Kummi adi!!

"Kummi adi kummi adi" --- music screaming into my ears through my headphones! Listening to this song in loop (I cant count the number of times I’ve listened to it now...) For those of you who are alien to Tamil music or just one of those not-so-updated kinds, this song is from A.R. Rahman’s not-so-latest Tamil movie – "Sillendru (or jillendru.. Whatever) oru kadhal"...

Rahman’s back with his magic once again, to tickle every sensory nerve in your body! He’s woven every song with a touch of class... He has managed to retain the native flavors yet modernized even our traditional "kummi paatu" without making it sound like a horrendous remix with all the alleged ‘in vogue’ wannabe hip-hop pieces fit into matchless nodes in a song!

Seerkazhi Siva Chidambaram with his open throated rendition coupled with versatile (and heavily talented) Naresh Iyer’s performance do absolute justice to this song... Flawless rendition of the kummi paatu! Not forgetting to mention the subtle touch that Swarnalatha brings in and Theni Kunjarammal Amma’s trademark style that makes this foot-tapping number an absolute joy to listen to! Hats off to Rahman for having brought in the right voices for the song! He has shown his expertise by expressing authenticity of folk music, yet westernizing the same amidst a modern day Iyer – wedding setup!!

"Avalaku enna amba samutharam, Iyer hotel Alva maadhiri, thaazham poovena thala thala thalavena vandha vandha paaru!" – An absolutely pretty pun made of a typical shy Iyer bride! Makes me smile when I listen to this line... J **bows** to Vaali for lyrics…

Another musical that draws me towards Tam-brahm weddings is the traditional Aandaal Kalyaanam. Aandaal Kalyaanam is a set of songs which recounts the life of Aandaal, from her birth to her merging with her chosen Lord - Ranganatha. The marriage of Aandaal and Vishnu is depicted as an actual event in accordance with the well-known dream of Aandaal. Thanks to Jaya Athai (our music teacher) it has never failed to evoke an hour long interest in me about marriage (an hour when I am in the class, that is). When we sing verses like "vaNdinam muralum nalla sOlai, vaLar thaNdirum aranga nagar mAlai kandu..." it irrefutably sends butterflies shooting through my stomach and has me horripilating.
Aandaal Kalyaanam very beautifully and effectively portrayed that Tam-brahm (yeah! we are working on it to make it sound more Iyerish) marriages are the nicest occasions ever (minus all the drab dowry-"seer" routines)… Every mantra, every ritual has its beauty… its significance and sanctity…

An Iyer marriage that commences with a Sumangali Prarthanai goes through Vratam, Naandi, Nischayadhaartham, Kasi Yaatrai, Oonjal, Kanyadanam, Mangalyadharanam, Paanigrahanam and finally the Saptapathi.

I mean, just think about it... Kasi yaatrai, Oonjal, Nalangu… Madisaar, metti, thaali, akshadhai… And the good old kummi paatu!!

The Rahman song reminds me of all the beautiful things about Iyer weddings and lets me bask in the moments of togetherness, sweet traditions, celebrations, joy! Join me – "kummi adi penne kummi adi... yele! Ole!"…

Or better still... "Kalyaana samayal saadham, kaaigarigalum pramaadham, andha gowrava prasadam, ithuve enakku podhum!!"

Bhojanam seyya vaarungo :)

P.S. :

1. Guyz, this is dedicated to my youngest cousin Maanasa (I quite don't know why, but I am remembering her a lot today) and my best friend, Gowri who's wedding is the most eagerly awaited one for me this season...
   
2. Pics. courtsey: vaddikadaiyer's (Sunadri and Shekhar wedding), saapadu pic from my friend Ammu's wedding album.