Spoken and the Unspoken

 “Avoid using cuss words”- said I.

“But why? We are not Buddhas”- replied somebody.

I do not want to reveal as to where and when this happened. All I can say is that the topic was ‘How to stop energy leaks’ and that it was an online discussion.

Not many in the present times-whether it is Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z- realise the power of words, and this is not a healthy sign. Though it is a well- known fact that without words expressing oneself is tough (there is ‘sign language’, but how many even know this or can understand this?), people do not understand its value. Said with proper intonation, the words spread vibrations- positive and negative. In fact, that is why slokas are recited and one is asked to say it correctly with the right pronunciation so that positive vibrations are created. This is common for all religions though the language may vary.

But tune into any OTT platform. Not a single movie or show passes without the characters uttering swear words. Even if the character does not (which is a rarity), people who write the subtitles see to it that it is part of it.

‘So what if I say cuss words’, is a question which will be asked by many, especially people who cannot survive without that (in fact, some even ‘breathe’ those words!).

1.When you use such words, it creates negativity in your subconscious mind without your being aware and it manifests itself later in your life.

2.It makes one believe that your vocabulary is very poor and that instead of saying the appropriate word for the occasion, you end up using such words.

3.Invariably, you end up abusing your life itself by using such words constantly.

What is of great concern is the fact that people take pride in using such words without realising the negative impact these are likely to give, later.

It is not without any reason that a very popular English monthly known for making readers digest information, has a section called ‘Word power’ and this is meant not just to improve one’s vocabulary!

Let us see a song whose first line talks not about words, but the absence of it.

 Like many other compositions of his, ‘Maata raani mounamidi’ (vocals: SPB and Janaki) from ‘Maharishi’(1987) is beautiful, but what makes it unique is the leitmotif.

Listen to the repetitive guitar piece in the beginning. As if to complete a circle, it occurs yet again at the end of the prelude. But the circle is not complete (can you find the beginning and end of any circle), because one sees yet another circle in the second interlude as the guitar piece occurs and continues even as the piped instruments (sax and allied instruments) and flute alternate with each other. But even before we beat an eyelid, there is another circle, this time in the form of piped instruments which play the leitmotif played until now by the guitar alone!

This composer who is always different and who makes a difference by understanding the different sounds of all the instruments, brings a difference in the second CharaNam. The entire composition follows the 4-beat cycle, but he just modifies the pattern of the cycle by changing the percussion instruments and also making these sound in ‘mel kaalam’(faster mode). Now, listen to the first CharaNam and skip to the second CharaNam, and you will know what difference it makes to the composition.

After all, subtle changes make a huge difference!

In fact, this difference occurs in the beginning itself when the piped instruments take over after the guitar piece, though this difference is different from that of the one in the second CharaNam.

A closer look also suggests that even the second interlude sees a change in the pattern with the percussion sounding

 ‘1 - 3 –‘ in the slower speed followed by another set of percussion playing ‘ 1 2 3 4’ twice. Note that the first one is equal to the second because of the speed (a.k.a kaalam).

Just towards the end of the first interlude, which sees the different forms of the guitar and the piped instruments, there is that ‘mel kaalam’ just for four micro-beats, but this time it is the bass guitar which sounds it.

Bass guitar in fact sounds throughout the Pallavi as well, making it powerful.

Isn’t it a fact that the patterns matter in life- whether in music or in the formation of words?