Nineteen years after the maestro Ilaiyaraaja presented Manickavachakar’s Thiruvachagam in an Oratorio format, the prolific composer has once again astonished the music world with his latest offering, “Divya Pasurams.” This album encompasses a few select pasurams from the hallowed Nalayira Divya Prabandham. Tiruvoimozhi, a liturgical compilation attributed to the revered 12 Tamil Azhwars, stands as the core inspiration behind this effort. Collaborating with Prof. Gnanasundaram, a renowned scholar, Ilaiyaraaja meticulously chose pasurams penned by iconic saint-poets such as Periyazhwar, Naachiyar, Kulasekara Azhwar, Thondaradipodi Azhwar, and Thirumangai Azhwar for this musical masterpiece.
These pasurams provide a vivid tapestry of Krishna’s life narrative, encapsulating moments from his birth to Thirumangai Azhwar’s plea for the Lord to make Thiruvazhundhur his abode, and themes ranging from complete surrender to liberation from the five sensory torments. The album results in an immersive auditory journey that intertwines the divine with the mundane, exemplifying Ilaiyaraaja’s consummate skill in musical storytelling.
Intriguingly, in this current age marked by rapid and disruptive changes akin to Schumpeterian creative destruction, Ilaiyaraaja remains steadfast in his commitment to time-honored methods. His orchestration adheres to the classic division of instruments into four main segments: strings, woodwinds, brass (sparingly used), and percussion. Through these, he conveys the inherent meanings and emotive nuances of the Azhwar pasurams, offering listeners a transcendental experience.
Prof. Gnanasundaram highlights that although the bhakti (devotional fervor) expressed in both sets of hymns is consistent, the pasurams in “Divya Pasurams” provide a more extensive and elaborate depiction of the divine attributes including beauty, valor, and the unfailing devotion of the devotees, mirroring the grand epics such as the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and the Srimad Bhagavatam.
The album features eight carefully selected pasurams, each bearing its own unique musical identity. It commences with a pasuram by Periyazhwar, sung by Ilaiyaraaja himself, complemented by the profound moola mantra ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ echoing in the background.
. This particular piece, crafted primarily in raga Sindhubhairavi, extols Narayana, underscoring the lyrics with minimalist orchestration to accentuate the devotional subtleties.
Following this is another of Periyazhwar’s pasurams, titled ‘Vanna Maadankal,’ performed by Narayanan Ravishankar and V.V. Prasanna. This piece invokes vivid imagery akin to ‘Kothumbi’ from Thiruvachagam in Oratorio. The music arrangement in raga Hindolam captures evocative scenes such as the joyous sprinkling of scented powders and oils to herald Krishna’s arrival, culminating in Yasodha’s realization of her child’s divine nature.
The album further includes the Naachiyaar Pasuram “Vaanidai Vaazhum Avvanavarkku,” where Andaal assertively declares her body belongs only to Sarangan of Brindavan, refusing to offer it to any mere mortal. This brief yet beautiful composition, sung by Vibhavari in raga Brindavana Saranga, perfectly encapsulates Andaal’s resolute devotion.
Ilaiyaraaja’s orchestration takes listeners through various pasurams capturing Krishna’s multifaceted life, with each piece reflecting the essence of its respective raga – be it Mohanam, Tilang, Suddha Dhanyasi, or Mayamalavagowla. ‘Puviyil Naan,’ voiced by Sharreth and Vibhavari, showcases a distinctive rhythm that prioritizes the string section, juxtaposing it against a background flute. The maestro captures the visual splendor of peacocks’ dance through his string arrangements, culminating in a dynamic crescendo.
The album’s emotional culmination is marked by Thirumangai Azhwar’s ‘Kulantharum Selvam Thandhidum’ in raga Hamsanandhi, an intense and heartrending piece delivered by Hariharan. In this pasuram, the saint fervently expresses his yearning to merge with the divine.
With “Divya Pasurams,” Ilaiyaraaja offers a timeless auditory journey that intertwines divine devotion with masterful music composition, ensuring its cherished legacy for generations to come.
