"Lament to the Birds" is drawn from the 3 pasurams or hymns derived from the legendary Naalayira Divya Prabhandham, the sacred compilation of 4000 verses written in honor of Lord Vishnu and his various dazzling forms. Rama Vaidyanathan brings out the distress of the Nayika or heroine who is smitten by Narayana as she expresses her feelings to the birds around her. Every inch of nature reminds her of her lover, and this composition is an ode to her immersive devotion to the divine being she cherishes above all else.
The cooing of the rooster, the red beak of a parakeet and the impressive flight of an eagle play an integral part in how she interprets her own feelings towards Lord Vishnu and his avatars. There is a constant theme of longing, as her mind interprets each action of the birds as a sign of what she cannot have with Vishnu. Their love reminds her of the time she is away from him, their colors remind her of his features and their flight is an ability she simply cannot possess. The composition is an elegant and poignant display of human limitations, and how love and its shades affect the psyche of our protagonist. It focuses on her lament, her joy at his memories, and the depth of her emotions towards the sacred being she worships.
There are 3 sections in this composition. The composition contains 8 videos.
- Introduction
- Explanation
- Performance
- Explanation
- Performance
- Explanation
- Performance
- Full Performance
- Music