத தூரம்தான்

அம்மாடி வந்ததென்ன என் வாழ்கை ஓடம்தான்

காவேரி தீரம் விட்டு கால்கள் வந்ததடி

காணாத சோகம் எல்லாம் கண்கள் கண்டதடி

கைமாறி நான் வளர்த்த பச்சைக்கிளி போனது

கண்ணார நானும்காண இத்தனை நாள் ஆனது

இரு கண்ணே செந்தமிழ்த்தேனே தந்தையின் பாசம் வென்றதடி

பசும் பொன்னே செவ்வந்திப்பூவே இத்துடன் சோகம் சென்றதடி

நான் கங்கா நதியை காணும் பொழுது உண்மை விளங்குது

அட இங்கே குளிக்கும் மனிதன் அழுக்கில் கங்கை கலங்குது

சில பொல்லா மனங்கள் பாவக்கறையை நீரில் கழுவுது

இந்த முட்டாள்தனத்தை எங்கே சொல்லி நானும் அழுவது

He confesses at this point, that all sorrows followed him when he moved out of the banks of Kaveri river through this song

5. Thanmanam ulla nenjam

Fourth song of the same tune

Thanmaanam Ulla Nenjam Ennalum Thaazhathu

Sevaanam Minnal Vetti Panneru Veezhathu

Kavaeri Thaai Madiyil Vaazhtha Pillaiyadi

Kaatradi Poal Irunthu Veezhvathilaiyadi

Ambana Uravu Kandu Koodukatti Aaduvaen

Annalil Naan Iruntha Vaazhkaiyathaan Thaeduvaen..

Andru Sonnaan Bharathi Solliya Vaarthaigal Thoatrathillaiyadi..

Enthan Ennam Ennum Tholvi Enbathai Aetrathillaiyadi..

The mood of the revenge. Starts with a Bharathiyar poem and comes to this song. The protagonist saying proudly that he grew up in the laps of Mother Kaveri and would not fall down like a kite. 

What songs! What a way to put it! No film has spoken about the love to a place like Mahanadhi did. Vaali took it to different league with his lyrics. Of course Ilaiyaraaja, the God of music and the genius Kamal Haasan. 

Hear the songs in the order I have mentioned. Movie will run through. You can relaize the love of the Mann and the man - Vaali.

I am not a person from Kaveri Land. So I will not be able to give full justice. Seeing his love, my love towards the mountain ranges, coconut trees, the palm plantains, Pazhaiyaaru, the beautiful breeze, scenic beauties of my place increased exponentially. Pazhaiyaaru is my Kaveri and Erachakulam is my swargam.

Had the name of the movie been Kaveri, it would have been - Actually I am not able to give a correct word here..