The Musical Marvel

A piece I wrote for The Hans India a reputed daily in Telangana

Unbeatable is perhaps the word that best describes Bahubali 2 – The Conclusion, success. The movie has swept the nation with a never-before craze and is steadily edging towards a mind-numbing record of 1500 crores at the box-office. A feat that is sure to be etched in golden letters in the chronicles of Indian cinema.  

While Bahubali 2 is blazing guns at the box office, the songs of the movie are receiving rich accolades for their high-octave compositions and soothing lyrics. Hats off to M.M. Keeravani for his masterpieces! Poignant drumming, restful violins, melodious guitars and haunting choruses have all been breathtaking. Even the background score is highly evocative.

While the songs are lauded across on all parameters, fervent discussions on global platforms are rife as to in which language one should listen to these songs?  However, YouTube comments’ section is flooded with remarks from across the world that mellifluous Telugu lyrics have struck the right chord and added their own charm to the songs. Many north  and south Indians  have also laid it threadbare that Telugu lyrics have a soul of their own and are greatly pleasing to the ears. News that is sure to put the Telugu speaking states on a different plateau altogether with delight. 

For those who are a little unaware, Telugu language is considered to be the sweetest among the 22 other languages that exist in India. 

Whether its Saahore, Dandaalayyaa, Hamsa Naava, Kannaa Nidurinchara or Oka Praanam, it doesn’t take a genius to sort out that all lyrics end in vowels. Perhaps the reason why the language has a very calming and soothing effect on people. This unusual vowel-ending was first noticed by the 16th-century Venetian explorer Niccolo' de' Conti, who visited the Vijayanagara empire. He discovered that almost every word in Telugu ends with a vowel much like his native language - Italian. It is no hidden fact that Italian is one among the sweetest sounding languages on Earth. Similarly, Telugu is mellifluous to listen and boasts of 56 alphabet just like the Italian language. Little wonder it  is called "The Italian of the East".

Speaking on the beauty of the language, Rabindranath Tagore, the great Bengali poet and writer, when he heard Telugu, exclaimed ''Is this language or music?'' The distinctness of Telugu language was also noticed by other renowned poets and writers of yesteryears. Tamil poet Bharatiyar praised the language as 'Sundara Telugu' (Beautiful Telugu). 

The unforgettable praise, of course, comes from Sri Krishna Devaraya, the south Indian king and non-native speaker of Telugu, who said "Desabhaashalandu Telugu Lessa" (Telugu is the best language in the country) which has become a sobriquet of sorts and is often taken as a reference to revel in the grandeur of the language. 

There exists a good influx of Sanskrit words into Telugu language. Telugu retains a lot of the features, especially with regards to the pronunciation of some vowels and consonants. Approximately 10,000 inscriptions of Sanskrit exist in Telugu language. In fact, the melodious Telugu lyrics of Bahubali 2 movie are so captured that their Sanskrit flavour is at its peak. No wonder the lyrics are incredibly outstanding! 

Click on the link to access the epaper

http://epaper.thehansindia.com/1215276/SUNDAY-HANS/SUNDAY-HANS#page/20/1