Song: Ghallu Ghallu
Film: Swarna Kamalam
Lyrics: Sirivennela Seetharama Sasthry
Music: Ilaiyaraaja
Direction: K.Vishwanath
Other key personalities associated: Jandhyala, the genius, wrote the dialogues.
This song, "Ghallu Ghallu" is another song in the film that has a very argumentative structure (not to be confused with conversational structure).
Premise: The heroine doesnt like classical dance/music while the hero loves them. The heroine longs for independence, riches and comforts.
Situation: Hero comes to heroine's father to learn dance and the father starts with a demo class, asking the hero to dance according to taalam. But the heroine pulls of a prank but not giving the hero his dance-anklets and instead she replicates those sounds herself with the anklets in her hands and purposefully makes mistakes. The hero, finally holds her hands and does the sound according to the taalam. Thats where the director cuts the scene into a dream song - where the hero and heroine argue with each other about the merits of dance and demerits of materialistic desires.
Now, i cannot translate all the lines, because some of the words are too steep in literature and beyond my grasp. But i will try.
Ghallu Ghallu Ghallu Mantu Merupalle Thullu
Jhallu Jhallu Jhalluna Vuppongu Ningi Vollu
Nalla Mabbu Challanee Challani Chiru Jallu
Nalla Mabbu Challanee Challani Chiru Jallu
Pallavinchani Nelaku Pachhani Paravallu
Ghallu - in telugu, is the phonetic word for the sound of dance-anklets. and Jhallu is the phonetic word associated with the sound of water.
The first 1 lines mean: with those anklet sounds, shine like a lightning... so that the (body of) sky shall be full...
2nd two lines: Notice the two words "Challanee" and "challani". even in telugu, the spelling is same. But the meaning gets differentiated according to context and usage. "challanee" means "let it sprinkle" and "challani" means "cold". The poet used both words very intelligently. the sentences mean, "let the black clouds sprinkle, cold sweet showers". The last line is difficult to translate though i know its meaning. it roughly translates as "let the earth be adorned/ornamented with green"..
Now the heroine counters it.
Ghallu Ghallu Ghallu Mantu Merupalle Thullu
Jhallu Jhallu Jhalluna Vuppongu Ningi Vollu
Velluvochhi Saaganee Tholakari Allarlu
Yella Lannave Yerugani Veegam Tho Vellu
The last 2 lines mean: "Let the just-born mischiefs go on for a while... Go with a speed/energy such that there are no boundaries for you..." (absolutely pathetic translation, but thats what i could get).
Ghallu Ghallu Ghallu Mantu Merupalle Thullu
Jhallu Jhallu Jhalluna Vuppongu Ningi Vollu
Hero:
Layake Nilayamai Neepaadham Saagaali
A Ha Ha Ha
Malayaanila Gathilo Suma Baalaga Thoogaali
Ha Ha Ha
1st line: Your feet must dance, by becoming the 'nilayam' (centre) for Laya
2nd line: Sorry, I cant translate!
Heroine:
Valalo Vodugunaa Viharinche Chirugaali
Selayetiki Natanam Nerpinche Guruvedi
1st line: The breeze that wanders, will it ever be caught in any net?
2nd line: Is there any teacher who can teach the selayeru (stream from mountains) to dance?
Nice rhymes in "viharinche chirugaali" and "nerpinche guruvedi"
Hero:
Thirige Kaalaaniki... Aaaa Aaaaa
Thirige Kaalaaniki Theerokatundhi
Meaning: (even) The cycle of time follows a pattern...
Heroine:
Adhi Nee Paathaaniki Dhorakanu Andhi
Meaning: still, that pattern of time cannot be tamed by your lessons (rules)
Hero:
Nataraaja Swaami Jataa Jooti Loki Cherakunte
Viruchukupadu Suragangaku Viluvemundhi Viluvemundhii
Meaning: The Ganga that keeps raging ahead always, will it not lose its value, if it eventually doesnt find its culmination in the Jataa jooti of Nataraja. (a nice way of saying that art is also a way to moksha..)
Ghallu Ghallu Ghallu Mantu Merupalle Thullu
Jhallu Jhallu Jhalluna Vuppongu Ningi Vollu
Now heroine asks him:
Dhooke Alalakuu Ye Thaalam Vesthaaru
Aahaha
Meaning: For The waves of sea that rise and jump, which taalam can be suitable?
Kammani Kalala Paata Ye Raagam Antaaru
Mmmhuhuhu
Meaning: The sweet songs of dreams are set in which raagam?
Hero counters:
Alalaku Andhunaa Aasinchina Aakaasam
No matter how much they jump, will the waves ever reach the sky they seek to touch?
Kalalaa Karagadamaa Jeevithaana Paramaardham
And is the paramaardham (core meaning) of life all about dissolving just like a dream?
Heroine:
Vaddhani Aapaleru Aaaa Aaaa
Vaddani Aapaleru urike oohani
Nobody can stop the imagination that seeks to fly...
Hero:
Haddhulu Dhaataraadu Aasala Vaahini
The flight of desires must never cross their limits... (The poet gets the right weight of words - Vaddani in 1st line and haddulu in 2nd... and he still maintains a fine rhyme with ending words - oohani and vaahini)
Heroine:
Adhuperugani Aatalaadu Vasanthaalu Valadhante
Viri Vanamula Parimalamula Viluvemundhi Viluvemundhii
Meaning: If the fragrances from the beautiful gardens banish the spring that plays/teases them beyond any limitations, will those fragrances ever have any significance? (too intellectualish thought).
Ghallu Ghallu Ghallu Mantu Merupalle Thullu
Jhallu Jhallu Jhalluna Vuppongu Ningi Vollu
Nalla Mabbu Challanee Challani Chiru Jallu
Velluvochhi Saaganee Tholakari Allarlu
Pallavinchani Nelaku Pachhani Paravallu
Ghallu Ghallu Ghallu Mantu Merupalle Thullu
Jhallu Jhallu Jhalluna Vuppongu Ningi Vollu
This is the most immature attempt at translating this beauty. But the fact is, Seetharama sasthry wrote it brilliantly. When K.Vishwanath is at the helm of affairs, the lyrical/dialogue richness is always topnotch! Ilaiyaraaja composed it in Suddha Dhanyasi. I dont know if lyrics came first or music, but if music came first, then seetha Rama sasthry did a stupendous job - something that none of the contemporary lyricists can ever pull off. Brilliant composition. And justifiably brilliant lyrics!
Pardon the mistakes in my silly translation. Just wanted to give a whiff of what was the song meant like!
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