Thursday, April 4, 2013

Soul Stirred

Yesterday evening I decided to take up a chore I had been procrastinating for quite some time. Its an apparently easy one but does require a lot of ones energy. Ironing clothes! Despite possessing a good quality steam iron from Philips and a really convenient ironing board its still hardwork.

I fondly remembered the man in a lungi and a colored vest standing in the corner of every street back home in Chennai with his hand-pulled cart and iron box filled with hot coal rendering his services to all the residents at such an affordable price! Ironing just meant gathering the washed clothes in a bundle and handing it over to him.

Yeah, things are different outside.Here I have not seen any ironing services so far and laundry can cost you a fortune. Best Solution: DO IT YOURSELF!

I have read theories about work being easier when its accompanied by music and yes, that's so very true. I have seen videos of women in tea plantations rendering some folk songs with gusto and the fishermen in some parts of the country singing some lovely tunes to the beat of their oars. Oh yes, these videos are from movies and I really don't know how far this is true.

Anyways I switched on FM Radio and it was the evening special compilation of Malayalam songs.

My mother tongue is Tamizh but the whole of my childhood i.e till I reached Std VIII was spent in God's Own Country. Hence I can read, write and speak Malayalam (There I go, bragging about it! Simply cant control myself on that front!). I am quite familiar with the movies and songs that were released then. But I would get a negative score if you test me on the more recent releases. I have kind of lost touch except for the occasional movie I get to catch on TV.

Coming back to the scenario, as I was ironing, a particular song was played. There are songs that you listened to as a child deeply implanted in some part of your memory. When you listen to it again, you realize you know the song but cannot recollect when and how. This was one such song. "Kanneer Poovinte " from the movie Kireedam.



There are songs which as you listen would enter your ears and then make their way quickly to the chasms of your heart, and stir your soul - gently , lightly yet beautifully. Once the song gets over, you start feeling bad that it came to an end. Yet, it leaves you with a nice feeling. This had that effect on me.

I am not sure how many of us actually have time to sit and listen to songs that touch our souls . We are caught in this world of work, chores, errands, run, run, run not to mention the dance and item numbers that seem to blare at us from every direction.

So, whoever managed to read all that I have blabbered above till this point - Go ahead. Take out your ipod, mobile phone, laptop or whatever source you have. Tune in to a song you really love and lose yourself in it. Now! Gift yourself five minutes of peaceful music. Do it immediately and rejoice. What is life after all without simple pleasures? :)

29 comments:

  1. Whether it is household chores or writing or reading , I always play the music , sometimes it is my fav song ...at other times when I want to concentrate ...its plain music without any words :)

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    1. Regents it's something I need to concentrate hard like studying for instance music distracts me but for physical work I love having it around . Thanks for the comment :)

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  2. Playing music while engaged in ironing or other domestic chores is the best way to do work! Chopping vegetables while watching the TV, and playing soft music on laptop while working are equally soothing:) Could relate to your post, Jaishree!

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    1. Thanks for the continuous support Rahul . Even I cut veg with the tv on :)

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  3. Yes, there are certain 'deep' songs which really touch our heart.. 'Oru raathri koodi vidavangave' from 'Summer in Bethlehem' is one such song I love a lot. I usually listen music during free time or travelling.

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    1. Have not heard that one . Yes even I love listening to music while traveling

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  4. Nice post. The song is mesmerising.If you sing along with the song the after effect is fantastic.For days together you keep humming the song.

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    1. True Usha . I found the song playing in my head when I woke up the next morning :) I like the lyrics too !

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  5. Well Jaish Music does play a major part in my life ...it keeps me sane!! Though a tamilian I love the old Hindi songs and the 70's/80's english songs and these are ones that are always in the background when i am at home. Yeah what is life without simple pleasures !!! :)

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    1. Oh the old Hindi numbers ! Classic they are ! Thanks for the comment Engram

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  6. Agreed Jaya, when these cab drivers would play old music (rare chances, though), I would simply ask them to increase the volume. The others in the cab would curse me!..but that, I wouldn't care :)

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    1. When traveling in a car late in the night when the city is very silent such music can be magical . Thanks for the comment Diwakar

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  7. Ironing is something that I hate like anything! My sisters and mother laugh at me that wherever I go, I make sure that the Dhobhi (ironing fellow) gives me a prompt and a wonderful service! That's because while rest of the chores I can DIY, ironing is certainly not in my DIY list. (Gosh, how much I have blabbered!) True, music is so relaxing and some songs bring back such beautiful memories too. :)

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    1. Oh yeah nostalgia and music are tightly linked :)

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  8. Great post, ironing is a art.

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    1. Yes Rajesh . You wouldn't believe I have been looking up you tube videos to master it ESP with regards to shirts and trousers :)

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  9. thats a lovely song ... I just love listening to songs while ironing ...whle cooking ...while washing dishes .... somehow you start enjoying work with music !

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  10. Jaish, a soul stirring post :) I envy you for knowing malayalam. Tamil and Mallu has always been an attraction for me..Tamil especially.. Btw, I dont do ironing too...I just press my clothes before going to work on need be it.. Hubby does his religiously. Good gracious...he never asks me to do that job..and even if I offer to, he says, you don't do it so well..let me do it myself..who would say no? :P

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  11. Nice post, Jayashree!

    Can't live without music .... its my constant companion.

    You score over me on the malayalam front! I can't write my own mother-tongue. Imagine! 'Cos unlike you I did my schooling outside Kerala and thus never had to study the language formally.

    But I can read and speak and I listen to all sorts of malayalam songs ... the old ones are better, anyday!

    Here is a gift for you - I am sure you will like it. Its one of my favourite songs (not malayalam) and this guy (an Iranian) has taken it to a different level ... check it out:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WikcPREx0DM

    Cheers!

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  12. my god jaish - you are like my twin sister ... hate ironing and love listening to soul stirring music.. thank you for this lovely post .. I going to be listening to some music today !!

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  13. That is my favourite song and i am after all these years addicted to it:)

    Its true how music transforms the world around you and life seems a whole lot simpler! Nice to know that you can read and write malayalam and even better to know that you hold a malayalam song close to your heart :)

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  14. I agree. Music really helps. Though I don't know Malayalam but I think music merges those boundaries so I listened to it and enjoyed it :)

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  15. Oh yes,no matter what the occupation,music is always a welcome companion .

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  16. Totally agree! Music is a great stress buster and a great company to keep.

    Good books and good music, what else do you need!

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  17. Wonderful post! I try to begin my morning with music! However, some days I just can't. Your Post tells me to do it more often...Thanks for this wonderful share. And oh yes! The ubiquitous man in the lungi with his heavy coal iron is a great blessing.

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  18. A big coincidence that I also spent the better part of Saturday morning ironing clothes! I did put on some desi music to help the monotony!! LOL!

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  19. Good idea to soothe the heart. But what about my back?:p

    Do visit mine

    Cheers
    CRD

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  20. Hi Jaishree, this is a very sweet post. Music is a nectar for the heart and soul.Whie performing a drab job like ironing, music serves as a good time pass for our mood . I love listening to old songs..

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