Forgotten Face - Aasai Mugam Marandhu

Excerpts from one of the many gems of Bharathiyar. I heard this song recently in a concert and was totally moved by it. Apparently Bharathi had written this song when he lost his mother's photograph (the only photograph and memory he had of her).

ஆசைமுகம் மறந்து போச்சே - இதை யாரிடம் சொல்வேனடி தோழி?
I have forgotten that lovely face, whom shall I share this grief with ?
நேசம் மறக்கவில்லை நெஞ்சம் - எனில் நினைவு முகம் மறக்கலாமோ?
The heart has still not forgotten the love, alas how can I forget that memorable face?


தேனை மறந்திருக்கும் வண்டும் - ஒளிச் சிறப்பை மறந்துவிட்ட பூவும்
வானை மறந்திருக்கும் பயிறும் - இந்த வையம் முழுதுமில்லை தோழி
One cannot find in this whole world :
Bees that have forgotten honey
Flowers that forgotten the splendor of light
Crops that have forgotten the sky


கண்ணன் முகம் மறந்துபோனால் - இந்த கண்களிருந்து பயனுண்டோ?
If I forget the face of krishna, then what is the use of my eyes? (Krishna is a placeholder for his mother here).
வண்ணப் படமுமில்லை கண்டாய் - இனி வாழும் வழியென்னடி தோழி?
I no longer have your photograph, now what is left in life,tell me my dear friend ?

Con-Verse-sation

17:28 VK: arz kiya hai.....
17:28 VK: Tairna hai to samundar Mein tairo,
17:28 VK: Nadi naalo Mein kya rakha hai,
17:28 VK: Mohabbat karni hai to apne watan se karo,
17:28 VK: In bewafa hASino Mein kya rakha hai......
(If you want to swim, do so in the ocean. What is there in the ponds and rivers. If you want to Love someone, find someone from your own country. What do you see or what is there in these disloyal damsels?).

17:32 Me: wah wah...may i kindly ASk you to qualify these bewafa hASinAS..
17:33 AS: this shair is for the NRI
17:33 VK: indeed

17:37 Me: in continuation with VK's effort with my rusty hindi :
17:38 AS: best of luck to us
17:38 Me: here you go..
17:38 Me: tairna aata to samundar kya aASman Mein tairunga
17:38 Me: pyar karna aata to ek nahi hazaaron hASinon se karunga
(If I could swim then i would do so in the skies. And if I was capable of love, I would love not one but a thousand damsels.)
17:38 AS: aaage?
17:39 Me: this is like kabir ke dohe...2 liners
17:39 AS: dohe still follow a format
17:39 AS: a reply to a shair should be a shair
17:39 AS: 4 liner on 4 liner

17:41 Pak Poet: Gul hui jaati hai afsurda sulagti hui shaam
17:41 Pak Poet: Dhul ke niklay gi abhi chAShma-e-mahtab se raat
17:41 Pak Poet: Aur mushtaaq nigaahon ki suni jaaye gi
17:41 Pak Poet: Aur un hathon se mAS: hongay yeh tarse huay haath

17:42 Me: translate plz
17:42 Pak Poet: Translation

17:42 Pak Poet: The morose evening is lost in the silhouette of a fading sun
17:42 Pak Poet: But soon, it will coMe out bathed in the moonlit night
17:43 Pak Poet: And those eager eyes will be heard to, one more tiMe
17:43 Pak Poet: and these longing fingers will be entwined with those fingers again

17:43 Me: whoa ur verse is it?
17:43 Me: awesoMe
17:43 Pak Poet: no... faiz ahmed faiz
17:43 Pak Poet: Pak Poet:
17:43 Pak Poet: winner of Lenin prize, 1985
17:43 Me: nice
17:45 Pak Poet: correction: Lenin Peace Prize, awarded in
1962...