Devasabhathalam - His Highness Abdullah

There are times when translating lyrics is simply futile. Devasabhathalam from the 1990 Malayalam film His Highness Abdullah is all music and context. The context I'll state because I could do only that. The song is one of the greatest creations ever in Malayalam cinema, or may I even suggest, all of cinema.

"His Highness" juxtaposed with "Abdullah" would have been a pleasent contradiction in erstwhile Kerala. Mohanlal plays the main protagonist Abdullah - a Muslim man who has inherited the talent and love for music from his late father, but who now lives in penury in Bombay earning a little money singing in brothels. In need of money he takes up a job in Kerala to kill a local Lord/King whose relatives want him eliminated for his property and money. During the course of the film, music brings the Lord and Abdullah close. Written by the gifted Lohitadas and directed by Sibi Malayil, the film was another popular success that showcased the Kerala film industry's ability to wow its audience with films that often grazed the edges of art films.

Building to the context of this song, one of the Lord's nephews grows jealous of Abdullah (now posing as Hindu Ananthan). He winds up a prominent singer (played by Kaithapram who in real life is a noted poet, lyricist, singer, ...) who had recently also won a national award, the Padma Shri. Instigated and enraged by the purported insults, he storms into the palace and demands a singing contest. The dialogues that lead up to the song go like this.

The Lord's daughter noticing a group of people coming in: Father ...
Lord: (Happily) Ha! Who all is this!
(Then turning to others to introduce the visitor): You know him right. This is Namboodhiri, who recently won the Padma Shri.
Abdullah/Ananthan: Oh, I recognize him now.
(He bends down towards the visitor's feet requesting his blessings)
Kaithapram: Don't!
Lord: (a little stunned) But ... he ... he is very close to me ...
Kaithapram: I know. Your name is Ananthan, right?
Abdullah/Ananthan: Yes. I have heard a lot about you.
Kaithapram: Yeah? What all have you heard? 'The crook who paid to get his Padma Shri'? 'The cheat who does cheap tricks with his voice'? Isn't that it?
Lord: Why are you talking like this?
Kaithapram: This man knows why. Listen fellow, self-confidence is acceptable, but not arrogance.
Abdullah/Ananthan: I don't understand what you are implying.
Kaithapram: I'll make you understand. Let us sing together!
Abdullah/Ananthan: I'm not going to compete with you. I have heard that music is a sea. I'm just a panic-stricken child on its shores, and you are a virtuoso who swims in the deepest parts of it. I don't even have the eligibility to sit on the same stage as you.
Kaithapram: I don't need your useless cheap words. (Turning to his musicians) Music ...!
(The Lord, having no option, signs to Abdullah/Ananthan to continue. He then pays his respects to the senior singer and sits down.)

[Before I go further, I would like to make a special note for Mukundan Master who is playing the Mridangam - the drum being played horizontally - next to the challenger, Kaithapram. He tried to teach me music at a time when I was more a wildling preferring running around in the sun playing games, climbing trees, or acting out made up adventures. Well, to his credit, he tried. This article is more from reading than my innate knowledge. So, as usual, all mistakes are my own.]

After a short Alapanam where the singers warm up and introduce the first Swara, the two singers start off with a stanza welcoming the very music that blesses the courts of the Gods. Then they go back and forth trading challenges to the other to sing a piece in the Swara (note) that they name while also using the name of the Swara (like Shadjam, Rishabham, Gandhaaram, Madhyamam, Panchamam, Nishaadham) in the lyrics.

The challenger, Kaithapram's, slowly changing expression starting with rage, then scrutiny, then appreciation, and then eventually acceptance is pretty much the entire context of the song subtly picturized.

The final stanza ends in a hair-raising crescendo praising music. Joy, extreme joy, universal joy, music. Music. Music.

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Dhevasabhaathalam raagilamaakuvaan
Naadhamayookhame swaagatham
Swagatham swaagatham(dheva-2)

Sarigamapa rigamapadha gamapadhani
Mapadhanisa sanidhapa magaarisa sa

Shadjam

Sarigamapadha sarigamapadhanisa sanidhapamapa
sanidhapamagarisa saa
mayoora naadham swaramaay vidarum
shadjam anaahadha manthram
mayoora nadanam layamaay theliyum
shadjam adhaara naadham

pama gamadha ni ni sarigamapadhanisari ree

Rishabham

Rishabha swarangalaay pourushamekum
Siva vaahaname nandhi
Hrudhayaanandamekum risheegagamaam
Swara sanjayame nandhi

Sariga pagarisari gapadhapagari sarigapa
Sadhapagari dhasariga padha sarigaa ga

Gaandhaaram

aaa..aaa..aaaa
Santhoshakaaraka swaram swaram swaram swaram
Ajarava gaandhaaram gaandhaaram gandhaaram
Aamodhakaaraka swaram
Sundhara gaandaaram gaandhaaram gaandhaaram

Sarigamapadhanisareeri rigama rigama

Madhyamam

Krouncham sruthiyilunarthum
niswanam madhyamam
sarigamapadhanisa garisanidhapadhani
maadhavam sruthiyilinangum
kaarunnyam madhyamam
mamama manidha papapa
magari ninini rigama paa

Panchamam

pa ma pa sa pa ni dha pa pa pa pa pa

panchamam vasantha kokila swanam
swanam kokila swanam
vasantha kokila swanam

dhanisa padhani mapadha gamapa
rigamapadhanisarigarisanidhapamagamapadhanisa
megharaagangale thottunaroonnatha
manjooosha manthram dhaivatham
aswaravanjangal aanjya
chakrathilunarthum swara roopam dhaivatham

sarigamapadhanisa dhanisa padhanisa
mapadhanisa gama padh ni ni

Nishaadham

aaa.aaa..aaaa..
gajamukhanaadham santhwana bhaavam
aagama japalaya nishaadha roopam
ni ni ni ni santhamaay pozhiyum
swarajala kanangal ekamaay ozhukum
gangaa pravaaham

dhidhidhi thadhi dhidhi kidadhi dhidhi
thadhi dhidhi kidadhi dhidhi thadhi dhidhi
thaka thaana nanana thiki thaka thaananana
thiki thaka thaananana

anuthathamudhatha swaritha prajayam
thandava mukharalaya prabhavam
pranavakaaram sangeetham

aa nomtha nomtha nomtha (repeat)

aanandam ananthaanandham
jagathaanandam sangeetham (aanandham)

marisanipa risaasa risanipama sa ni ni
sanipamari ri pa pa marisanipa ri sa
risanipama sa ni sanipamari ni pa
marisanipa ri risanipama sa
sanipamari ni marisanipa risanipama
sanipamapa risanipama sanipamari
nipamarima sanipamari nipamarisa sarimapani

aanandam ananthaanandham
jagathaanandam sangeetham (anandam)
samgeetham sangeetham sangeetham